//Branded ContentWhile note taking is certainly a skill, it’s also a personal artform. Whether
you’re attending a presentation or brainstorming with colleagues, the
quality of information you take away from the experience depends on
the notes you’re able to jot down without limiting your own participation.
Tailoring your method of taking notes to the way your brain processes
information can help you become more organized. Here are a few tips for
better note taking:
- Invest in a high-quality journal.
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tell us that writing notes by hand allows us to process information on a
deeper level than typing them. Writing the most important ideas by hand
can result in remembering more.
Buying a notebook that you look forward
to writing in can help you enjoy the note-
taking process more and better organize
your thoughts. Invest in a journal with
high-quality paper and a layout that
makes sense to you—lined pages or blank
or gridded ones that give you
space for visually creative frameworks
and outlines.
The handwritten format also makes it possible to take better notes
in more intimate settings. According to the Workplace Productivity
Report commissioned by the Paper and Packaging Board, 62 percent of
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in meetings. Productivity expert Holland Haiis says, “taking a notebook
to meetings rather than a phone or laptop helps us actually connect to
coworkers and solve problems more rapidly.”
- Use a proven method.
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valuable from the classroom to the boardroom. To use this type of note
taking, divide your page into four sections: a title at the top, a summary at
the bottom, and two columns in the center with the left one taking up about
30 percent of the page and the right one taking up about 70 percent.The column on the right is for all the notes you take throughout the meeting
or presentation. Use the left column for questions, comments and hints
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summarize the information at the bottom of the page. This can help you to
remember the key points and makes it easier to return to your notes later.- Come prepared.
If you’re expecting to take notes during
an event or meeting, see if you can
obtain the presentation ahead of time.
More than 95 percent of workers say
they prefer to work with hard copies
rather than digital versions of the same
information, according to the Workplace
Productivity Report.
Printing the slides and taking notes
directly on them can help you take more
detailed notes with a fraction of the writing. This way, you won’t be
tempted to duplicate the slides in your notebook and can capture the
important points being said and your own moments of inspiration.- Don’t be afraid to get creative.
Writing notes by hand gives you the ability to play with space on the page
in a way that is limited when typing notes.
Many people’s brains respond better to visual information, so don’t be
afraid to sketch quick images or symbols beside your text. You can also
experiment with visually organized note-taking methods like mind maps.7KUHHRXWRI YHRɝFHZRUNHUVVD\WKH\UHDFKIRUSDSHUZKHQWKH\ZDQWWR
be more productive, according to the Workplace Productivity Report. Take
advantage of the power of the pen and a blank page!Sponsored by4 Creative Ways
to Improve Your
Note-Taking Skills
TM TMFor more information on how to
be productive at work, visit
howlifeunfolds.com/choose-paper