How To Take Smart Notes (3 methods no one's talking about) 

Vicky, thank you for another insightful video - I wish your channel existed 15 years ago when I was doing my MBA. Thansk to your hard work, anyone who watches your channel is able to significantly improve their thinking, decision making and performance. Brilliant work!

Well explained. Most people only ever explain a system from an overview perspective, but fail to provide simple examples to walk the listener's mind through the actual process. Thanks for do the little bit extra!

Also when taking notes what I find helps is to reword the content. So if Atomic Habits says "You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems," I would put that in my notes as "The real limitation to reaching your goals is the systems you employ and not the ambition of the goals themselves"

Everything about this video is exemplary: The audio The photography The transitions The structure The content The description, with links and timestamps.

I'm a visual thinker and can therefore really struggle with learning quickly because of my ADHD short-term memory preventing me from being able to organise new information in my head before I forget it, so these tips are a godsend. Also, the way this video is visually formatted actually really helps to get my head around ideas like this - I bet Vicky is also a visual thinker

I have recently noticed in my notes in college I wasn’t actually absorbing the material. During lectures I would try to write down every little thing. Now I just wrote down the most important pieces, go home and piece everything together adding in more details and connecting the whole picture. One limitation was the medium I was using. I cannot use paper to connect these vast ideas because I only have so much space, but with Microsoft one-note I have a large amount of sosvd and freedom to put things wherever. I add in visuals, explain concepts then give myself and example then a visual of the example. For complex ideas in physics where particles and many forces and charges are at play this comes in handy.

but i read to relax and be a potato 🥔

I cannot fully express how grateful i am for you sharing this for free in the way that you do. Ive spent my whole life suffering from mental illness that held my mind hostage. Im 27 and finally getting the help i need to heal and my brain is on FIRE (in a good way). Ive felt so overwhelmed by all of my thoughts and ideas that can finally come through. Ive watched 5 of your videos so far and now i have hope that my thoughts and ideas can be put to use and wont just plague me. I cant wait to start putting things together and creating with my ideas. Thank you thank you thank you

I have never heard of the compass thinking but the way you broke it down and used examples from the book was mind opening!! Very, very great video :)

This is just a pure gold, combining it with the "Feynman Technique" you can almost learn anything you want.

This is probably the best video on note taking I've come across. Succinct and to the point, with some great ideas for linking notes and making them memorable.

This video is a gift which I have looked for all day. Didn't waste my time on those 15 other videos because I found my way here. Thank you so much.

Takeaways: At time: 00:00 The illusion of competence occurs when we highlight, underline, and take notes without actually learning new information. Smart notes are active and involve restructuring other people's thoughts into our own structure. The Q/E/C method (Question, Evidence, Conclusion) is a great structure to use when taking smart notes. Smart notes should be atomic, meaning the size and ideas on them matter. Organizing notes in one giant document limits our ability to think, and creating atomic notes can help us become more powerful thinkers. 03:28 Using atomic ideas instead of a giant document allows for 3D thinking and easier recollection of ideas. Making each question, evidence, and conclusion its own atomic note is crucial for rearranging and connecting ideas. Connecting new ideas to existing ones helps combat the illusion of competence. The compass of the Zettelkasten thinking can be used to connect new ideas to existing ones in four different directions. Focusing on systems rather than goals is important for forming good habits and breaking bad ones. 06:57 Thinking in multiple directions can help generate solutions for climate change and diversity issues. Connecting ideas is important for problem-solving. The speaker suggests checking out their Zettelkasten guide for taking smart notes to the next level. The speaker concludes the transcript by saying goodbye. No information is provided on who the speaker is or where the transcript comes from.

Smart notes about smart notes Always opt to write actively, not passively, try to summarize the author's idea in your own way. QEC Method Q - question ( use ? to mark the questions ) E - evidence ( use - to mark the evidences ) C - conclusion ( use . to mark the conclusion ) Atomic smart notes Only working with isolated facts is very tricky and can lead you to forgetfulness in your learning journey. However, if you consider the facts and subjects interconnected with one another in an holistic way, it gets easier to connect the dots. Try to resume and interconnect everything together, rearrange them with the compass of Zettelkasten. You get the primary idea and you put it in the middle, north is where the idea comes from, the origins, on west you'll put all that's similiar to the primary idea, east is what competes and opposes and south can be to where the idea leads you.

I'm only on the 2nd point and I already know this video is the best Ive seen on note taking. Concise and strong methods. The most important I've seen. So insightful. Thanks for this!

I always get so excited to see new uploads from you; I'm really interested in the way that you think and I love that you share your learning with us all and try to explain it in a way that takes the heaviness out of the concepts. I have ADHD so these tips are especially helpful for me in managing the issues that come with that, especially as I ramp up to the next phase of my career. I'm about to order some index cards and try this out. What's interesting is that I'm also taking a data visualization class and I could see how all of this connects together.. we're trying to understand what is going on in our own brains and helping it along when the proper connections aren't made.

This is great advice. I've been using the QEC method since I read Cal Newport's book. I was still confused by the method after reading it but you just made it much clearer. Bravo, you have earned a sub🙌

I really appreciate this video! Thank you. It randomly popped up on my recommended page. I have a ZettelKasten but never broke it down by Q/E/C. I did write the notes in my own words. Also, the ZettelKasten Compass was a great idea. I did put opposing ideas next to my notes but this was great, especially with the examples.

Wow QEC and the compass of Zettelkasten thinking are amazing tips! Also love the editing 🤩 thank you for making this video!

This is concise and brilliant! Super high quality and well researched, thanks so much : )

on point, quick, detailed with the right amount of information, excellent visuals in terms of editing and brand. instantly subscribed! i'm gonna be sticking to this channel as long as i can

Vicky, thank you for this video! You have a knack for making complex concepts very clear and easy to understand! I’ll be implementing these ideas soon. P.S.: I love the aesthetic of your channel/videos!! Most YT channels nowadays are visually loud, whereas your old computer vibe/pixelated fonts are crisp and soothing, while still fun👌🏼😊

just realized I already done most of this so that's why my notes are so short and looks unorganized but is actually meaningful and memorable. this is the definition of work smarter not harder.

This was so good. Instant subscribe. Damn, you've got skill with explaining things in a structured and engaging way!

I love that you explain and talk about the idea behind, the system and not as a lot of other focus on features of a tool. Very much appreciated!

This is actually very enlightening, as I'll head to my next conference in a few months and I need something to improve my train of thought (which is often a jungle to explore) and eventually, do the deed (writing). Thanks, Vicky! Will go check the next video immediately!

Great video! The idea of breaking down QEC into atomic notes is genius. I write atomic notes. But adding the idea of QEC definitely helps to identify valuable ideas from the readings. I will try to apply it. Thanks a lot for the sharing!

I never heard about QEC and zettlekasten before. I like learning and studying new things, and finding this video felt like a giant breakthrough. Thank you

Your video is Clear, concise and useful just like an atomic note. Q.E.C plus the cardinal points method is such a great idea Thanks for your work!

I spent so much time to figure out how to know whether a note is atomic enough, and your video answered my question clearly! Amazing!🥰

Excellent Video on how to take smart notes and not just filling pages. Thank you for making this video!

The idea of the compass was awesome! Great info. Thank you.

Woah! Engaging and insightful. I've seen a lot of videos on this topic, and yours is the best. Thank you.

Watching you speak so passionately about this made me smile throughout the video. I really appreciate you sharing this and it was so cool to hear that you used this through law school as well! 😊

You are shockingly easy to pay attention to. Your communication is crisp and fairly perfect. The slight differences don't detract from what you are saying but add humanness so you're not off putting, boring, robotic. You don't use too many or too few words. Even the info/books you reference are interesting and high quality. I was mildly irritated the other day from listening to someone with a thousand ums and ahs and it contrasted the difference. All of this is enormously respectful to your viewer/listener. Possibly due to the ADHD I have no problem thinking laterally and in 3d but communicating the simplest ideas feels like disassembling a ship inside a bottle and laying it out in a way that the other person will know how to reconstruct it, all while lacking executive functioning and difficulty with anything linear or requiring steps. Everything is a big messy pile in 3 dimensions (time usually represented by space). Subscribed. Thank you!

Thanks Vicky, I'm watching all your videos and learning so much.

I´m learning so much from you! thank you so much, for sharing your work I´ll keep on following your content.. the more I watch the more I love it!

everything is so well executed, I'm subscribing

This video is exceptional and very helpful 🥰 it got me to change how I take notes, AND in taking notes this way, I could see the brilliance in how you’ve structured the information to be engaging. Well done!

Love this, very insightful and keen to try this method! Great work :)

Woah, your method so easy and helpful to do it. I'm struggling with remembering my major lesson and suddenly I see your video, it helps me a lot. Thanks for your hard work, I hope to see more video from you in the future.

finally a productive video with no bs and actual examples ❤ u got a new subscriber

Thanks for the helpful video. I am new to your channel and enjoy your editing and presentation style. I look forward to learning from the rest of your videos.

I think this is one of the best videos I've ever seen on youtube. thank you for this awesome explanation, as a college student this will be very useful to me :)

so thanks to this video i learned why do i actually retain the informations i learn so well! its amazing seeing my learning proccess being broken down and explained like that, its a really well made video!

This is amazing. one thing ive found is that when i research something i enjoy; take rome for example, i end up relaying the information in my head by pretending im explaining it to someone. dont even realize i do it half the time and it helps me to remember alot lol

I think this video perfectly exemplifies the "illusion of competence"

second one was kinda helpful but the third was incredible. It's strange to think I was already kind of doing this back in high school (mainly just for literature and GPR tho, cuz those required you to analyse texts), but your system really showed me how I could apply it to other subjects and areas of my life. I really liked this video :)) thanks!

This video was fantastic, thank you I have watched a lot of videos on note taking and none of them summed it up as beautifully as you have. Please keep doing more content.

Thank you Vicky!! One of the best channel🎉

This is SO helpful! I changed profession to one that's very broad and deep (data anlaytics) so I have so much to learn. I read and read but then struggle to recall, so I'm always wondering if there could be a more effective way to learn more deeply and creatively, which means in a more combinatorial way. What you're teaching here is just what I need! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us!

As a creative person I often cut and rearrange my tasks or ideas, I didn’t know that this could form a system ! Thank you for making these great videos

Vicky, I love, love, LOVE this video! This is the epiphany I was looking for when you used the Compass of Zettelkasten. I did not know that the compass questions (ah ha...I'm linking...lol) were mentioned in a recent video from Linking Your Thinking called "Stop Note Taking. Start Note Making." I like the compass questions better. Thank you! 😍

i just saw this video and this is already my fav youtube channel

Thank you for this video! You explain the methods so well

One of the best videos I’ve seen on this topic. Well done!

Really great content, thank you so much, it is gonna help me now.

Brilliant, thank you! As others have already said, but I wanted to back them up, there are millions of videos and blogs on note-taking, but they all just repeat each other, and just resay what Sonke Ahrens already said. This video brings something new to the discussion. I am going to use these ideas today!

Very concise, clear and nicely paced. Cheers.

the intro was really relatable ! btw the video is really of good quality ! thanks

Incredible video! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I will try everything you said

This was great! Definitely a helpful structure in this new way of thinking and break out of the illusion of competency. thank you

The reason is because we only remember 20% of what we read, if you want to remember anything then TEACH IT - it’s the only way.

This is incredibly helpful. Thank you for sharing.

Excellent video on how to structure one's thinking and note taking around the concept of smart notes. I would add that Obsidian (with Extended Mindmap and Kanban plugins) can be used as an excellent smart note taking tool to execute this strategy. Thanks for very concise, clear and well thought out presentation (on this very atomic topic, pun intended).

this is the video i was looking for. thanks!

This was great content. Thank you.

Excellent presentation, thank you for posting!

This video is awesome! I’m addicted to your channel 😂

Love your content, very insightul and helpful!

This is one of the best, found it very entertained and worth watching,

Wow. This was so insightful. Thank you for sharing.

Straight to the point, very informative i love it

Vicky! I enjoy each and every one of your videos! I appreciate you.

Very helpful video, I think I'm going to try this!!

Vicky, I was excited when I first watched this video, days later I watched again. Then again a week later. Working on the understanding. I decided to research the Q/E/C method and learned this structure has many limitations which you didn't mention in your video. After this I returned to watch your video again to see if I could straighten out some misunderstanding (so I thought I had). The Q/E/C is a limited note-taking method usually with subjects that require argumenting. Definitely non-technical. Great for philosophy as I read some examples. I can't see it as related to Zettlesten's method as you kind of danced around. I can see though how looking if other directions could help, more directions than simply north, east, west, north and south. If you would talk further on this maybe I can connect this further. I feel there's something missing or maybe its just something I'm not smart enough to get and taking your type of "smart" isn't my thing. I do want you to know I am big follower thus far.

I'm in the middle of the video yet, but want to say thank you. This will help me a lot. Thank you very very much.

This is a very good video. I see many videos about how to do zettlekasten, but never the reasons why it works so well. I questioned why should notes be so atomic and now it make sense. I hope this gets more views!

This was so well explained! So interesting!

I am loving the idea! Thanks for sharing. Time for implementation!

I have seen a lot of videos on RU-vid that talk about note taking and I have never watched a video as well as there your thank you very much

We used FIRAC - Facts, ID Issue, ID Rule applicable, Application of Rule to identified issue and facts and Conclusion. Thanks so much for this.

Completely awesome, thank you!

This is exactly what I needed to take my skill mastery learning to the next level. Thank you so much for this!!

great video, not too long not too short. love it

Excellent content! Well done! Thank you!

Exactly the video I have been looking for. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. I will subscribe to your channel, so keep making more great videos!

huh, i never realised that i’ve been actually using these methods my whole life. i like to think of my knowledge and ideas as ingredients and that they can be combined together into recipes. it’s nice to finally have the names to these methods.

Finally I get it!!! Excellent teaching

Succinct material, extremely well delivered. Thanks for sharing, Vicky.

I literally felt my brain making connections with each neuron while watching this video. I'm really mind blown holyyy.

I love this video so much I can't watch it all. It is too much wisdom for one sitting. I have to cap it like a great wine so as not to waste and watch more as I digest its great ideas. I just made a date with myself.

I've seen many videos and articles online regarding note taking and the zettelkasten system, but the Algorithm GOD have answered my prayers with your content. Your explanations are unbelievably clear, concise, and practical. (i.e. Q/E/C to develop atomic notes, the cardinal point method to connect ideas.) thanks.

i am glad that i have found your video, would´ve been nice to learn that when i was young and still in school. I also got very motivated right now from watching that, thank you ^^

Thanks a lot for this amazing video. Really well explain the ideas and how to use it, love it.

I hate it when my brain is just chilling like a potato 🥲 awesome video as always! love it xx

Excellent video... Thanks so much!

Vicky, love the way you present note-taking; thank you. I am an 81-year-old artist living in southeast Spain. I have come to the point where I know how to create art with multiple techniques. Having little time left, want to organize an effective information system to help me in the preparation of a work. The problem I have in following your recommendations is the source of the information. I get it from pictures, videos and other visual means. What triggers the need to register a topic that the image contains can be; and here are a few examples : composition, colour combinations, materials, techniques, (painting, printing, collage, drawing, photo, the author, style and a few others. So what I am looking for a procedure where after storing the image in a photograph database, I can make Atomic notes related to it. I am correct to think that I would need to make 3 types of note 1 for the question, 1 for the evidence and 1 for the conclusion; in a let us say Obsidian under the appropriate subject and location of the image in the photo database. If your services are within my financial capabilities, would you consider helping me develop this system? Once developed and working, you would own it. Thank you in advance for the time you took to respond to my issue. regards emile michel aparicio

Pretty good info, definitely gonna try this out

Great content! Very insightful