From 8ca15978e8e3646d907b992dec2305a1c1910b09 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Matthew Wong Date: Sat, 7 May 2022 08:39:14 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] add new blog post for retaining info --- ...te useful links, we need to connect, not group.md | 4 +++- content/notes/connecting ideas is fun.md | 6 ++++++ content/notes/following a train of thought.md | 2 +- content/notes/fun is a powerful motivator.md | 6 ++++++ content/notes/having more connections is better.md | 2 +- ...on is often more valuable than the acquisition.md | 6 ++++++ .../how-to-create-useful-links-with-zettelkasten.md | 8 ++++++-- .../how-to-optimizing-note-taking-for-retention.md | 12 ++++++++++++ content/posts/manage-notes-with-a-simple-workflow.md | 8 +++++++- 9 files changed, 48 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-) create mode 100644 content/notes/connecting ideas is fun.md create mode 100644 content/notes/fun is a powerful motivator.md create mode 100644 content/notes/retention is often more valuable than the acquisition.md create mode 100644 content/posts/how-to-optimizing-note-taking-for-retention.md diff --git a/content/notes/To create useful links, we need to connect, not group.md b/content/notes/To create useful links, we need to connect, not group.md index bd399ace3..49722bdf5 100644 --- a/content/notes/To create useful links, we need to connect, not group.md +++ b/content/notes/To create useful links, we need to connect, not group.md @@ -3,4 +3,6 @@ title: To create useful links, we need to connect, not group date: 2022-05-01 lastmod: 2022-05-01 --- -The focus for creating useful links is on making connections between notes and NOT making groups. Ideas need to be [[notes/atomic things are self-contained|atomic]] and grouping things doesn't create atomic ideas. \ No newline at end of file +The focus for creating useful links is on making connections between notes and NOT making groups. Ideas need to be [[notes/atomic things are self-contained|atomic]] and grouping things doesn't create atomic ideas. + +When we don't create links atomic links (e.g. `[[school]]`), there will be many connections with very little meaning, adding [[notes/clutter slows us down|clutter]]. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/notes/connecting ideas is fun.md b/content/notes/connecting ideas is fun.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..eb5920094 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/notes/connecting ideas is fun.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +--- +title: connecting ideas is fun +date: 2022-05-07 +lastmod: 2022-05-07 +--- +On top of being [[notes/connecting ideas is powerful|powerful]], it is [[notes/fun is a powerful motivator|fun]] to connect ideas because we gain new insights from making connections and our [[notes/the brain is a network of ideas|brains function through connections]]. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/notes/following a train of thought.md b/content/notes/following a train of thought.md index e70f2cfa7..5a3a3c7b1 100644 --- a/content/notes/following a train of thought.md +++ b/content/notes/following a train of thought.md @@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ title: following a train of thought date: 2022-04-04 notetype: feed --- -following a train of thought is akin to traversing a network of ideas. One idea can lead to a number of connected ideas. \ No newline at end of file +following a train of thought is akin to traversing a network of ideas. One idea can lead to a number of connected ideas, which is why [[having more connections is better|notes/having more connections is better]] \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/notes/fun is a powerful motivator.md b/content/notes/fun is a powerful motivator.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..ced752831 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/notes/fun is a powerful motivator.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +--- +title: fun is a powerful motivator +date: 2022-05-07 +lastmod: 2022-05-07 +--- +When something is fun, we are easily motivated to do more of it. If we make our boring tasks fun, it'll be easier to do them as well! \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/notes/having more connections is better.md b/content/notes/having more connections is better.md index a82f38f21..b40d65cac 100644 --- a/content/notes/having more connections is better.md +++ b/content/notes/having more connections is better.md @@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ title: having more connections is better notetype: feed date: 2022-04-12 --- -With more [[notes/connecting ideas is powerful|connections]], it makes it easier to traverse from one idea to another one. It's like comparing roads in a city versus roads in the countryside. That being said, the links need to be [[notes/To create useful links, we need to connect, not group|useful]]. \ No newline at end of file +With more [[notes/connecting ideas is powerful|connections]], it makes it easier to traverse from one idea to another one. It's like comparing roads in a city versus roads in the countryside. That being said, the links need to be [[notes/To create useful links, we need to connect, not group|useful]]. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/notes/retention is often more valuable than the acquisition.md b/content/notes/retention is often more valuable than the acquisition.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..0d44be00a --- /dev/null +++ b/content/notes/retention is often more valuable than the acquisition.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +--- +title: retention is often more valuable than the acquisition +date: 2022-05-07 +lastmod: 2022-05-07 +--- +Without any retention, there is no growth. Anything acquired will just be lost. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/posts/how-to-create-useful-links-with-zettelkasten.md b/content/posts/how-to-create-useful-links-with-zettelkasten.md index c563ccc25..6ba7f6232 100644 --- a/content/posts/how-to-create-useful-links-with-zettelkasten.md +++ b/content/posts/how-to-create-useful-links-with-zettelkasten.md @@ -4,13 +4,17 @@ description: The linking feature of Zettelkasten is one of its most defining fea date: 2022-04-29 lastmod: 2022-04-29 --- -The linking feature of [[notes/Zettelkasten|Zettelkasten]] is one of its [[notes/connecting ideas is powerful|most defining features]], yet, it's the least understood. Linking ideas should be [[notes/linking ideas should be natural|natural]] for us, but a lifetime of organization with the [[notes/organization with the tree structure|tree structure]] has made it difficult to adopt this new form of organization. In order to make links useful, we'll [[notes/old habits make it hard to learn new things|need to unlearn our old habits]]. This is an entire paradigm shift, so don't expect it to be easy. +The linking feature of [[notes/Zettelkasten|Zettelkasten]] is one of its [[notes/connecting ideas is powerful|most defining features]], yet, it's the least understood. Linking ideas should be [[notes/linking ideas should be natural|natural]] for us, but a lifetime of organization with the [[notes/organization with the tree structure|tree structure]] has made it difficult to adopt this new form of organization. To make links useful, we'll [[notes/old habits make it hard to learn new things|need to unlearn our old habits]]. This is an entire paradigm shift, so don't expect it to be easy. ## Don't group things, connect them The biggest mistake—and one I've made myself—is linking with categories. In other words, it's adding links like we would with tags. When we link this way we're more focused on [[notes/To create useful links, we need to connect, not group|grouping rather than connecting]]. As a result, we have notes that contain many connections with little to no relevance. Additionally, we add [[notes/clutter slows us down|clutter]] to our links which makes it difficult to find useful links when adding links. That being said, there are times when we might want to group some things. In these cases, use tags or folders. +**Bad Links:** `[[work]]`, `[[notes]]`, `[[school]]`, `[[food]]` + +**Great Links:** `[[notes are written to free space in the brain]]` `[[working to live or living to work depends on how meaningful someone finds their jobs]]` + ## Creating points of connection -It's clear that we shouldn't use links to group things together, but how do we create connections? Find the single idea behind what you're writing and create an [[notes/atomic things are self-contained|atomic]] link. These are powerful because they are [[notes/interoperable components are efficient|interoperable]]. If you're unsure of how to do this, you'll see that examples of links scattered throughout this blog post. Feel free to click around and "[[notes/following a train of thought|follow the train of thought]]". +We shouldn't use links to group things together, but how do we create connections? Find the single idea behind what you're writing and create an [[notes/atomic things are self-contained|atomic]] link. These are powerful because they are [[notes/interoperable components are efficient|interoperable]]. If you're unsure how to do this, you'll see examples of links scattered throughout this blog post. Feel free to click around and "[[notes/following a train of thought|follow the train of thought]]". ## How Fleeting Notes helps create useful links [Fleeting Notes](https://fleetingnotes.app) is a lightweight note-taking application for capturing and connecting thoughts. I know that [[notes/having more connections is better|having more connections is better]] and the [[posts/writing-quick-notes-in-obsidian|friction of writing notes in obsidian]] prevents me from creating more connections. With Fleeting Notes, I can easily create notes within my browser or phone and have them [[posts/sync-fleeting-notes-with-obsidian|sync with Obsidian]]. diff --git a/content/posts/how-to-optimizing-note-taking-for-retention.md b/content/posts/how-to-optimizing-note-taking-for-retention.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..be2cb1f33 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/how-to-optimizing-note-taking-for-retention.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +title: How to optimize note-taking for retention +description: It's often more valuable to retain knowledge rather than acquire new knowledge. But thanks to content overload from the internet, we're constantly bombarded with new information from various sources. It's extremely difficult for us to retain knowledge when we're constantly acquiring new knowledge. +date: 2022-05-06 +lastmod: 2022-05-06 +--- +In the world of marketing, [[notes/retention is often more valuable than the acquisition|retaining]] users is often more valuable than attaining users. The same could be said about knowledge. It's often more valuable to retain knowledge rather than acquire new knowledge. But thanks to content overload from the internet, we're constantly bombarded with new information from various sources. It's [[notes/clutter slows us down|difficult]] for us to retain knowledge when we're constantly acquiring new knowledge. + +The solution to this problem is simple—regularly review past concepts. The issue many have with regular reviews is that it's cumbersome, hard to re-discover important/relevant information, and it's not [[notes/fun is a powerful motivator|fun]]. + +## How I Re-discover My Notes +A method I found more sustainable compared to other methods (e.g. [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/)) is to organize my notes through the [[notes/connecting ideas is powerful|connection of ideas]]. As I write new notes, I would add *links* to concepts that I've created in the past. This linkage of ideas [[notes/connecting ideas improves learning|improves learning]] and introduces past concepts that are relevant. With this system, I've effectively made review a component of my note organization. For more information on my note organization workflow see [[posts/manage-notes-with-a-simple-workflow|my workflow for managing notes]]. diff --git a/content/posts/manage-notes-with-a-simple-workflow.md b/content/posts/manage-notes-with-a-simple-workflow.md index 51ab8c599..af7e79ba6 100644 --- a/content/posts/manage-notes-with-a-simple-workflow.md +++ b/content/posts/manage-notes-with-a-simple-workflow.md @@ -15,7 +15,13 @@ My goal is to create a [[notes/simple solutions are often the best|simple]] work ## Connect Ideas to Organize Notes Since [[notes/the brain is a network of ideas|the brain is a network of ideas]], we can take advantage of that by similarly structuring our notes. Therefore, we create notes that extend our brain. Because notes are organized more intuitively, finding notes is as simple as [[notes/following a train of thought|following a train of thought]]. -One trap that people fall victim to is organizing notes with categories. We want to organize through ideas because they are [[notes/interoperable components are efficient|interoperable]]. Categories are too broad and aren't interoperable. Some good examples of notes are: [[notes/time is the most valuable resource|time is the most valuable resource]], [[notes/if you dont use it, you lose it|if you dont use it, you lose it]], and [[notes/how to delete tags in github|how to delete tags in github]]. See [[posts/how-to-create-useful-links-with-zettelkasten|How to organize notes with links]]. +One trap that people fall victim to is organizing notes with categories. We want to organize through ideas because they are [[notes/interoperable components are efficient|interoperable]]. Categories are too broad and aren't interoperable. As an example: + +**Bad Links:** `[[work]]`, `[[notes]]`, `[[school]]`, `[[food]]` + +**Great Links:** `[[notes are written to free space in the brain]]` `[[working to live or living to work depends on how meaningful someone finds their jobs]]` + +See [[posts/how-to-create-useful-links-with-zettelkasten|How to organize notes with links]] for more info. ### Workflow #1 (Internet Browsing) 1. I find an interesting quote or read an article (e.g. an article about remembering more things)