My Planning System For Note Taking & Time Management | Cal Newport

Summary

In the transcript, the author discusses the benefits of studying unrelated creative fields for enhancing one's own work, emphasizing the importance of note-taking in knowledge jobs. They define note-taking broadly and outline three critical systems: a working memory extender, an obligation tracker, and a system for capturing key ideas. The author also addresses balancing hobbies with professional life, suggesting a quantitative approach to scheduling and adjusting commitments based on personal capacity. Lastly, they advise students to seek study advice from books rather than YouTube, due to the incentive structures of each medium.

Takeaways

• 📚 The author discusses the benefits of studying creative fields unrelated to one's own for gaining fresh perspectives and inspiration, particularly in the context of writing and film studies.
• 🎨 It's suggested that studying another art form can provide an 'injection of creative energy' without the stress and anxiety that comes from comparing oneself to peers in the same field.
• ✍️ Note-taking is broadly defined as recording information on a durable written medium, which can be referenced later, and is essential for knowledge workers.
• 🔑 Three critical types of note-taking systems are identified: a working memory extender, an obligation tracker, and a system for capturing key ideas and reflections about work and life.
• 📝 The working memory extender is used for temporarily holding more information than one can remember, which is then processed into other systems like calendars and task lists.
• 🗂️ An obligation tracker is a system for maintaining all relevant information for every task or obligation, ensuring that all necessary actions are accounted for and accessible.
• 💡 The third type of note-taking is for capturing broader ideas and reflections, which is where most people think of note-taking, including journaling and saving relevant articles or thoughts.
• 📅 Balancing multiple interests and hobbies can be approached by using a quantitative method, scheduling them into a calendar to see if they fit and are sustainable.
• 🔄 If the schedule becomes too crowded, it's suggested to either reduce the number of activities, slow down the pace of learning new skills, or adopt seasonal pursuits.
• 📚 For students seeking to improve study habits, the author recommends books over YouTube for advice, as books have a better incentive structure for providing effective, practical advice.
• 📈 The incentive structure of a medium like YouTube may lead to content that is optimized for views rather than effectiveness, whereas books and podcasts are more likely to provide genuinely useful advice.
• 🤔 The author emphasizes the importance of aligning incentive structures with advice, suggesting that advice is more reliable when the incentive is for the advice to work, not just to attract attention.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the book 'Slow Productivity'?

The main theme of 'Slow Productivity' is the concept of enhancing productivity by focusing on creative pursuits outside one's primary field of work, such as studying films to improve writing.

Why does the author believe studying an unrelated creative field is beneficial?

The author believes studying an unrelated creative field is beneficial because it allows one to appreciate it with open eyes and gain an injection of creative energy without the stress and anxiety that comes from studying something too close to their own work.

What is the author's stance on note-taking?

The author views note-taking as essential for knowledge workers and categorizes it into three types: working memory extenders, obligation trackers, and capturing key ideas.

What is a 'working memory extender' according to the author?

A 'working memory extender' is a system where temporary information is recorded to handle the inflow of information during the workday, allowing one to keep track of more than what the brain can manage on its own.

How does the author suggest managing obligations?

The author suggests using an 'obligation tracker' to maintain all relevant information for every task, keeping it accessible and organized outside of one's head.

What tools does the author use for their note-taking systems?

The author uses a plain text file for working memory, Trello for obligation tracking, and a Remarkable 2 digital notebook for capturing ideas and reflections.

How does the author recommend balancing multiple hobbies?

The author recommends quantitatively scheduling hobbies into one's calendar, testing if the schedule feels sustainable, and adjusting as needed by slowing down ambition or stacking pursuits seasonally.

What is the author's view on using YouTube for study advice?

The author advises against using YouTube for study advice due to the platform's incentive structure, which prioritizes views over effective content, and recommends books with proven word-of-mouth success instead.

What book does the author recommend for improving study habits?

The author recommends their own book, 'How to Become a Straight-A Student,' which focuses on practical advice for studying and organizing academic tasks.

Why does the author believe books have a better incentive structure than YouTube for providing advice?

The author believes books have a better incentive structure because their success depends on the effectiveness of the advice, leading to word-of-mouth recommendations, unlike YouTube, which is driven by algorithmic views.