Notes are simple text documents that can be written at any time, physically or digitally. They allow you to externalise a complex mess of thoughts, making it much easier to work through them and ensure they’re not forgotten.
Outside of simple reminders, notes are usually either written to document an idea, or to write about a problem.
Idea notes are a proactive measure. While each random idea may appear insignificant alone, being able to link together and implement them later is a crucial pillar of self-improvement. Some idea notes become irrelevant, some are turned into tasks, but a few of them form the first stage in the system lifecycle.
Problem notes are a reactive measure. Documenting a problem in detail can not only relieve stress but also allows solutions to be theorised more clearly. An effective approach is to start writing in ‘problem mode’, and then later switch to ‘solution mode’, to clearly separate the sections. Solution mode can begin with “So, what can we do about it?”.
While idea notes should be stored for later processing, problem notes should be temporary. After a solution has been devised, it can be converted to simple tasks and added to a to-do list. At this point, the problem note can be destroyed.