How to take Good Notes 🗒️ • reelikklemind

How to take Good Notes: A Simple Approach 🗒️

In our fast-paced, information-rich world, the ability to take good notes is a superpower. Effective note-taking can boost productivity, enhance memory, and spark creativity. Yet, many struggle with overly complex tools or disorganized systems that hinder rather than help.

This article offers a straightforward, practical guide to taking good notes using minimalist tools: Notepad.js.org for web-based note-taking, Beaver Notes for desktop and mobile (Beaver Pocket), plus a simple organizational strategy.

🎙️ TL;DR Podcast Summary:

If you’d rather listen than read, check out the short 6-minute podcast summary of this article generated by NotebookLM. Listen here.

Key Points from the Podcast:

Effective note-taking is a superpower that boosts productivity, enhances memory, and sparks creativity, especially in an information-rich world.
Many struggle with note-taking due to complexity, accessibility issues, disorganization, and lack of maintenance.
The solution is a system that adheres to five core principles: Simplicity, Accessibility, Searchability, Flexibility, and Reviewability.
Recommended minimalist tools include:

◦ Notepad.js.org: A simple, offline-capable Progressive Web App (PWA) that's privacy-first, saves in real-time, and is accessible from any browser.

◦ Beaver Notes (desktop) and Beaver Pocket (mobile): Privacy-focused, free, and open-source apps that store notes locally, support Markdown for formatting, offer tags, note linking, and cross-platform sync.

The core strategy is "Continuous Addition and Periodic Review":

◦ Use a single document (e.g., "My Notes").

◦ Add every new note at the very top, allowing older notes to flow downwards naturally.

◦ Periodically review the document (daily, weekly, monthly) and pull important, relevant notes back to the top to keep priorities visible.

◦ This approach avoids constant organizing, keeps priorities visible, and makes everything easily searchable in one place.

You can use separate notes for specific categories like books, podcasts, or videos, and use tags sparingly for quick searches.
Regularly back up your notes by downloading from Notepad.js.org or exporting from Beaver Notes.
The overall message emphasizes that effective note-taking is about consistency and ease using simple tools and a straightforward strategy, making your notes work for you.

Full Transcript (click arrow to expand)

Have you ever felt like, you know, your notes are just everywhere, scattered across a dozen apps, maybe lost or just too complicated to even bother starting?

Welcome to a deep dive we've put together just for you.

We're looking in some really interesting source material on well, what could be a superpower in today's world. Effective note-taking.

Yeah, it really can be. And it's um it's more than just writing stuff down, isn't it?

What the sources are showing is that the real power isn't just what you write, but how the process changes things. It's about turning information you passively get into, you know, active knowledge that can seriously boost your productivity and maybe even spark some creativity.

That's exactly it. And what I found fascinating is how these sources push for, well, really simple tools like minimalist stuff and straightforward strategies, getting away from all that complex software,
right? Away from the overwhelm.

So, our mission today is kind of twofold. First, explore why note-taking is so important, but also why does it often feel so hard?

You know, maybe it's too complex or you can't access notes easily or they're just a mess or you just never look at them again.

Exactly. That lack of maintenance.

So, we want to show you how to cut through that with a system that's uh simple, accessible everywhere, easy to search, flexible, and actually designed for you to review things periodically.

Okay. So, before we get into the specific tools you mentioned, what are the sort of guiding ideas here, the core principles for making this minimalist approach actually work?
It really comes down to five main things based on the sources. First, Simplicity. Both setting it up and keeping it going.

Easy is key.

Second, accessibility. You need your notes anytime, anywhere, right? On whatever device you have handy.

Third, searchability. Got to be able to find stuff fast. Otherwise, what's the point?

Fourth is flexibility. It needs to handle anything from a quick thought to like detailed meeting notes. And finally, reviewability.

Building in a way to actually look at your notes again so they stay useful.
Okay.

Simple, accessible, searchable, flexible, reviewable. Got it. So, with those principles in mind, What tools do the sources recommend? You mentioned a couple of minimalist allies.

Yeah, two really good ones. First is notepad.js.org.
Notepad.js.org.

Yeah. Think of it like a PWA, a progressive web app. It's basically a digital scratchpad right in your web browser. Super no frrills. It works offline, saves in real time, and it's very privacy focused. It even has little extras like a writing timer or some ambient noise that helps you focus. Just really simple, always there.
Hmm, Okay. Like a digital post-it note almost, but more persistent. And the second one, Beavernotes. That sounds a bit more substantial.

It is. Yeah, BeaverNotes is more robust, but still very much in that privacy conscious minimalist vein. It's free, open- source, works on desktop, and there's a mobile version called Beaver Pocket. The big thing here is it stores notes locally on your device. You have full control. It uses markdown for formatting.

Markdown, right? That's the simple text formatting thing. So like headings and bold text, but without complex menus.

Exactly. Keeps things clean and portable. Beaver Notes. also offers crossplatform sync if you want it, tags, you can link notes together and even do mermaid diagrams.
Well, hold on. Mermaid diagrams, that sounds maybe not so minimalist.

Why would I want diagrams and simple notes?

Uh, good question. It actually fits.

Mermaid lets you create diagrams like flowcharts or mind maps, just using simple text commands within your note.

So, you get the visual benefit without needing a whole separate complicated drawing app. It's pretty neat for summarizing ideas visually right in place.

Okay. Okay. I see. visuals from text. That is clever, right?
All right. So, we have these tools, notepad.js.org for quick stuff. BeaverNotes for maybe more structure.
What's the actual strategy, the day-to-day process?

Because honestly, the idea of just one document like my notes sounds potentially chaotic.

I know it sounds like it would be, but the core strategy highlighted in the sources is surprisingly elegant. You use that single document. Maybe call it my notes.

Yeah. And here's the key bin. Every new note, every new thought goes right at the very top, at the top.

So older notes just sort of sync exactly they flow downwards naturally. No complex filing, no deciding on the perfect tag right away.

So how do you find anything or keep track of what's important?
Ah that's where the reviewability principle comes back in. You periodically scan through this single stream maybe once a day, once a week, whatever works for you.

And the crucial step is you actively pull the important still relevant notes back up to the top stuff you need to act on, ideas you're developing.

I see. So the stuff that matters stays visible, stays current, and the less urgent stuff is still there, searchable, but it's lower down, kind of self-organizes based on relevance in your review.
Precisely. It avoids all that friction of constantly trying to organize everything perfectly. Priorities stay visible and everything's searchable in one place.

Now, you can still have separate nights for bigger things like maybe notes on a book you read or a specific project. And you can use tags, especially in Viva Notes, just maybe more sparingly. than you might otherwise.

Right. And BeaverNotes has that note linking feature too you said. So for complex projects, you could link related notes together for more structure if you needed it.
Exactly. You can tailor it, use section headers maybe or link notes. It's flexible.
And of course backups probably important if everything's in one main file or stored locally.
Oh, absolutely crucial.

Regularly back things up. You can download from notepad.js.org or export from BeaverNotes. Simple process, but don't forget it.

You could even mix them like notepad.js.org for super quick in the- moment thoughts and Beaver Notes for the more structured reviewable stuff.

So, when we boil it all down, what does this really mean for someone listening?
I think the big takeaway is that effective note-taking isn't about finding the perfect super fancy app. It's really about consistency and making it easy on yourself using simple tools like these, notepadjs.org or BeaverNotes and sticking to that straightforward add to the top review and pull up strategy.

Well, your notes can actually become this really a powerful extension of your own mind, almost effortless.

Yeah. Making your notes work for you instead of you working for your notes. The sources really seem to emphasize that shift, turning it from this like dreaded chore into something smooth and intuitive that actually helps you think better.
Exactly.

So maybe the question for you listening is, how could you start small with this? Could you try just one of these tools or just that add to the top idea for a week?

See how you can tweak this simple approach to really fit your way of working, your life, how you think and learn.

It's worth experimenting with.

Why Note-Taking Matters and Why It’s Hard

Notes serve as an extension of our memory, a repository for ideas, and a tool for reflection. However, common challenges can make note-taking feel like a chore:

Complexity: Feature-heavy apps overwhelm users with options, slowing down the process.
Accessibility: Notes trapped on one device or requiring internet access can be frustratingly out of reach.
Organization: Categorizing every note into folders or tags demands time and mental energy.
Maintenance: Without regular review, notes pile up, becoming a digital junk drawer.

The solution? A system that’s simple to use, universally accessible, easy to search, flexible for all note types, and built for periodic review.

Principles of Effective Note-Taking

To address these challenges, good note-taking should follow these core principles:

Simplicity: Minimal setup and maintenance, so you can focus on capturing thoughts.
Accessibility: Available anytime, anywhere—online or offline, across devices.
Searchability: Quick retrieval of specific notes without digging through clutter.
Flexibility: Suitable for quick jots, to-do lists, quotes, or detailed summaries.
Reviewability: A way to revisit and refine notes, keeping them relevant.

Let’s put these principles into practice.

Notepad.js.org or Beaver Notes: Your Minimalist Note-Taking Allies

For a lightweight, versatile note-taking experience, consider these tools tailored to your needs:

Notepad.js.org: An offline-capable Progressive Web App (PWA) designed for straightforward, no-frills note-taking across devices. Its key features include:
- Offline Capability: Install it on your browser for use without internet—ideal for travel or spotty connections.
- Real-Time Saving: Notes save as you type, eliminating the fear of lost work.
- Lightweight Design: Loads instantly, keeping your focus on writing.
- Privacy First: No data collection, ensuring your thoughts stay yours.
- Useful Extras: Dark mode, writing timer, keyboard shortcuts, full-screen mode, and ambient noise enhance the experience without complexity. Think of Notepad.js.org as a digital scratchpad: always ready, distraction-free, and accessible from any device with a browser.
Beaver Notes (Windows/MacOS/Linux/Mobile): A privacy-focused, free, and open-source note-taking app, Beaver Notes excels in simplicity and security. It stores notes locally, supports Markdown for rich formatting, and offers cross-platform compatibility, including a mobile app (Beaver Pocket, in release candidate stage). Key features include:
- Privacy First: Notes stay on your device, not in the cloud, ensuring complete control over your data.
- Markdown Support: Format notes effortlessly with Markdown, ideal for both casual and technical notes.
- Cross-Platform Sync: Sync notes across devices using a trusted provider, maintaining accessibility.
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design makes note-taking seamless and enjoyable.
- Organization Tools: Tags, note linking, and locked notes help organize and secure your ideas.
- Advanced Features: Includes Mermaid blocks for diagrams and collapsible headings for complex notes. Beaver Notes is perfect for users who want a robust, privacy-conscious tool that works across desktop and mobile.
- Beaver Pocket (iPhone/Android): For note-taking on the go, Beaver Pocket brings the power of Beaver Notes to your mobile device. Available for both iPhone and Android, this privacy-focused app ensures your notes are stored locally on your device, offering complete control and security. Currently in the release candidate stage, Beaver Pocket provides a user-friendly interface, Markdown support, tags, note linking, locked notes, and cross-device sync using a trusted provider. While stable, it’s recommended to back up your data and report any issues to help refine the app. Whether you’re capturing quick ideas or managing tasks, Beaver Pocket complements Beaver Notes, making your note-taking seamless across desktop and mobile.

These tools provide a solid foundation for note-taking, whether you’re on the go or working on a desktop.

Continuous Addition and Periodic Review: Simplicity Meets Power

One practical way to manage your notes is to keep a single document where you add new notes at the start. This keeps your most recent or pressing thoughts at the top, making them easy to spot. As you add more notes, older ones shift downward naturally. Every so often, you can skim through the document, pulling important notes back to the top if they still need attention, while letting less urgent ones stay lower down.

This approach works because it skips the hassle of sorting notes into categories or adding tags. You just write what comes to mind, and the regular check-ins keep the key stuff front and center. Plus, with everything in one place, finding something specific is as easy as a quick search.

How to Use It

Single Document: Use one file like "My Notes" to hold your main ideas and thoughts.
Add at the Start: Put each new note at the top of the page.
Let It Flow: Older notes move down as new ones come in.
Check and Adjust: Periodically review the list, moving active notes up or refining them as needed.

Why It’s Effective

No Fuss: You don’t waste time organizing, just write.
Priorities Stay Visible: Regular reviews highlight what matters most.
Search Made Easy: Everything’s in one spot for a fast find.
Versatile: Great for tasks, ideas, or random thoughts.

Putting It Into Action

Here’s how to implement this note-taking strategy using your chosen tool:

Start Your Note:
- In Notepad.js.org, open the app, click "New Note," and name it "My Notes" for your main ideas and thoughts.
- In Beaver Notes, create a new note and save it as "My Notes" or similar.
Add Freely: Add each new note at the top. Use a separator like - or a timestamp (e.g., 2025-07-27) for clarity. Examples for your main note:
- Idea: Create a morning routine for better focus
- Thought: How can I streamline my workflow?
- Task: Schedule team meeting for next week
Separate Notes for Media: Create additional notes for specific categories like books, podcasts, or videos. For example:
- In a "Books" note: Read: "Atomic Habits" - Key takeaway: Small changes compound
- In a "Podcasts" note: Listen: Episode on productivity - Note time management tips
- In a "Videos" note: Watch: TED Talk on creativity - Inspiring ideas for project
Review Regularly: Set a cadence (daily, weekly, monthly) to skim your main note. Copy-paste key items to the top, refine related notes, or let others sink. Check your media-specific notes (books, podcasts, videos) to update or act on them.
Tag Sparingly: Add minimal tags like work:, personal:, or urgent: for quick searches in your main note, or read:, listen:, watch: in your media notes, leveraging Beaver Notes’ tag system for better organization.
Trust the Process: Don’t stress about buried notes, they’ll resurface if they matter.

Example Workflow

Work Scenario:

You’re managing a project. In Beaver Notes, you open "My Notes" and add:

Follow up on email by 3 PM (at the top). Later, you add:
Prepare slides for tomorrow’s presentation. Then:
Check budget spreadsheet. In a separate "Videos" note, you note:
Watch: Tutorial on project management software. During your review, Follow up on email is done, so it stays lower, but Prepare slides is urgent, so you move it back up. You also check "Videos" and prioritize watching the tutorial.

Personal Scenario:

For personal life, in Notepad.js.org, you add to "My Notes":

Pick up food this weekend. Next, you add:
Plan hiking trip with friends. In a separate "Podcasts" note in Beaver Notes, you note:
Listen: Podcast on mindfulness - Key idea: Daily meditation. When you review, Plan hiking trip still needs work, so you bump it to the top, while Pick up food waits its turn. You revisit "Podcasts" to start a meditation habit.

In Beaver Notes, your main note might look like this:

Plan hiking trip with friends
---
Pick up food this weekend
---
Follow up on email by 3 PM

Your "Podcasts" note might look like:

Listen: Podcast on mindfulness - Key idea: Daily meditation
---
Listen: Episode on productivity - Note time management tips

Notepad.js.org, Beaver Notes Features

Each tool offers unique features to enhance your note-taking:

Notepad.js.org:
- Writing Timer: Track time spent on notes or set focused writing sessions.
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed up actions like saving or toggling full-screen; check the app’s help for a list.
- Full-Screen Mode: Block distractions for deep focus.
- Ambient Noise: Play calming sounds to drown out background chatter.
- Floating Window: Keep notes visible while browsing or working (browser-dependent).
- Export Options: Download as plain text, PDF, HTML, or DOCX for backups or sharing.
Beaver Notes:
- Markdown Formatting: Use Markdown for rich text, including headings, lists, and code blocks, to structure notes effectively.
- Tags and Note Linking: Organize notes with tags or create a web of interconnected ideas for easy navigation.
- Locked Notes: Secure sensitive notes to keep them private.
- Cross-Device Sync: Sync notes seamlessly across desktop and mobile (via Beaver Pocket) using a trusted provider.
- Mermaid Diagrams: Create diagrams for complex ideas, ideal for technical or project notes.
- Collapsible Headings: Manage long notes with collapsible sections for better readability.

These features make your chosen tool more than a text editor by creating an environment tailored to your focus and flow.

Addressing Limitations

No system is perfect. Here’s how to handle potential drawbacks:

File Size: A massive note might slow down older devices. Solution? Modern browsers handle large files well in Notepad.js.org, and Beaver Notes is optimized for performance, even with large files. Regular exports keep backups light.
Structure Needs: For complex projects (e.g., research papers), a single file might feel limiting. Try section headers within the note (e.g., ## Project X) or use Beaver Notes’ note linking and tags for more structure.
Missing Advanced Features: Beaver Notes’ Markdown, tags, and note linking cover most advanced needs, while Ctrl+F in Notepad.js.org handles basic searches.

Tailoring It to You

The beauty of this approach is its adaptability:

Multiple Notes: Beyond your main "My Notes" file, maintain separate notes for books, podcasts, and videos to organize media-specific insights, as you prefer. Use Beaver Notes to manage multiple notes with tags or Notepad.js.org for browser-based access.
Backups: Download your notes regularly from Notepad.js.org or export from Beaver Notes (supports Markdown and HTML) to avoid data loss.
Hybrid Use: Use Notepad.js.org for quick, on-the-go notes, and Beaver Notes for desktop and mobile editing, transferring structured content to specialized apps as needed.

Final Thoughts

Good note-taking isn’t about fancy tools, but about consistency and ease. Notepad.js.org and Beaver Notes, combined with a simple note-taking strategy and separate notes for books, podcasts, and videos, offer a lightweight, effective way to capture and manage your thoughts.

For years, I’ve relied on Notepad.js.org and Beaver Notes to capture my thoughts, ideas, and tasks, and I’m deeply grateful for their existence. These tools have transformed my note-taking from a scattered, overwhelming process into a streamlined, intuitive practice that feels like second nature. Their simplicity, privacy-first approach, and cross-platform accessibility have helped me to stay organized and focused, whether I’m scribbling down a quick idea on the go or structuring detailed notes for a project. Knowing my notes are secure and always within reach gives me peace of mind, and I’m thankful for the developers and communities behind these tools who make such reliable, user-focused solutions available for free.

Start small, experiment, and tweak it to fit your life. With this approach, your notes will work for you, not the other way around.

Crepi il lupo! 🐺