The Art of Note Taking with Artificial Intelligence: Connecting Thoughts
Hello from the second episodes of the series, the first of which was published last week under the title “Productivity Magicians: 6 AI-powered Tools” This time our topic is centered around the note-taking habit that we’re all familiar with in our daily lives, but we often underestimate.
In this article, I will touch upon the Zettelkasten method that offers a fresh perspective to our note-taking practice. I say touch upon because the topic is vast, and my aim is to frame the subject for you and increase your awareness. Of course, if anyone needs more details later on, I can also share the resources I have. In addition, I will talk about an app named Logseq, which allows this method, introduced in the 20th century, to be easily applied today.
Finally, we’ll explore whether artificial intelligence can simplify our note-taking processes. However, our priority will be elevating our note-taking habit to retain knowledge more effectively. Let’s get started.
The amount of data produced nowadays has reached extraordinary levels. We consume so much information daily that it’s becoming a serious issue in many aspects of our lives. Think of it as wandering through the corridors of a complex archive in your mind. When we encounter valuable information, we usually try to save it by taking notes: jotting them down in notebooks, leaving sticky notes on our desks, or saving them as digital files on our computers. But here’s the problem: we collect these valuable pieces of information but often don’t know how to utilize their real potential.
Sadly, these brilliant ideas and knowledge bits often get forgotten and lost. Without a proper system, our data quickly descends into chaos. The only solution seems to be regularly organizing and sorting our notes. Think about it: how often do we take notes? We scribble down information hoping to use it in the future, but they just turn into piles of forgotten notes, at least that was the case for me. This stems from our notes being kept in a way that doesn’t explain their purpose or context.
As a result, we’re left with different pieces of information that don’t seem connected in a logical flow of thought. For those wanting to improve their knowledge-building and thinking capabilities, the Zettelkasten system may be a beacon of hope.
So, what is this Zettelkasten method?
The creator of the Zettelkasten method, Niklas Luhmann, is a legendary figure in the world of social sciences. He was a German sociologist and a pioneer in systems theory. His works and ideas have cemented him as one of the most influential theorists of the 20th century.
Luhmann’s Zettelkasten method has become synonymous with the note-taking practice. This method allowed him to manage his notes systematically and, thanks to these notes, realize significant intellectual projects. Some fundamental principles are stated while using this method:
Notes should be gathered in two main boxes: a reference box (for sources) and a main information box. He would also create special folders for projects and send the notes to a permanent archive once the projects were completed.
When filing these notes, each note must contain specific details like the date, index number, and content. Notes also have temporary and permanent stages, making the working process more comprehensible.
Having the notes in an “atomic” structure is crucial, meaning each note should express only one idea. Furthermore, these notes should provide references to other notes, allowing them to be used more comfortably within context.
So, Luhmann didn’t just compile his works by gathering notes, but he also established natural and meaningful connections between these notes. In this manner, Luhmann’s thoughts and works transformed into an information box progressing in its unique way.
Now comes the important question: so how should we proceed?
The answer to this question is personal and varies for everyone, unfortunately. To set up your system, there are apps available like Evernote, Notion, One Note, Apple Notes, Google Keep, and many more. As it’s a personal matter, everyone’s needs are different. I prefer a simple solution like Apple Notes. Such straightforward and clean systems help you take notes quickly and easily. However, now we have a different method at hand, and the real question we need to ask is:
We have a different method and powerful technological solutions at hand; but how much can we use them?
In the era we’re in, personal knowledge management has become more critical than ever before. Organizing our information should not only enhance our productivity but should also transform into a structure that allows for the discovery of new ideas and connections. This is where the concept of “linked notes” comes into play.
Linked notes aim to create meaningful relationships between notes, making the information more understandable and interconnected. This ensures that the information is not just stacked up but is also accessible and linked. Using such a system in the digital realm makes information management much easier.
This concept is actually derived from Wikipedia, a macro-level example. However, adopting this approach for personal knowledge management is a relatively new phenomenon. Especially in the digital realm, new opportunities continue to arise for note-taking and knowledge management.
Organizing and making information useful is a significant challenge for any task. However, the right note-taking system can be a significant step in addressing this issue. Our goal should be to organize existing information, integrate new knowledge into this system, and transform our growing knowledge base into a dynamic, accessible, and useful structure over time.
And this is where the technological solution comes into play: Logseq!
Logseq: Connecting Thoughts
It’s undoubtedly a powerful tool that can revolutionize how you manage information. It allows you to create linked notes, organize these notes, and make your information archive more useful.
Differences from other note-taking tools are as follows:
Block-based: You can organize notes in blocks and link these blocks to other blocks. This facilitates the creation of connected thoughts and information networks.
Backlinks: Each block has a backlink section, and this section displays all other blocks that link to that block. This makes it easier to see how different ideas are related and to track these relationships.
Graphical view: We can say it’s like drawing a complete mind map. It visually displays the relationships between blocks, helping users see patterns and connections that are not immediately noticeable in a text-based view.
Markdown support: Supports markdown syntax, which is a feature that simplifies text formatting and the creation of headers, lists, and other elements.
Integrations: It can integrate with various other tools such as GitHub, Obsidian, and Roam Research (by the way, these tools are a whole other content topic), which allows you to easily access your notes while working on different platforms.
Offline use: It can be used offline, allowing users to access and edit their notes even without an internet connection.
Customization: Themes, plugins that can be customized according to user preferences and workflows are quite sufficient for a new application.
If this tool excites you and you want to learn more details; there is a nice explanation in this video. If you say, “No, I want to explore it myself,” I’m leaving the live demo link here.
And if you ask, “Where does artificial intelligence come into play here?”, I’d like to introduce you to an AI application that can help simplify things while trying to adapt to this system; Mem!
What does Mem offer us?
Automatic Content Suggestions: It automatically analyzes notes and can suggest similar ones. This accelerates your research process, allowing you to work more efficiently.
Idea Connections: It helps you find connections between different ideas. Thanks to suggestions, you can discover new connections and have the opportunity to quickly access important information you might have forgotten.
Quick and Effective Writing Assistance: There’s an AI-powered writing assistant. You can command it to start writing with a simple command. Initial impressions suggest it’s quite fast.
Task Management: You can track your tasks systematically. You can see all your to-dos in one place and plan your tasks better.
Collaborative Capabilities: It simplifies the work process by integrating with your Gmail account. You can share your notes in groups and make information management within a team more effective.
Mem is an assistant that makes note-taking and information management more efficient and effective with artificial intelligence. If you want to improve your note-taking process and bring more order, trying out Mem might be a good option. I’m leaving a comprehensive review video for you right here.
To slowly wrap up the topic;
I tried to briefly introduce new perspectives and solutions regarding information management and note-taking practice. Zettelkasten is a method that encourages productivity by turning information into a connected network. In the digital age, productivity and information management are rapidly evolving. We can now capture, organize, and use information more effectively. These tools allow us to interact more deeply with information and make our thoughts more connected. To be more successful in the age of information, we can build our own information management system using these tools. Knowledge is power, and these tools offer us the opportunity to harness that power more effectively.
Hey, Before You Go! 😊
Share Your Thoughts: Did something resonate with you? Feel free to clap, comment, or share. It genuinely brightens my day to hear from readers like you.
Want More? If you’re enjoying my articles, you can hit ‘Subscribe’ to get them directly in your inbox. I promise, no spam, just the good stuff!
Let’s Be Friends: I’m pretty active on LinkedIn. Let’s connect and chat there.
Buy Me a Coffee? If you’re feeling generous and like what I’m doing, you can support me on Patreon. It’s like buying me a coffee and keeping the words flowing.
Thank you!
Emre
