How To Take Notes At Work

Are you an efficient notetaker, or are you wasting time and not getting all the information that you can?

There are some ways you can improve your note-taking and become an efficient learning machine. Use these note-taking techniques, and you’ll have better study notes, better notes at work, and be better informed.

15 Tips for Better Notetaking

Forget your old method of taking notes. These tips will make you better at everything you do that requires great notes. From learning your lessons to being a better writer or getting the credit you deserve at work.

1. Select a notetaking method. This first tip is probably the most difficult one. Just randomly writing notes on a sheet of paper or on your computer is not nearly as effective as using a notetaking method. Once you select one of the following methods, you can begin implementing the other tips.

   • The Cornell method. This method features a column to the left with main points or keywords, a bottom summary that can be written after the lecture, and the main section where you write correlating notes and other information.

   • The Outline method. This is a very common method, and it’s pretty effective, especially for long lectures that are given in an organized manner.

     Most proponents of this method suggest using roman numerals for the main point, then indenting under that with capital letters, and if needed, following under that with an indent and a lowercase letter.

     You can choose to use your own method of numbering, and you can even take it up a notch by color-coding topics for easy clarification.

   • The Charting method. This method is actually a lot like the outline method. If you think of the outline method as being a horizontal way of charting, then you can see how this vertical method will work.

     Divide your page into columns with the key point at the top and then list your notes underneath.

     This is really useful if your lecturer isn’t very organized and goes back and forth from one topic to another and back again. You just switch columns, and you’re ready to go.

   • The Mind-Mapping method. This is a more visual way to take notes, and if your brain works that way, this might be your solution. Just note that it can get messy, so if you like organized notes, this way won’t work.

     In this method, you put the main topic in the center, then you draw out the subtopics from it and take notes around them. It’s a good way to show how various subjects can be interconnected.

2. Record main points. Verbatim note taking is usually not too helpful. Focus on getting the main points instead. Filler words will not help in the long run, just jot down key points and then fill them in later, if necessary.

3. Summarize in your words. If you’re frantically scribbling, trying to get every word down, then you’re probably actually missing a lot of the content. Try to focus on what’s being said and then summarize it in your words.

   This way, it’s already been processed in your brain and more likely to make sense and stick. Not only this, but it helps you work on your active listening skills. These soft skills can make you a much better student, friend, family member, and employee.

4. Ask questions. If what you’re hearing prompts you to ask questions, keep a running list of those questions. Then look up the answers later. This gives you deeper, more in-depth knowledge and understanding, which can make a difficult subject or topic much easier.

   If you can’t find the answer or it doesn’t make sense, follow up with the person who gave the lecture so you are clear on the topic. It can also show that you’re interested in what you’re learning and that always makes you look good.

5. Rely on writing. Sure, recording your lectures to listen to later can be very useful, but that’s not a replacement for handwriting your notes. Handwriting is even more effective than typing your notes on a computer, so get ready to start writing.

   There’s even been a theory that you’ll remember the notes better if you write with your non-dominant hand. This means, if you’re right-handed, take notes with your left hand. Give it a try.

6. Record lectures and recorded lectures. We mentioned this one above, but it bears repeating. Recording your class and work lectures is a great way to reinforce learning if you listen to them later. But that’s an important point.

   You need to listen to them later because the act of recording by itself doesn’t do anything to help your memory; it’s the repetition that helps. This makes lectures that are already online or recorded especially useful because you can keep going back.

7. Review your notes and then do it again. Immediately after or at least very shortly after you’ve taken the notes, give them a good once over. This gives you a chance to follow up on any questions you had or things you didn’t fully understand.

   And you want to do this when you’re fresh, so you have complete notes. Then review them later, like before an exam or before you begin to tackle a project. Every time you review them, you’re giving your brain some reinforcement and should be embedding them further into your memory.

8. Use drawings. Some people find that drawing or doodling lessons and notes help them remember. If you can get a little creative with your notes, then you might be able to engage more of your brain and enjoy it more.

   Give it a try and see how it works for you. And don’t worry, no one is going to grade your artistic ability – that’s not what’s important here.

9. Use colors, stickers, highlighters, tabs, and more. Why not pull out all the stops to organize your notes neatly and efficiently? Go through your local office or school supply store to find different supplies that will help you categorize your work and highlight the important parts.

10. Rewrite your notes. Whether you take sloppy notes or the neatest notes around, rewriting them can be a big benefit. Since you’re using the handwriting method on your first draft of the lecture notes, why not try typing them for the second round?

    This gives you a clean document to study from and to keep for future reference.

11. Use the scrapbook approach. Nice, neat rows of printed words bore you and it’s easy to get lost in them. Instead, you like drawings, color, and maybe even a collage.

    If you’re a graphic and visual person, why create notes that look like your textbook – you already have one of those? Instead, create a scrapbook of your notes for a more impactful study tool.

12. Try a notetaking app. There’s an app for everything these days, so of course, there’s a note-keeping app. There are a lot of them to try, but it’s important to know that they’re not the best for a long lecture but are great for short notes.

    You can get a lot of benefit out of them by entering in the parts that are most confusing to you or that you need to study further and then reviewing them frequently.

    You’ve got your phone everywhere you go. Use it to review your notes when you’re waiting instead of mindlessly scrolling social media.

13. Find a study buddy. If you trust someone else to take great notes and you think you take great notes, it can be really useful to switch notes. This way, you get to review what you wrote and what they wrote.

    You might hear it in a different way, and that can help the information sink in better. You might also find they picked up something you missed. With the two of you working together and then sharing the data, you’re sure to get more out of each lecture you attend.

14. They’re your notes. This tip is important if you don’t have a study buddy. If you do have one, you’ll have to let them know what’s going on. But if you fully own your notes, then you don’t have to worry about spelling or grammar or even full words.

    Create your own shorthand and abbreviations and symbols. As long as you know what you mean, it can help you go faster and classify what you’ve learned.

15. Prepare for the long haul. Some people dive into a class, a lecture, or a meeting full of enthusiasm and excitement and then quickly peter out. Or they tend to slowly fall apart, losing their interest, feeling sleepy, getting tired.

    If you aren’t used to being an active listener and taking notes for an extended period of time, this can be difficult. Do what you can to stay alert throughout.

Final Thoughts

Taking brief notes can be pretty easy, as long as you’re thorough and actively thinking about what those notes mean. It’s when you get into the longer sessions of notetaking that it can be a real drain on your energy and mental ability. Then, trying to pull it all together and remember what you learned later might seem almost impossible.

The key to becoming a master notetaker is selecting the method of notetaking you’re going to use: Outline, Charting, Mapping, or Cornell. Then try several tips and be willing to adapt and modify them to work for you.

If you find that one thing really works, stick with it and try to add to it. If everyone else says they love one method but you don’t find it useful, feel free to let it go and move on. You’ll eventually find the perfect mix of note-taking methods for your personal success.

Author

Kristin Kizer

Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.