This articel nails something most PKM enthusiasts miss: the system becomes the goal instead of the thinking. I spent 6 months building elaborate Obsidian workflows, convinced that once I got the structure right, insights would flow. Never happened. The real shift came when I started treating notes like receipts, useful for tracking where Ive been but not something to build a shrine around. That "current window" framing is sharp because it cuts through teh hoarding instinct most knowledge workers have.
I was excited and looking forward to some vindication when I read the title. I’ve had two friends trying to onboard me to PKM for a few years, but never managed to organize myself enough. And seems like I never have to!
But then you went and shot down my favorite notetaking strategy - jotting down thoughts on napkins, letters, or whatever paper is closest. It created great artwork where shopping lists sat next to startup ideas lying under papers that mingled doodles from the last zoom meeting with reflections on the meaning of life. I really think you need to give that system a serious try.
I guess the one thing I did get from skimming “how to take smart notes”was to have notecards with me when I sat down with an important book and only write down important thoughts. It’s given me another pile of disorganised papers, but the notecards do have a higher signal to noise ratio.
In the end, I think writing down thoughts is part of the thinking process. It doesn’t matter how I do it cuz I’m not going to read much of it again anyway. But writing it down helps etch it in my brain.
Hahaha. Yeah, the only problem I have with notecards and the like is that you can’t even find them in the short term when you need them!!! I will say, however, that a single notecard inside a book, doing double service as a bookmark, is a good place to jot down thoughts.
This articel nails something most PKM enthusiasts miss: the system becomes the goal instead of the thinking. I spent 6 months building elaborate Obsidian workflows, convinced that once I got the structure right, insights would flow. Never happened. The real shift came when I started treating notes like receipts, useful for tracking where Ive been but not something to build a shrine around. That "current window" framing is sharp because it cuts through teh hoarding instinct most knowledge workers have.
Notes as receipts - love it!
I enjoyed this, I’m off to change the ‘note’ on the chalkboard on the back of the kitchen door, it’s not current enough!!
I was excited and looking forward to some vindication when I read the title. I’ve had two friends trying to onboard me to PKM for a few years, but never managed to organize myself enough. And seems like I never have to!
But then you went and shot down my favorite notetaking strategy - jotting down thoughts on napkins, letters, or whatever paper is closest. It created great artwork where shopping lists sat next to startup ideas lying under papers that mingled doodles from the last zoom meeting with reflections on the meaning of life. I really think you need to give that system a serious try.
I guess the one thing I did get from skimming “how to take smart notes”was to have notecards with me when I sat down with an important book and only write down important thoughts. It’s given me another pile of disorganised papers, but the notecards do have a higher signal to noise ratio.
In the end, I think writing down thoughts is part of the thinking process. It doesn’t matter how I do it cuz I’m not going to read much of it again anyway. But writing it down helps etch it in my brain.
Hahaha. Yeah, the only problem I have with notecards and the like is that you can’t even find them in the short term when you need them!!! I will say, however, that a single notecard inside a book, doing double service as a bookmark, is a good place to jot down thoughts.