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I try very hard not to get caught in bikeshedding the perfect note system over actually writing things down. This is very much in the “don’t let the perfect be

I try very hard not to get caught in bikeshedding the perfect note system over actually writing things down. This is very much in the “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of doing literally anything at all” territory. Features i find are actually helpful: - keep a link to the source where you found the information summarized in the note. A url, a DOI and an equation number, whatever. - when you can, physically recopy the data in the note. Retype the code, write ideas out long-form. - ELI5 (explain it like i’m five) or up-goer [0] the contents of a collection of notes. Or at least write summaries or abstracts about a collection of them. Recapitulating information instead of blindly saving it makes you digest it better. - Rubber ducking works. Go pester your partner, your pet, the potted plant, whatever. [0]: https://www.splasho.com/upgoer5/ https://www.splasho.com/upgoer5/

mlok 6y ago
ELI5 : I did not know about this acronym. For those who don't know, it means "Explain me Like I'm 5 years old". https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/ https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/
- earthboundkid 6y ago
  "Up goer" is a reference to an XKCD comic written in basic English: https://xkcd.com/1133/ https://xkcd.com/1133/
- afarrell 6y ago
  > it means "Explain me Like I'm 5 years old". Note that it does not actually mean this. It usually means something more like "Explain like I'm 15 years old" "Fun" fact: ASAP does not mean "As soon as possible" but instead refers to a wide range of urgency levels from "sometime in the next two weeks" to "as soon as you are humanly capable of doing while keeping your risk of major injury below 2% and cost below $300.
alexpetralia 6y ago
I second the practice of transcribing notes. This "two-pass" process aids my retention substantially (maybe from 30% retention to 70%).
spaceisballer 6y ago
I had to look up rubber ducking, appreciate it. It seems to be related to debugging but it sure seems to be applicable to other items like writing out an email or before starting a task.
- hprotagonist 6y ago
  In this case, the MO is "take some notes and then explain what they are to your rubber duck". Just like debugging, you'll stop at least once halfway through when you say "waaaait that's not right at all!"

mlok 6y ago

ELI5 : I did not know about this acronym. For those who don't know, it means "Explain me Like I'm 5 years old". https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/ https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/

earthboundkid 6y ago
"Up goer" is a reference to an XKCD comic written in basic English: https://xkcd.com/1133/ https://xkcd.com/1133/
afarrell 6y ago
> it means "Explain me Like I'm 5 years old". Note that it does not actually mean this. It usually means something more like "Explain like I'm 15 years old" "Fun" fact: ASAP does not mean "As soon as possible" but instead refers to a wide range of urgency levels from "sometime in the next two weeks" to "as soon as you are humanly capable of doing while keeping your risk of major injury below 2% and cost below $300.

alexpetralia 6y ago

I second the practice of transcribing notes. This "two-pass" process aids my retention substantially (maybe from 30% retention to 70%).

spaceisballer 6y ago

I had to look up rubber ducking, appreciate it. It seems to be related to debugging but it sure seems to be applicable to other items like writing out an email or before starting a task.

hprotagonist 6y ago
In this case, the MO is "take some notes and then explain what they are to your rubber duck". Just like debugging, you'll stop at least once halfway through when you say "waaaait that's not right at all!"