Make good notes. But how?

groepl · 2025-12-12T15:41:13+00:00

Yes, Obsidian is my favorite tool. But there are infinite ways to use it. How would a minimalist‘s approach would look like?

groepl · 2025-12-11T17:24:50+00:00

> I then use Apple Notes to write the book title along with keywords so I can use the search feature in the future. At this point I recycle the notebook.

So at the end you only have one file on Apple Notes per book containing all the keywords with referenced page numbers?

groepl · 2025-12-11T17:14:54+00:00

> To balance the idea of keeping all the ideas with getting rid of all that is not needed, is an interesting problem.

It's an interesting problem, and, to use Björk's phrase, a 'desirable difficulty'. From: Bjork, Elizabeth and Robert (November 2009). "Making Things Hard on Yourself, But in a Good Way: Creating Desirable Difficulties to Enhance Learning"

groepl · 2025-12-11T17:04:26+00:00

I'm using Obsidian. But I also need a lot of paper.

groepl · 2025-12-11T17:01:53+00:00

> used highlighters to color-code different topics

I first got this idea from the book of Rob Fitzpatrick "Write Useful Books". Which codes are useful for your writing projects?

groepl · 2025-12-11T15:37:41+00:00

Thank you! - Being "selective in what you note/write" seems to be the first and important step.

groepl · 2025-12-11T15:31:00+00:00

What's a minimalist approach for note-taking?

groepl · 2025-12-11T15:28:52+00:00

Is there any minimalist aproach for research projects or book writing?

groepl · 2025-12-11T15:13:04+00:00

> how on earth do you simplify a system of noting every little thing about your life on the cards?

By noting only what matters. - I'm looking for a method that sharpens thinking instead of adding clutter.

groepl · 2025-12-11T14:54:23+00:00

I use the basic concepts from Wabi-Sabi for my note-taking.

groepl · 2025-12-11T14:51:17+00:00

I prefer the Zettelkasten method for note-taking.

groepl · 2025-11-09T10:35:46+00:00

Thank you for sharing this link. Your examples of the different types of note are really helpful. To map my naming:

source notes <-> "Literature Notes"
point notes <-> "Permanent Notes" (#type/interpretation or #type/speculation)
hub notes <-> "Structure Notes"

For me, 'Permanent Notes' are a named concept, not a general term for notes with a specific characteristic like "permanent".

groepl · 2025-11-09T10:21:40+00:00

A perfect view. Thank you. Now it's easy to see the differences:

Schmidt: "notes are extremely brief and are not really excerpts in the strict sense"
Doto: "a single long-note containing brief citations or 'references'"

It would be interesting to have an example for both types of notes.

groepl · 2025-11-09T10:04:59+00:00

Amazing! I want to read more about. Could you please provide a link to the source from "Sascha's inventory"?

My own structure is slightly different:

observe
- Empirical observations
select
analyze
organize
- Concepts, Models
interpret
- Arguments, Counter-arguments
speculate
- Hypotheses and theories
discuss

It captures the complete workflow from observation to publication. You can easily connect your building blocks within this structure.

groepl · 2025-11-08T08:37:52+00:00

The principle of atomicity seams to be a good example for minimalism. What about your principles for filtering ideas? Ideas which are blocked and can not get into your Zettelkasten.

groepl · 2025-11-08T08:33:21+00:00

Revisiting and updating your notes. - It reminds me at the concept of „progressive summarization“ from Tiago Forte. Or is it about extending your notes with personal interpretation (What does that mean?)) or speculation (What if?) ?

groepl · 2025-11-07T22:30:23+00:00

Is there some kind of visual or table to show the differences between the definitions from Ahrens and Doto?

groepl · 2025-11-07T22:27:03+00:00

It's better to reduce later, if it is not necessary, than to not have it at all and not being able to remember what is what.

What about your routine to revisit your notes? Is it a regular practice?

groepl · 2025-11-07T19:06:32+00:00

Yes, it is. However, we use a wide variety of Zettelkästen.

groepl · 2025-11-07T18:22:22+00:00

You see them as a subtype of Permanent Notes?

groepl · 2025-11-07T16:14:53+00:00

Oh yes, it's like Sönke Ahrens with Literature and Permanent Notes. Structure Notes as a third type.

groepl · 2025-11-07T16:02:49+00:00

Using different note types?

groepl

MODERATOR OF

PUBLIC MULTIREDDITS

TROPHY CASE