Note taking is a thinking discipline.
A thread about notes and [[Roam]].
A thread about notes and [[Roam]].
The mental paradigm most people have to overcome is that their approach to note taking is done from a transient approach. They've read something or had an idea and they make a quick note to feel that they've captured it.
Too often, the work stops there.
Too often, the work stops there.
They approach notes like a grocery list: write it down to not forget. Their note stops mental work by focusing on not having to remember what the note is.
These are poor notes.
Poor note taking discourages further mental work.
These are poor notes.
Poor note taking discourages further mental work.
A better approach to note taking is to encourage mental work in the form of fully developing an idea and using it to integrate with other ideas and form even new ones.
Good note taking encourages mental work in the form of fully developing an idea and creating new ones.
Good note taking encourages mental work in the form of fully developing an idea and creating new ones.
There is a place for these types of notes too. Keeping track of conversations, meeting notes, and even the aforementioned grocery list.
However, these things are more akin to logging information and note developing thoughts.
However, these things are more akin to logging information and note developing thoughts.
The problem with logging information is that more mental work can be triggered by them, but it is not guaranteed.
Developed thought only comes with more mental work.
Developed thought only comes with more mental work.
At best, logging creates a small marker towards a larger idea. This is the same problem with metadata tags not revealing fully fleshed out connections.
The hint of further thinking is there, but it's not recorded anywhere.
The hint of further thinking is there, but it's not recorded anywhere.
Quality note taking is a discipline of self education. When you start to master it, you begin to understand how better notes lead to better rewards.
Quality notes stem from better thinking. Your notes need to be able to
1. Capture thoughts now
2. Lead to other thoughts and connections in the immediate future
3. Develop into fully grown thoughts with thought babies as time goes on
1. Capture thoughts now
2. Lead to other thoughts and connections in the immediate future
3. Develop into fully grown thoughts with thought babies as time goes on
This is why so many experienced note takers immediately see the benefit of @RoamResearch. The entire application is designed to capture thoughts and immediately encourage more thinking by connecting thoughts and facilitating the easy addition of new ones.
Most note taking systems are designed for capture (i.e. information hoarding). We feel good because we saved something interesting "for later".
But they fail to facilitate the type of thinking we really do so there's rarely a "later" that we view it again.
But they fail to facilitate the type of thinking we really do so there's rarely a "later" that we view it again.
What I like about Roam is it's the closest thing I've found to dumping a bunch of thoughts on the table and shuffling things around until I've made the connections that get me thinking.
I don't think linearly. Neither do you. Which is why Roam works so well.
I don't think linearly. Neither do you. Which is why Roam works so well.
