A note-taking could easily do the exact statistics of how many times we go back and check our notes. The result probably varies a bit, depending on the note ta

A note-taking could easily do the exact statistics of how many times we go back and check our notes. The result probably varies a bit, depending on the note taking style and one's needs but my n=1 insight is that the few times I do, it is indispensable. So its not a placebo, note taking works by giving you a few precious hints as to what was your state of mind. Its a digital long tail extension of the mind. Not somebody elses mind. They would literally make no sense of my notes. A key consideration is how much time it takes. Too detailed and its probably a waste of time, too sketchy and it might not capture enough hints. So the endless discussion about note taking apps feels like an obsession. Maybe we feel there is something dramatically empowering just beyond reach.