📓 Start (and keep) a note-taking habit

A daily note-taking habit can be life changing.

Capturing the right information helps you develop new relationships, form better ideas, find solutions faster and generally think better. Note-taking improves your mental function and emotional wellbeing.

This email will walk you through some easy methods for starting and keeping a daily note-taking habit.

Step 1: use a dedicated note for each day

Create a new “daily note” for each day. This will become your mental home-base.

Feel free to capture anything here: random thoughts, ideas, interesting things you find online, etc. Don’t worry too much about what you are recording. The important thing is that you start a new note each day.

This could be done in a notebook. In many ways this makes the habit easier. You won’t be tempted to invent complex systems (more on this below). But most people will want digital tools.

Ideally, choose a tool that has daily notes built in. If not, just create a new note for each day and put the date on top.

Step 2: Choose a simple format to start with

The blank page is dangerous for starting a habit. The cold start problem is very real.

It will be much harder for you to start taking notes if you have to open a blank page and figure out what to write each morning. Instead, determine what you will be writing beforehand.

Start with either:

1. Your daily todo list

2. A running log of your day

The first requires you sitting down and listing out everything you need to do for the day. There's a pretty high chance you do this in some level already. Just start doing it from your daily note instead, and be consistent.

The second option is more of a bottom-up approach, where you simply record what happens in your day as you go along. You can also combine these formats, but keep it as simple as possible.

Step 3: Build templates to call on

Once you have a simple format that you're successfully using each day, systematize it into a template. This is also a great time to add any complexity you would like – but do so slowly.

For example, you might create a template for your daily note that has a place to log things, write to do items, and lists some daily habits. You might also choose to do some sort of daily reflection that you can create a template for.

💡 General tips for easier note-taking

1. Avoid complex organizational systems

   You should never have to think about where a note should go or where to record something. Instead of folders, use backlinks.

2. Remove friction as much as possible

   Take voice notes instead of typing. Use AI to organize your though rambles. This is great for recording your todo list for the day, or even a stream of consciousness.

3. Always have your notes available

   Choose a note-taking tool with apps accross your devices. If you use a note-book, carry it with you.