Summary

The article discusses the increasing popularity and complexity of note-taking methods and tools, driven by a surge in information availability and a familiar pattern from educational practices, despite a lack of clear application for many.

Abstract

The article highlights a growing trend in the popularity of note-taking, as evidenced by Google Trends data and the proliferation of content from creators on platforms like YouTube. It suggests that the abundance of information and the plethora of tools available for note-taking, such as Apple Notes, Google Keep, Notion, Roam, and Obsidian, contribute to the topic's popularity. The author reflects on the educational habit of note-taking as a potential reason for its widespread acceptance and the psychological satisfaction derived from organizing and filing notes. However, the article points out a disconnect between the enthusiasm for note-taking tools and systems and the practical application of the notes taken, with many individuals focusing more on the tools than on the utilization of the information.

Opinions

Note-taking is not just a popular topic but also a subject of increasing interest, particularly around the beginning of the school year.
The popularity of note-taking is partly due to the variety of new and sophisticated tools available, which can be as addictive as a "starter drug" leading to more complex applications.
The sheer volume of information available in the digital age necessitates better note-taking and organizational systems to manage and understand it.
The practice of note-taking is deeply ingrained from educational conditioning, making it a familiar and accepted habit.
There is a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in collecting, tagging, and organizing notes, which may not always translate into practical use or output.
The author suggests that many people are more focused on acquiring and switching between note-taking tools rather than applying the knowledge gained from their notes.
There is a critique of the "Notion template industrial complex," where people invest in templates without fully utilizing them, potentially at the expense of deeper learning and application.
The author encourages readers to try learning without the crutch of note-taking to truly retain and apply knowledge.

All The Note-Taking Is Out of Control

Every time I open Twitter, it seems like there’s a better way to take notes.

In Notion. In Obsidian. In Roam.

Apparently, a lot of people are seeing this too. Look at the interest in note-taking. It’s made a steady increase over the past ~20 years, with most of the spikes occurring around the start of school.

This is from Google Trends:

Want to find your favorite creator? They’re probably explaining how to take notes.

I don’t know if they’re reading or listening to anything while they’re taking

But why explain how to take notes? It gets views.

Here are a few from Thomas Frank, a productivity creator.

This one has more than 500k views in 4 months:

And this one has even more on his main YouTube (which has more than 2M subscribers):

Just as I’m clicking around, here’s yet another from someone I haven’t heard of before (maybe they’re huge???) with a video on taking notes that has racked up more than 500K views in only 4 months:

Why is note-taking such a popular topic?

It’s not fair for me to say that note-taking is “popular” though I’ve shown the demand has overall increased and some creators (YouTubers at least) are finding it to be a popular topic.

But what’s driving the interest?

1. There are more cool ways to take notes than ever

Settle on this one for a second. You have Apple Notes on your phone. Or Google Keep. I personally like Google Keep because it goes across more of my devices and I like the actual app better but I digress.

Or did I digress? Because that’s a mini-microcosm of why note taking topics are so popular.

There are now a million ways to do it. Google Keep and Apple Notes are the starter drug. Pretty soon you’re hooked on Notion. Then you’re a Roam-obsessive, before switching to Obisidian and then throwing the baby, the bath water, the bottle, the baby food, and whatever else you can grab right out the window.

Credit: Greg Morris: https://gregmorris.co.uk/blog/my-system-notes/

2. There is more information than we know what to do with

I don’t need to tell you about the way “things used to be” because you’ve heard about it before. But that glut of information comes at a cost — we can’t process it all.

We know too much. There’s more to index and to understand

3. The pattern is familiar

Who can argue with taking notes?

That’s what they told you to do in school right?

Someone speaks, take notes.
Read a textbook, underline and take notes.
Read an article, copy and paste and then summarize and cite it later.

Note-taking makes us feel good

Those notes, quotes, and excerpts have piled up in your document. Now what? You need to tag them and file them of course.

Then you need to re-arrange them and really find the meaning. To do what? Make a Twitter thread?

3 Semi-Important Decisions You Need To Make About Your Note-Taking System

How to actually get value from your notes

medium.com

The Problem: Lack of Application

Sharing quotes or notes is great, but most people don’t really know how to apply it or what to do with it next.

Some people are writing books or essays or yes, even Twitter threads, but many people are switching from tool to tool, trying to show other tool seekers how good they are at tools.

The Notion template industrial complex is one I’d like to be part of, but honestly, so many people are buying templates and then not doing anything with it.

I’d rather everyone read a book. Without any notes. Then see what you learn, what really sticks with you. Tried that lately?

Want more from your notes? Get my quick note-taking template and cheat sheet for free.

Josh Spilker - Medium

Read writing from Josh Spilker on Medium. Writer and marketer. Newsletter every week: https://joshspilker.substack.com…

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