Whether you want to give me a complaint or a compliment or simply share an idea, please contact me using this form! I promise to get back to you as soon as I can!

The best way to get in touch with me is:

I am the person who cannot walk past a shop that sells notebooks, planners or journals without buying at least one or two. I find them irresistible. I have stacks of unused notebooks and journals in my bookshelves.

There is a well-known saying by Edward Bulwer-Lytton:

The Pen is mightier than the sword.

I am a firm believer that this is true.

This site is about my views and notes on life, learning, consuming and experimentation. I will also post summaries of non-fiction books I have read here.

To get in touch with me, use the contact page or email me at [email protected].

Sunelle

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by Sunelle | Last Updated: 16/05/2023

Whether you’re a student or a lifelong learner, note-taking skills can help you learn faster and more effectively. We want to use the most effective note-taking system when we study or take notes. In this article, we consider what the sentence method of note-taking is, when to use it, who it is for, its advantages and disadvantages, and the steps you can follow to use the sentence method of note-taking. 

Read about using UpNote on the iPad!

The sentence method is a basic note-taking strategy. With the sentence method of note-taking, you use a separate line for each thought, idea or concept. This note-taking method is easy to use and requires no preparation. However, having separate lines for each idea or thought may result in a very long summary for long, detailed topics. 

Read more about using Google Keep on the iPad and the many ways to use Google Keep!

The sentence method is the best to use under the following circumstances: 

• you didn’t prepare for a lecture and are not sure about its structure
• the lecture may have some organisation, but it is a fast-paced lecture with detailed information 
• the class doesn’t have a structured approach 
• you are not sure how the different concepts fit together
• you don’t need to review your summary to prepare for a future class or exam
• you don’t need to review the information ahead of an exam or presentation

There are better methods for taking notes in technical or science classes than the sentence method. You can create better notes for these types of classes using one of the alternative note-taking formats.

Anyone can use the sentence method. In fact, most of us have used this method for note-taking. 

However, the sentence method is not the best note-taking process for visual learners who likes to have visual aids for learning. Visual learners can still use the sentence method if they don’t mind combining it with another note-taking method afterwards. In this case, they would use the sentence method to record information and create notes using the charting, mapping, or boxing methods. 

This note-taking method has a few advantages, including: 

• it can be used for any class, subject or topic
• it is easy to use, especially during classes
• it works well when you are not sure about the structure of a lesson
• notes created with the sentence method may be easier to review since you used complete sentences, which provide context
• writing notes in sentences may help you retain the context of an idea, which may help you remember it for a longer time
• it is more organised than writing your notes in paragraph form

This note-taking method has several disadvantages and may not work for people with a preferred learning style. The disadvantages include: 

• it is challenging to review notes taken using this method since it takes longer and the notes are not efficient summaries of discussions
• organising class notes taken in this method is difficult because of the large number of lines your notes of one lecture will cover 
• your notes won’t show relationships between concepts or ideas, making it less useful for visual learners
• your notes may appear like a block of text, making it challenging to identify the important concepts from more minor details 
• you must be able to write or type quickly to use this method in a fast-paced class. You may have legibility issues with handwritten notes when struggling to keep up in a lecture situation.
• this method of note-taking does not produce practical notes of a lecture or book
• to keep up with the pace of the lecture, you may think about and process what you are hearing and writing or typing – this may reduce your ability to retain a lot of information afterwards.

Photo by Luke Southern on Unsplash

Using the sentence method for note-taking is easy. You can follow these steps: 

You can use the sentence method with paper notes and when taking notes on digital devices. For paper-based note-taking, all you need is a notebook and pen. You can use a highlighter to highlight important points.

You can use a laptop, word processing software, or Google Docs for digital note-taking. You can also take digital notes using a tablet and stylus like the Apple iPad and Apple Pencil. Digital note-taking lets you quickly summarise or review your notes using a different note-taking format afterwards.

This note-taking method resembles taking minutes of a meeting as you note everything the lecturer says. You must be able to write or type fast to keep up. To use this method, capture each new idea and concept on a separate line in complete sentences. Each line you write has to be a complete sentence, meaning your notes don’t summarise the key ideas from a lecture or book. Consider using abbreviations or a shorthand technique to take notes fast.

Once you have your ideas on paper, number each line. You can separate topics through numbering. The numbering helps you review your notes later. For example, your first note may be a sentence containing a key idea, which you number as 1. You can then number related topics below this point using 1.1, 1.2, etc.

Notes written in the sentence method may take longer to review because you will likely have lengthy lecture notes. Notes taken with the sentence method typically don’t summarise a lecture effectively. You may find it easier to summarise your notes using another note-taking method, such as the Cornell method of note-taking.

Here are a few tips to use the sentence method effectively:

• Always prepare for a lecture. Doing so will help you know whether is a structure to the lecture. When unsure about the structure, using the sentence method for your notes may be a viable option.
• To create more structure in your notes when using the sentence method, use line breaks between the major points. 
• Make sure you use your own words when you take notes. This will help you retain what you write down for longer.
• Develop your own abbreviations to help you take notes faster. Keep track of your abbreviations to avoid feeling lost when you look at an abbreviation in your notes later. 
• Use a highlighter to highlight key concepts while you take notes during a lecture. Often, lecturers will mention topics or main concepts you need to remember. 
• If numbers don’t help you distinguish between main concepts and related points, consider using bullet points for the related points underneath your major points. Using bullet points may create a structure that is visually easier to remember.
• Use headings in your notes to identify the main points. 
• Review your notes as soon as possible after a lecture to decide which notes are important information you need to keep when you summarise using one of the alternative note-taking techniques. 

Although the sentence method of note-taking is typically used to take notes from a lecture or podcast, it can also be used on written study material. Let’s look at two examples to see different applications of the sentence method with the tips to make your notes more useful.

Let’s take the following paragraph from Small Business Trends to illustrate the use of the sentence method for note-taking:

What is a Summary of a Book?

When we define a book summary, we mean someone has taken the time to read a book and create a new product called a summary. A summary is far shorter than the original book, covering key points made by the book author but in the words and sentences of the summariser. A book summary is not plagiarism nor a copycat trying to pretend it’s the original. Rather, the summary is its own new work — but shorter and crediting the original writer for his or her big ideas.

If we take notes on the above paragraph using the sentence method, your notes may be as follows when you use numbers for each item:

​Heading: What is a book summary?

1. Someone read a book to create a book summary product.

1.1 A book summary is shorter than the original book.

1.2 A book summary covers the author’s key points in the book in the words of the summariser.

1.3 It is not plagiarised or copycat content.

1.4 Book summaries are new, shorter works giving credit to the original book’s author for their ideas.

Here is another paragraph from Small Business Trends:

What Makes the Best Book Summaries?

Great book summaries have straight-forward organisation. They are easy to scan, with bullet points and limited amounts of text.

For non-fiction books, the book summary gives an interpretation of the big ideas and main topics, without the reader having to do all the hard work. Book summaries can be helpful for marketing books or for millionaire books, and much more.

The notes in the sentence method’s format may be as follows:

Heading: What makes the best book summaries?

1. Good book summaries are short and organised to scan easily.

• ​A good book summary uses bullet points.
• Non-fiction book summaries give an interpretation of the main ideas. 
• Summaries for marketing or millionaire books are helpful.

The sentence note-taking method may be easy and quick to use, but there are better note-taking strategies than this one. It adds to your steps when studying as it doesn’t produce a summary of a lecture or chapter. If you are happy to have your notes taken in this method as an additional step before you summarise them further using a different note-taking method, it may work well for you. Popular note-taking strategies, such as the Cornell method of note-taking or the split-page method, may work better for most learners who don’t want to take notes to summarise the notes further at a later stage. 

by Sunelle | Last Updated: 08/08/2021

Google Keep is an easy-to-use notes app. In this post, we first consider what Google Keep is and look at the best way to use Google Keep effectively. 

Google Keep is a free note app provided by Google. Google Keep can connect to your other Google products, including Google Slides, Google Drive and Google Docs if you log in with your Google email address. It is also an excellent organisational tool as you can organise your notes by labels. There is a free app for both Apple and Android devices, but there are rumours that Google will stop supporting the app in 2022 and that Google Keep will become a web-based product only. 

If you were wondering: “how do I use Google Keep”, you will find answers here. Let’s look at the best way to use Google Keep. 

You can use Google Keep for virtual sticky notes to capture ideas and create reminders with text, checkboxes and pictures. Colour code your sticky notes by topic or label to help you use Google Keep as an organisational tool to organise your notes effectively. Your sticky notes can have reminders, and you can share notes with others for collaboration.

Using Google Keep for project management is easy when you use it as a task manager with to-do lists. You can set reminders based on locations or timelines and share notes with friends, family members or colleagues. There are so many options for using Google Keep as a planner:

• Create a separate note for each area of your life, including home, work, studies, etc. and list your tasks with checkboxes on a note.
• Set up a note for each day of the week and add tasks based on the expected completion date.
• Use Google Keep as Kanban boards. You can create notes for “planned”, “doing/in progress”, or “done”. Move your tasks across these notes as you make progress with them.

Best ways to use Google Keep – Bookmarking using the Google Chrome Extension

Install the Google Keep Chrome extension to bookmark a website by creating a note. The extension will also save the URL of the website in your note. Bookmarking these sources works well when researching a specific topic and finding resources while searching the web. 

Using the Google Keep app for Android or iOS devices, you can create a quick voice note on the go to remind you of something or make an observation. Recording a voice note is often faster than typing. You can make the recording by clicking on the microphone icon at the bottom of the Google Keep app’s screen. Once you complete your recording, the audio file will be a separate note. 

Google Keep works well for journaling. You can keep a daily journal or record your reflections in Google Keep. 

Google Keep allows you to track the resources you use when writing an essay, doing a research project or writing a blog post. You can record your notes, page numbers, citations using Google Keep. 

You can use Google Keep to record your reading or running progress. Additional items you can record include information about how long you have read, the date you read, notes from a book, or even creating a list of the books you have completed. You can also share notes on books with your friends and family. 

You can also use Google Keep for logging other items, such as a running log, workout log or series watched. You can log anything in Google Keep!

If you have a graphic with a quote or other text, you can use Google Keep’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to transcribe the text from the picture to a note. Select a photo, choose “Grab image text” to use this function, and Google Keep will transcribe your note. 

You can create handwritten notes and sketch images in Google Keep by selecting the pen icon at the bottom of the app’s screen. Google Keep lets you use multiple colours and pens in your sketch. You can share your drawings and handwritten notes with your friends, family or colleagues. 

Google Keep’s search function works well; you can even search images or handwritten notes. 

You can take your Google Keep notes and drop them into a Google Doc directly. When you are in Google Docs, you can click on Tools in the menu bar to activate the Keep Notepad. A sidebar will appear with your note options. Choose the note you need and drag it into your Google Docs document. Alternatively, when you are in Google Keep, choose a note to send and click on the menu to copy the note to Google Docs.

When logged into the web version of Gmail, you can add Google Keep as an add-on. To do this, look at the right-hand side of your Gmail screen to find the add-on area. Click on the Add-On area to add Google Keep – its icon will then remain on the right-hand side of your Gmail screen, where you can access it quickly to create notes.

Teachers can use Google Keep to track their students’ notes on prescribed book readings or other homework tasks. Students can share a note with the teacher to allow them to follow the student’s progress. Alternatively, students can share an image of their notes with their teacher. Teachers can annotate images in Google Keep. 

You can easily collaborate with others using Google Keep. Whether you plan a holiday with friends or family, work on a project with colleagues, or share a grocery list with someone else, you can share any note with others. Another example would be when the students take notes using Google Keep and then share them with fellow students. Students can also add their notes to a Google Docs document. 

You can use the Chrome extension to save recipes to Google Keep. You can code recipes by colour; for example, have one colour for veggie recipes, another for chicken dishes, etc.

Google Keep’s notes are perfect for making lists. You can have lists for movies you still want to watch, books to read, grocery lists or projects you want to try. If you are a blogger, keep your blog post ideas in a Google Keep list. If you like crafts, keep a list of crafty things to try in a Google Keep list.

Add custom headers and create a weekly layout for meal planning. You can even create a design for an entire month if you feel productive. Now add recipes to each day and make a shopping list of items you need for the meal plan.

by Sunelle | Last Updated: 01/09/2024

Have you ever felt like you’re drowning in a sea of information? Knowing how to use daily notes can be your life raft. These quick jottings help you capture thoughts, tasks, and events as they happen throughout your day. Daily notes can transform your personal life and boost your time management skills. You’ll never forget that brilliant idea or important task again. Plus, you’ll have a record of your days to look back on, helping you spot patterns and track progress over time.

Ready to dive in? It’s easier than you think. Start small by jotting down a few key points each day in your favourite note-taking app. You’ll find your own style and rhythm as you get into the habit. Before you know it, daily notes will become an indispensable part of your routine.

Daily notes offer a simple yet powerful way to track your thoughts, tasks, and progress. They serve as a digital journal for capturing ideas and planning your day.

To begin with daily notes, open your preferred note-taking app. Look for a ‘New Note’ button, usually found at the top of the left sidebar. Click it to create a fresh note for the current date.

Most apps automatically name the file using the current date. For example, “2024-09-01” or “01-09-2024” (depending on where you’re from) for today’s note. This naming convention helps organise your entries chronologically. Some apps allow you to customise the file name format. You might prefer “Sunday 1 September 2024” or “1 Sep”. Choose a style that works best for you.

Templates can streamline your daily note-taking process. They provide a consistent structure for each day’s entry.

To set up a template:

1. Create a new note with your desired layout
2. Include placeholders for dates, tasks, and reflections
3. Save it as “Daily Note Template” or similar

Many apps offer a way to automatically apply this template when you create a new daily note. Using a template saves time and ensures you cover all critical aspects of your day.

Your template might include sections like:

• Today’s focus
• To-do list
• Gratitude
• Lessons learned

Keeping your daily notes tidy helps you find information quickly. Consider these tips:

• Use tags to categorise entries, such as #work, #personal, or #ideas, to make it easy to filter notes later.
• Create links between related notes. If you mention a project in your daily note, link it to the main project page.
• Some apps offer a calendar view, displaying your notes by date, which can help spot patterns or review past weeks.
• Consider using a tasks plugin if your app supports it. A task plugin allows you to track to-dos across multiple daily notes.
• Review your notes regularly to help you stay on top of tasks and reflect on your personal development.

Daily notes can transform your task management approach. They provide a centralised hub for tracking, prioritising, and completing your to-dos efficiently.

Incorporate task lists into your daily notes for a clear overview of your responsibilities. Use checkboxes to mark completed items and easily spot unfinished tasks. Create separate lists for work, personal, and long-term projects to keep things organised.

Consider using tags or categories to group related tasks to help you focus on specific areas of your life or work. Remember to include quick tasks alongside more significant projects.

Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps to make them less daunting and easier to tackle throughout your day.

To stay on track, assign due dates to your tasks. Use the calendar icon or a specific format to highlight deadlines at a glance. Set reminders for important tasks to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Consider using the daily notes plugin to create automatic reminders for upcoming deadlines. This feature can ping you at the start of each day to inform you what’s due.

Review your task list at the end of the day. Move unfinished items to the next day’s note or reschedule as needed. This habit helps you stay on top of your commitments.

Revisit your past daily notes regularly to track progress and identify patterns. Look for recurring tasks or challenges that might need a different approach. This review process can help you refine your task management system over time.

Use weekly or periodic notes to summarise your accomplishments and outstanding items. This bird’s-eye view can help you prioritise tasks for the coming week or month.

Feel free to adjust your system as you go. Your needs may change, and your task management approach should evolve. The goal is to find the best method for you and your unique workflow.

When used effectively, daily notes can significantly boost efficiency. Incorporating the right tools and strategies can take note-taking to the next level.

An app like Obsidian has a data view plugin that is a game-changer for organising your daily notes. It allows you to create dynamic tables and lists, making it easier to track tasks and projects across multiple entries. Try using data view queries to generate custom views of your notes based on tags or metadata. 

The templater plugin can save time by automating repetitive elements in your daily notes. Set up templates with pre-filled sections for everyday tasks, meetings, or reflections. You can even use it to insert the current date automatically.

The calendar plugin is brilliant for visual planners. It provides a calendar sidebar where you can quickly navigate between dates and see an overview of your notes at a glance. The visual view makes it dead simple to jump to specific days or spot patterns in your note-taking habits.

The command palette is your best mate for speedy navigation. Learn key shortcuts to create new daily notes quickly, search for specific entries, or access frequently used commands. It’s like having a personal assistant at your fingertips.

Voice recording can be a lifesaver when you’re on the go. Many note-taking apps now offer built-in voice recorders, allowing you to capture ideas or reminders without typing. Later, you can transcribe these recordings or reference them in your notes.

Make the most of your daily notes’ task integrations. Link tasks to specific dates, set reminders, and use checkboxes to track progress. This way, your daily notes become a robust to-do list that evolves with your workflow.

Photo by David Travis on Unsplash

Daily notes can be a game-changer for personal productivity and reflection. Let’s tackle some common queries about this handy habit.

Your daily notes can include tasks, appointments, and random thoughts. You can also pop in quick reflections on your day, exciting ideas you’ve stumbled upon, or problems you’re trying to solve. It’s your catch-all for the day’s happenings.

Pick a tool you fancy, a notebook or a digital app. Set a regular time each day to jot down your notes. Start small with just a few bullet points and gradually build your habit. Consistency is key, so stick with it even on busy days. Keep notes on a daily basis to benefit from them. 

Daily notes help you stay organised and boost your memory. They create a personal record of your thoughts and experiences. This practice can lead to better self-awareness and help you spot patterns in your life and work.

Obsidian is a top choice for many note-takers. It’s free, works offline, and offers loads of customisation options. Other popular picks include Notion, Evernote, UpNote and Bear. Try a few to see which suits your style best.

A good template might include tasks, meetings, ideas, and reflection sections. Add prompts that encourage you to think about your goals and achievements. You can keep it simple first, then tweak it as you figure out what works for you.

by Sunelle | Last Updated: 18/05/2020

I consume a lot of content on a daily basis. I listen to podcasts, enjoy YouTube videos but most of all I read… A lot. I read books on Apple Books, Kindle Books and I also read loads of articles on websites. I don’t read just for fun. I read to learn, to improve myself and to make my life better.

Consuming a lot of content in a productive manner can be quite challenging. How does one consume a lot of content AND remember what you have read, heard, or seen? To improve my retention of the information read on websites, I realized that I had to keep notes of what I have read – not everything and not whole articles, but only that which had meaning to me.

So, I decided to research tools to select and save content from websites. This article focuses only on the tools to select and save content from websites – future posts will cover other forms of content and how to retain what I have learned from there.

Not many people are aware of this, but there are many free (and paid) tools to select and save content from websites. These tools range from Evernote, OneNote to others, including Readwise and Liner. For this post, I tried them all to see each of their advantages and disadvantages. I installed each of these tools and used them all to select and save the same paragraph from a website to see how easy the tool is, what the saved text looked like and how useful it was for future purposes. In addition, I considered the pricing of each tool. Ultimately, I provide my recommendations for the best tools to select and save content from websites.

Evernote is one of the oldest note-taking apps. It is available across different mobile and laptop platforms. It can also be used on the web. Although there is a premium version of Evernote, the free version works perfectly fine if you only want to sync between two decides and you keep your uploads to less than 60 MB per month. I have used Evernote since 2013 to store articles and personal information that I would like to read again later.

To save information from webpages, you need to install the Evernote web clipper, which is an extension you can install in your web browser. Once you click on the web clipper, Evernote offers several options for saving web pages. You can save the whole page, a bookmark for a page, a screenshot from the webpage or a selection from the webpage.

For my test, I highlighted several paragraphs and right-clicked them to save them to Evernote. My test only involved saving a selection of text, and this is where Evernote does not work too well. Each paragraph or sentence you select on a page will be saved to Evernote in a separate note. You can copy the content of each note and paste it into one, but if you read a lot of web content, this is not a feasible solution. What is nice is that Evernote always saves the source link to each of its notes when you use the Evernote web clipper.

Another option is to save the entire article to Evernote and then to highlight the important points in Evernote. This is what I used to do in the past, but I found that saving the articles to Evernote first almost always resulted in me never reading the article.

OneNote is a free Microsoft App and it is available across different mobile and laptop platforms. It does have a web version, but it is not as easy to use as the downloaded app.

OneNote also has a web clipper extension you can install in your browser. OneNote’s web clipper works in a similar manner to Evernote’s in that you can clip an entire page, a section, a screenshot or a selection.

Similar to Evernote, just capturing a selection from a website resulted in a different note for each selection made on a website. OneNote also captures the source link for each note saved when using the OneNote clipper.

I discovered Airstory through Copyhackers’ Joanne Wiebe. It is an amazing tool for anyone who needs to do research before drafting articles or blog posts. It is available for free for bloggers, copywriters and small teams and provide 5gb of storage. AirStory has the Airstory Researcher, which is a Chrome browser extension. When you read an article and find something you would like to use or remember, select the text and click on the Airstory researcher in your browser toolbar or right-click your mouse or trackpad. A pop-up will let you save the selected text to a specific project in AirStory. All text that is saved to AirStory is also referenced, making it easy to go back to any article later on.

Although Airstory is free and can be used to select and save content from websites, I don’t think this is a permanent storage facility. The idea behind Airstory is to save notes from sources for articles you are writing, it is not meant to store notes for the long-term. It could be a good place to store notes before processing them into one document to be stored elsewhere, but this would take some time and is not an efficient use of time.

Clipicious was a new tool for me. I signed up for a free account and downloaded the Chrome extension. With the free version you can clip anything and you get 200 annotations. You can create folders if you want to categorize your clipped notes.

I read an article and after selecting a paragraph or sentence from the page, Clipicious’ pop up appears with two options, namely, a highlight option and an annotate option. I chose the highlight option and the selected text was available in the Clipicious dashboard once I clicked on the link to the article I made the selection from.

The highlights can be shared via email and can be copied from Clipicious to other apps. No other export options exist.

Liner has two options, namely, a free limited option and a paid unlimited option. The free option allows you up to 7 highlighted text per article. You can also create 3 folders in Liner’s dashboard to store your highlights and selected text. The free version allows for highlights in one colour only.

I installed the Chrome browser extension and signed-up for a liner account. This was a quick and easy process. I selected and highlighted text on an article and the liner market immediately appeared. I clicked on the marker and a small popup appeared asking me which folder I wanted to save the highlighted text to.

After it saves the selected and highlighted text, the popup also has an option for you to go to the Liner dashboard. If you click on it and go to the relevant folder, it lists all the articles you have highlighted text from. On the right of the list of articles, your selected content appears.

Selected and saved content can be exported to a variety of other apps, including Evernote, OneNote, Word and it can be send per email. You can also download the selected content in text format.

I really liked using Liner, it was easy to use. I also liked that the saved content is easily exported to other apps. The free option is limited in features and I can easily see myself wanting to exceed the 7 highlights for one article.

Diigo is installed in the same manner as the other apps I tried. You sign up for an account and install the browser extension. There is a free limited account available and a variety of paid accounts exist.

Once the installation is done, selecting and highlighting text is easy. You select text and right-click to get the option to save the selected text to Diigo.

You can go to your library in Diigo to see your highlighted text. If you click on the highlight, it will take you to the source article. You can als export the highlighted text by emailing one or selected highlights to yourself or to someone else. There is an option to export highlighted text to a CSV file.

Zotero is usually used by students who needs to keep track of the references for sources used when they write assignments. It is also called a research assistant. I downloaded Zotero and signed up for a free account. Zotero is an app that you install on your laptop.

When you are on a website you selected text in the normal manner, you then right-click and there is an option to save the selected text to Zotero. You can view your selected texts in the Zotero app, together with the link to the source document. Zotero allows you to export the highlights (you can select one or all) in different formats, such as CSV or Evernote format.

Zotero is easy to use. I prefer keep my notes browser-based. If I were writing a thesis, Zotero would be perfect but I don’t like having to access my selected text in another app.

Readwise is a handy tool. It is available for free and there are a variety. of paid options available. The free version allows you to import Kindle highlights and you can select and save text from any website to Readwise.

After signing up for a Readwise account, you need to install the browser extension. When you are on a website or even an email, you right click to save your selected text to Readwise.

From your Readwise dashboard you can access all your saved text. You can export these saved text per article as markdown. With the paid version you can export your items to Evernote directly.

What is great about Readwise is that you can get an email on a regular basis with some of your highlights – this process is called resurfacing and if you want to make the most of your selected text, this is definitely on way to learn and remember most of it easily.

I tried the free version of Weava Tools. It allows you to store items up to 100mb. You can choose from different highlighter colors. Weave is usually also used by students who need to record the sources they use in assignments and writing projects.

When you select text on a website, the Weava’s highlight buttons will appear immediately. You can select the highlighter color and also the folder where your selected text will be saved to.

When you go to Weava’s website, you can access your library of notes. Weave will save the entire article with your highlights. You can also export one or more selected notes to word, CSV, text or excel format.

I tried tools such as Pocket, Google Keep and Instapaper. These tools allows you to save entire articles. Both Pocket and Instapaper’s premium versions allow you to save highlights on the entire article. I also tried Nimbus Note, a tool with its own web clipper, but each time I tried selecting and saving text, the process would just lag and not get done.

All of the tools I tested was easy to install and use. I preferred the tools that did not require any actions other than selecting text and clicking to save. I also preferred the tools that made it easy to see all the highlights per article grouped together.

For me, the best tool to select and save content from websites is Readwise. Not only is the free version sufficient for this, but downloading the highlights per Kindle book or per website article in markdown format is quick and easy. Markdown files can be used in apps such as Bear, Roam Research or Obsidian for further processing.

by Sunelle | Last Updated: 04/05/2020

What is the difference between a journal, diary or planner? Many people use these terms interchangeably, but are they the same?

The words for journal, diary and planner imply differences in the meaning and use of these items. In short, a diary is commonly used for logging daily events, while a journal can scribble relating to many random things. A planner is used to plan the next day, week or month. Let’s look at each of these in more detail to determine if there is a difference between a journal, diary or planner.

The word diary comes from the Latin word “darium”, which can be translated to daily allowance. This is an accurate description, as a diary contains information about your daily life.  The practice of keeping a diary started hundreds of years ago. One of the earliest diaries belonged to Samuel Pepys. Samuel Pepys kept a diary of events such as the Great Fire of London, the Great Plague of London and the Second Dutch War. His diary also included personal insights and accounts of these events, making it an invaluable source of information about these events.

Many diarists confide in their diary in the same manner they would to a best friend. One of the best-known diarists, Anne Frank, called her diary Kitty and wrote in her diary as if she was telling her friend, Kitty, all her secrets.

A diary can be used as a daily log of experiences. Diary entries are typically done chronologically. To use a diary optimally, daily entries are best, but this is a habit that requires significant self-discipline. A diary entry should focus on events by considering the following pointers:

• what happened,
• who was involved,
• how did it happen, and how did it make me feel,
• where did it happen and
• when did it happen?

Diaries are used to remember important personal events, but the focus is usually more on internal perceptions and feelings. Diary entries can be long or short, depending on how busy a day is. Many people start their diary in the order their day unfolded; for example, they write about their mornings, then afternoons and finish with their evenings. Other people only record the most important events or feelings of a day. A diary entry is similar to a newspaper report on an event, except it covers a day in your life! Diarists often complete their daily diary entries at the end of the day or the next morning.

I’ve kept a diary since I was 11. It’s a way of taking stock, almost meditative, trying to make sense of stuff because life is chaotic.
Richard E Grant

Keeping a diary is a simple practice and requires no special skills. Since you are the only intended reader, you must ensure you can read your handwriting. Many people keep a diary to

Many online diary facilities exist – here are some examples:

• My Diary
• Monkkee
• Goodnight Journal
• Penzu

Planners are tools for planning. They are tools to organize your life. Most planners come with calendars, months, weeks and days – sometimes even hours for each day. A planner intends to keep track of appointments and to make the planning of tasks more manageable. Planners help people be more productive since they plan their daily lives. A planner can help you prioritize, plan and execute. Two famous planners are the Happy Planner and the Passion Planner.

I’m a planner, an organizer. I write things down because you can visually check them off and see progress. Writing things down is a lost art. I’ve got sticky notes all over my apartment.
Will Grier

Planners come in a range of sizes and layouts. Some cover an entire calendar year (January to December), while others are focused on academic years (August to August). The layouts of planners can be daily, weekly, monthly or annual layouts.

A planning community focuses on decorating planners with stickers and Washi tape. Decorative journaling is a passion for many people who like pretty and productive planners.

Online planning facilities are available and include the following:

• Google Calendar
• Asana
• Trello

A journal is more creative than diaries and planners. Journals are empty notebooks that the owner can customize and use to their liking. Journals are not focused on any specific topic and often cover multiple topics. A journal is not linked to a specific period and can be used over several years. Journalists use their journals on and off and don’t have a specific schedule as with a diary or planner.

The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal.

Robin Sharma

A journal can include various items, such as ideas, memories, and doodles. It can also contain drawings, clippings from magazines and quotes. People also use their journals for beautiful lyrics, inspirational quotes or pretty items they come across daily.

There are so many different types of journals. Some examples of journals include:

• Some people use their journals for goal-setting. This involves deciding on an overarching goal and then breaking it down into small, manageable steps. The steps can be transferred from here to a planner, where they are scheduled for a specific day, week or month.
• Another use for journals is travel journaling. This is a fun way to take note of all the sights you visit when travelling and what you experienced and ate at a specific destination. Adding tickets, brochures, sketches, and travel photos make it even more fun.
• A dream journal is used to write about your nightly dreams whenever you have a memorable dream.
• Other journals that exist include a gratitude journal and a gardening journal.
• You can also do a food journal or workout journal.
• One of my favourite journal ideas is a recipe journal where you can track what recipes you cook daily.

If you like the idea of journaling but are unsure what to journal about, there are many different types of journal prompts to inspire you to write. Journaling can serve many purposes and can be therapeutic. There are even courses on journaling, as it is a skill that can be learned and improved to maximise the benefit of journaling.

Online journal facilities exist as well. Some examples of online journaling tools are the following:

• ByteLyfe
• Penzu
• Journey.Cloud
• Elisi
• Goodnight Journal
• Mindwave

For me, a bullet journal combines a diary, a planner and a journal. A bullet journal can be done in any blank notebook. The owner can decide on their spreads and may include a calendar and monthly or weekly plans. A bullet journal can include collections that include daily logs, habit trackers, doodles, and lists. A bullet journal is a creative planner and can be customized to the owner’s preferences. There is a methodology for bullet journaling based on a system developed by Ryder Carroll.

Based on the purpose and uses discussed above, there is a difference between a diary, planner and journal. There is also an overlap between these concepts; nowadays, people combine their diaries, planner and journal in various ways. Some people combine a diary and a journal by recording events in their daily lives with notes, quotes and scribbles. Other people combine their planners and journal by having a weekly or monthly calendar with notes and sketches. Even the online apps available for diaries and journals are often the same, while planner apps also allow for note-taking and lists. The possibilities are endless and should be individual-specific.

The most important thing is that writing and recording your life, feelings and plans for the future is essential in living optimally. Writing about your day, plans, and future helps with stress relief and setting and meeting goals. Writing is good for your overall wellness.

by Sunelle | Last Updated: 05/11/2023

If you’re looking for a new method of note-taking that can help you retain information more effectively, consider the DaVinci method. This approach to note-taking from the work of Leonardo Da Vinci, the famous artist, inventor, and scientist who lived during the Renaissance era.

The DaVinci method of note-taking helps you capture information more visually and creatively. Instead of simply writing down words or phrases, you use images, diagrams, and other visual aids to help you remember different concepts and key ideas. This approach can be beneficial for people who are more visually oriented or who struggle with traditional note-taking methods.

Leonardo Da Vinci could think creatively and see connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. The DaVinci method of note-taking is based on this same principle, encouraging you to look for patterns and connections between different pieces of information. By using this approach, you may be better able to remember and apply what you’ve learned, both in the short term and the long term.

If you’re looking for an effective way to take notes, the DaVinci method might be just what you need to take good notes. Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks showed how he recorded his ideas and observations, which inspired this note-taking method. Using this method from Leonardo Davinci, you can organise your notes in a way that helps you better understand and retain the information you’re learning.

Read about the differences between a diary, a planner and a journal.

All you need for the DaVinci method is a small notebook and a pen or pencil. The DaVinci method involves dividing your page into two parts: the right-hand side and the left-hand side. On the right-hand side, you record the main points, important information, and critical ideas. On the left-hand side, you record your own words, your own thoughts, and sketches supporting the information. DaVinci was a prolific sketcher, and you can find his immaculate sketches throughout his notebooks.

One of the benefits of this method is that it encourages you to engage with the material in a deeper way, which helps you develop a deep understanding of the materials you’re consuming. By recording your own words and main ideas, you force yourself to think about the material in a way that helps you develop your knowledge of the thing and make later review easier.

There are many benefits to using the DaVinci method of note-taking. For one, it’s a great way to record information in a way that makes sense to you. By using your own words and recording the main idea, you can create notes tailored to your learning style.

Another benefit of the DaVinci method is that it encourages you to engage with the material more actively. By recording essential information and key ideas, you’re more likely to retain the information you’re learning. This method is helpful when studying for exams or effective retrieval of information.

Overall, the DaVinci method is an effective way to take notes to help you better understand and retain the information you’re learning. By using this method, you can create notes that are tailored to your learning style and engage with the material more deeply.

Image by www-erzetich-com from Pixabay

There are many effective ways to take notes as a study tool. If you’re wondering how the DaVinci method compares to other note-taking methods, find out more here!

The Cornell Method of note-taking involves dividing your paper into three sections:

• A narrow column on the left for cues and questions
• A wide column in the middle for notes
• A summary section at the bottom

This method helps organise your notes, but limits creativity and flexibility.

In contrast, the DaVinci Method allows for more creative expression and encourages you to use visuals and symbols to help you remember information. When you apply the DaVinci note-taking method, you can organise your notes in a way that makes sense to you, allowing for more personalised and practical notes.

The Mapping Technique, also known as mind mapping or the mapping method, involves creating a visual diagram of your notes, with the main idea in the centre and subtopics branching out. This method helps show the relationships between ideas, but it can be time-consuming and challenging to read.

The DaVinci Method also allows for visual representation of information, but it is more flexible in how you choose to represent ideas. DaVinci notes can include diagrams, sketches, and symbols, as well as traditional text, allowing for a more comprehensive and engaging way of taking notes of different concepts.

Overall, while the Cornell Method and Mapping Technique have their benefits, the DaVinci Method offers a more creative and flexible approach to note-taking for more effective learning and retention of information since it requires active participation with information.

Note: The entities mentioned in this section, such as the Cornell Method, are not directly relevant to the comparison between the DaVinci Method and other note-taking methods, but they may help understand the context and history of note-taking techniques for study notes.

Leonardo da Vinci was a visionary artist and inventor, widely regarded as one of the greatest minds ever. His legacy extends far beyond art and science, as his innovative note-taking methods still inspire students and professionals today.

The DaVinci Method of Note-Taking

Leonardo’s approach to note-taking was revolutionary, as he believed that the act of writing helped to reinforce knowledge and aid memory retention. He would often use sketches and diagrams to illustrate his ideas, which allowed him to convey complex concepts clearly and concisely. Many educators globally have adopted this approach as they recognise the value of visual aids in the learning process.

Leonardo’s note-taking methods have also had a profound impact on modern techniques, such as the Cornell method and mind mapping. The Cornell method, developed by Walter Pauk in the 1950s, involves dividing notes into two sections: a main notes section and a summary section. This approach summarises and reviews notes, which helps to reinforce learning and aid memory retention.

Similarly, mind mapping is a visual note-taking technique that involves creating a diagram or map of ideas. According to this approach, the brain processes information better in a visual format. Both of these techniques owe a debt to Leonardo’s innovative approach to note-taking.

Whether you are a college student, a professional in the early years of your career, or a seasoned expert, note-taking is a powerful tool that can help you succeed. From Florence Nightingale’s notes on human anatomy to Marcantonio Della Torre’s year of educational advancement, note-taking has been a requirement of your profession for centuries.

In civil engineering projects, accurate note-taking can mean the difference between success and failure. And with the advent of digital note-taking tools like Better Note and the ubiquitousness of iOS devices, note-taking has never been more accessible or convenient.

In conclusion, Leonardo da Vinci’s legacy in note-taking continues to shape the way we learn and work today. By adopting his innovative methods and incorporating modern techniques, we can all become more effective note-takers and improve our chances of success.

There are some challenges with the use of the DaVinci method of note-taking. Let’s see what they are.

As technology advances, many people have turned to digital note-taking methods. However, adapting the DaVinci method to the digital age can be challenging as it consists of handwritten notes and drawings. According to Fergus Craik, taking notes by hand is best for remembering. One solution is to use note-taking apps that allow for flexibility and customisation. For example, apps like Evernote and OneNote allow you to create notebooks, sections, and pages to organise your notes in a way that works best for you.

Digital apps for note-taking include Upnote and Google Keep.

Another challenge is the use of digital tools to sketch and draw. Leonardo’s sketches were everywhere in his notebooks. While digital drawing tools have come a long way, they may not be as intuitive as traditional pen and paper. One solution is to use a tablet with a stylus, which can provide a more natural drawing experience. Additionally, there are apps like SketchBook and Procreate that offer a variety of brushes and tools to create digital sketches.

The DaVinci note-taking method can be mentally demanding, requiring you to actively engage with the material and organise your thoughts for cognitive engagement. One solution is to break your note-taking into smaller, more manageable chunks. For example, you could focus on taking notes for one section of a book or article at a time rather than tackling the entire thing simultaneously.

Read more about digitizing your handwritten notes.

Another challenge is the need to constantly switch between different modes of thinking, such as reading, summarising, and sketching. One solution is to use symbols and abbreviations to streamline the note-taking process. For example, use an arrow to show a cause-and-effect relationship or an asterisk to mark important points.

Overall, adapting the DaVinci method to modern note-taking practices requires creativity and flexibility. By using digital tools and breaking up your note-taking into smaller chunks, you can overcome some of the challenges of this method.

Learn here how to organise your notebook effectively.

Here are some frequently asked questions, with answers, about the DaVinci note-taking method.

The outline method of note-taking involves creating a hierarchical structure of the major points and their supporting details. It is a linear approach that focuses on organising information in a logical sequence. In comparison, the DaVinci method of note-taking is a more visual and creative approach that encourages the use of diagrams, mind maps, and other visual aids to connect ideas and concepts.

Learn how to generate ideas!

Flow-based note-taking is a technique that involves capturing ideas and concepts as they come to mind without worrying about organisation or structure. This approach can help you to generate more ideas and connections between them, leading to a deeper understanding of the material. It can also help you to identify key themes and ideas that you may have overlooked with more structured note-taking methods.

Telegraphic sentences are brief, concise statements that capture the essence of an idea or concept. They can be used in note-taking to quickly capture key points without getting bogged down in details. For example, instead of writing a long sentence about a concept, you might use a telegraphic sentence like “DNA replication: semiconservative process” to help you quickly identify and review key concepts when studying.

The Zettelkasten method is a note-taking system that involves creating interconnected notes on various topics. People who have commonplace books use the Zettelkasten method. Each note has a unique identifier and links to other notes based on related themes or ideas. This approach is more structured than the DaVinci method of note-taking, which is more free-form and visual.

Effective flow notes capture key ideas and concepts in a way that is easy to understand and review. They may include diagrams, mind maps, or other visual aids to help connect ideas and concepts. To apply this approach to your note-taking system, try using a blank sheet of paper or a digital canvas to capture ideas as they come to mind without worrying about structure or organisation.

The fundamental principles of effective note-taking include active listening, selective attention, and critical thinking. To implement these principles in your practice, stay engaged and focused during lectures or presentations, actively seek out key ideas and concepts, and critically evaluate the information you receive. Additionally, experiment with different note-taking techniques to find the best approach for you.