How I Take Notes: the Best Note Taking Method | Jim Kwik

Summary

In this engaging podcast episode, 'Brain Coach' Jim Quick delves into the art of effective note-taking to enhance learning and memory retention. He introduces the 'Capture and Create' method, which involves dividing a page into two sides: one for capturing key points and the other for creating personal insights, applications, and questions. This method is designed to engage both the logical left brain and the creative right brain, fostering a deeper understanding and application of the material. Quick emphasizes the importance of not just learning information, but also applying it in practice, as knowledge combined with action is where true power lies. He challenges listeners to adopt this method, share their experiences, and even teach it to others, highlighting the benefits of the explanation effect which reinforces learning. The episode concludes with a call to action to share, teach, and review, encouraging an interactive and playful approach to learning.

Takeaways

• 📝 **Note-Taking Methods**: Different people prefer various note-taking methods, such as audio recording, handwriting, or digital note-taking.
• 🧠 **Whole Brain Learning**: Handwriting notes can improve comprehension and retention, which is beneficial for whole brain learning.
• 📲 **Digital Convenience**: While digital note-taking is convenient for sharing, it may not be as effective for understanding and retaining information.
• ✍️ **Handwriting and Digitization**: Some people prefer to handwrite notes and then digitize them for sharing, which is a good compromise.
• 📈 **Forgetting Curve**: Taking notes helps to mitigate the forgetting curve by capturing information that would otherwise be lost.
• 🚫 **Avoid Verbatim Notes**: Instead of transcribing lectures word for word, focus on key words and ideas for better learning outcomes.
• 🔑 **Capture and Create Method**: Use a divided page to capture key points on one side and create personal reflections or applications on the other.
• 🤔 **Right Brain Engagement**: Engage the creative side of your brain by using the right side of the page to explore how and why you might apply the information.
• 🗓️ **Implementation is Key**: Schedule time to implement what you've learned to turn knowledge into action and power.
• 🤓 **Teaching Enhances Learning**: Teaching the method to someone else can help solidify your understanding and improve your own learning.
• 🌟 **Limitless Potential**: The ability to create and apply knowledge is what makes us limitless, and effective note-taking can unlock this potential.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of taking notes according to Jim Quick?

The main purpose of taking notes is to capture information to prevent or reduce the forgetting curve, which is the rapid loss of information within 48 hours of learning.

What is the 'Capture Create Method' that Jim Quick introduces?

The 'Capture Create Method' is a note-taking strategy where you divide a page into two sides. On the left side, you 'capture' or take notes on the key points, and on the right side, you 'create' or make notes by reflecting on how you can apply the information, why it's important, and when you will use it.

Why does Jim Quick suggest handwriting notes rather than using digital note-taking?

Handwriting notes has been found to improve comprehension and retention of information. It engages the brain more actively in the learning process compared to typing, which can be more passive and less effective for understanding and remembering content.

What are some of the tips Jim Quick provides for better sleep?

Some of the sleep tips mentioned include avoiding caffeine past 2 pm, using an alarm clock not just to wake up but also to go to bed, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, using blackout curtains, and sleeping in a cool room to promote melatonin production.

How does Jim Quick relate the act of note-taking to the concept of 'Limitless'?

Jim Quick relates note-taking to 'Limitless' by emphasizing the power of creativity and imagination in the note-making process. By capturing and creating with notes, individuals can expand their potential, redraw boundaries, and tap into their limitless capacity for learning and applying knowledge.

What is the role of the calendar in the 'Capture Create Method'?

The calendar is a productivity tool that helps in the implementation phase of the 'Capture Create Method'. By scheduling time to apply the captured knowledge, it increases the likelihood of actually taking action and turning knowledge into power.

Why is teaching someone else a concept beneficial for the teacher?

Teaching someone else a concept benefits the teacher because it reinforces their own understanding and helps them learn the material better. This is known as the explanation effect, where the act of teaching solidifies the teacher's grasp on the subject.

What is the importance of implementing the ideas captured in notes?

Implementing the ideas from notes is crucial because knowledge alone is not power. It only becomes power when it is acted upon. Therefore, applying what is learned is the key to transforming knowledge into a force for personal or professional growth.

How does Jim Quick suggest one can enhance their comprehension and retention of information?

Jim Quick suggests enhancing comprehension and retention by using a combination of handwriting notes and actively engaging with the material through the 'Capture Create Method', which involves both taking in information and creating reflections and applications on the right side of the page.

What is the 'Quick Thinking' program mentioned by Jim Quick?

The 'Quick Thinking' program is one of Jim Quick's flagship offerings aimed at enhancing an individual's ability to think and adapt, solve problems, make better decisions, and be more creative. It is a training program that aims to develop these skills over a period of time through daily sessions.

What is the significance of the left and right sides of the brain in the 'Capture Create Method'?

In the 'Capture Create Method', the left side of the page is associated with the left brain, which is logical, language-driven, and sequential. This side is for capturing or taking notes. The right side of the page is associated with the right brain, which is more imaginative and creative. This side is for creating or making notes, which involves reflecting on the captured information.

How can note-taking help mitigate the forgetting curve?

Note-taking helps mitigate the forgetting curve by providing a tangible record of the information learned. This record can be reviewed and reinforced, thus aiding in the retention of the material over time. The act of writing or creating notes also engages the brain in the learning process, which can further enhance memory retention.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Enhancing Note-Taking for Better Learning

Jim Quick, the 'Brain Coach,' introduces the concept of upgrading learning and life through effective note-taking. He addresses common note-taking methods, such as audio recording, handwriting, and digital note-taking, and emphasizes that handwriting notes improves comprehension and retention. Quick discusses the 'capture create method,' which involves dividing a page into two sides: one for capturing key points and the other for creating or making notes based on those captured points. He stresses the importance of reducing the forgetting curve by capturing information and shares a link to further reading on the topic.

05:00

💭 The Capture Create Method: Left Brain vs. Right Brain

Jim Quick elaborates on the 'capture create method' of note-taking. On the left side of the page, he suggests capturing key ideas and tips from the material being studied, such as sleep tips from various podcasts. The right side is dedicated to creating, which involves using the right brain's creativity to make notes that reflect personal impressions, applications, and questions about the captured information. This method helps in applying the knowledge by scheduling it into a calendar and emphasizes the importance of teaching others to solidify one's understanding. Quick challenges the listener to implement this method and to teach it to others to enhance learning and retention.

10:01

🌟 Actionable Steps for Limitless Learning

To conclude, Jim Quick provides three actionable steps for the listener: First, to share the episode by taking a screenshot and tagging him in a post about how they will apply the 'capture create method.' Second, to teach the method to someone else, which reinforces one's own understanding. Third, to leave a review if they found value in the session, which helps in building a community of 'brainiacs.' Quick encourages making the process playful and fun, and he reiterates the transformative power of knowledge when it is applied through action.

Keywords

💡Note-taking

Note-taking refers to the act of recording information during a lecture, reading, or any learning process. In the video, it is emphasized as a crucial method to enhance comprehension and retention of learned material. The speaker discusses different note-taking styles, including audio recording, handwriting, and digital note-taking, and suggests that handwriting notes can improve comprehension and retention.

💡Whole-brain learning

Whole-brain learning is an educational approach that aims to engage both the logical left brain and the creative right brain in the learning process. The video introduces the 'Capture Create' method as a way to implement whole-brain learning through note-taking, where the left side of the page is for capturing information (logical) and the right side is for creating or making notes (creative).

💡Comprehension and retention

Comprehension is the ability to understand and interpret information, while retention is the ability to remember that information over time. The video script highlights that handwriting notes can improve both comprehension and retention of learned material, which is important for reducing the forgetting curve.

💡Forgetting curve

The forgetting curve is a concept that describes how much and at what rate information is forgotten over time after it is learned. The video mentions that without taking notes, about 80 percent of what is learned from a single exposure is forgotten within 48 hours, thus emphasizing the importance of note-taking to mitigate this curve.

💡Capture Create method

The Capture Create method is a note-taking strategy introduced in the video where information is captured on the left side of a page (logical and sequential) and then transformed into creative or applied ideas on the right side (imaginative and creative). This method is designed to enhance both the understanding and application of the learned material.

💡Quick Thinking

Quick Thinking is a flagship program mentioned in the video that aims to improve an individual's ability to think and adapt, solve problems, make better decisions, and be more creative. It is positioned as a way to gain a competitive advantage through the development of critical thinking skills.

💡Implementation

Implementation refers to the act of putting ideas or knowledge into action. The video stresses the importance of not just capturing and creating notes but also implementing the learned information. It suggests scheduling time in one's calendar to ensure that the learned ideas are acted upon.

💡Productivity

Productivity is the efficiency of an individual's performance, especially in terms of the effectiveness of their work. The video connects productivity with the act of note-taking and applying the learned information, suggesting that the Capture Create method can lead to increased productivity by improving focus and memory.

💡Teaching

Teaching is the process of imparting knowledge or skills to others. The video challenges viewers to teach the Capture Create method to others, which not only benefits the learner by reinforcing their understanding but also helps in spreading effective learning techniques.

💡Knowledge and action

The video emphasizes that knowledge alone is not power; it becomes powerful only when combined with action. The phrase 'knowledge times action equals power' is used to illustrate the point that applying what one has learned is what truly leads to progress and achievement.

💡Limitless

Limitless is a term used in the video to describe the potential of the human brain and the concept of expanding one's capabilities. It is also the title of a book mentioned by the speaker, which likely explores the idea of maximizing one's mental capacity and creativity through effective learning and application of knowledge.

Highlights

Handwriting notes can improve comprehension and retention of information.

Digital note-taking is convenient for sharing but may not be as effective for understanding and retaining information.

Combining handwriting on a device with digital storage can be a good compromise for note-taking.

The 'Capture Create' method involves taking notes on the left side of the page and making notes on the right side.

Capturing involves writing down key ideas and tips from the material being studied.

Creating involves using the right side of the brain for imagination and making personal connections with the material.

The act of teaching someone else what you've learned can reinforce your own understanding through the 'explanation effect'.

Scheduling the implementation of learned material into your calendar can improve productivity and reinforce learning.

The forgetting curve shows that about 80 percent of information heard once is forgotten within 48 hours.

Using the 'Capture Create' method can help mitigate the forgetting curve by actively engaging with the material.

The left side of the page is for logical, sequential note-taking, while the right side is for creative, imaginative note-making.

Applying knowledge through action is what transforms it into power.

The simplicity of the 'Capture Create' method can be deceptive; its effectiveness lies in its regular and consistent use.

Sharing your notes and the application of what you've learned can inspire others and create a community of learners.

The 'Quick Thinking' program aims to enhance problem-solving, decision-making, and creativity.

Engaging with the material by asking 'why' and 'how' questions can deepen your understanding and application.

The 'Capture Create' method is a tangible way to harness your creativity and turn knowledge into actionable power.

Consistently implementing the 'Capture Create' method can lead to transformative learning and personal growth.

Transcripts

hi it's your brain coach Jim quick and

the quick brain podcast and I'm going to

be your brain coach as I am to help you

to be able to upgrade your learning to

upgrade your life and in our private

Facebook group and also in our quick

brain Universe app where you send

messages to us we get this question

about note-taking and there's some

clarifying questions so this is kind of

like a quick q a if you will I want to

get a little bit more specific on how to

take notes in a way that's more whole

brain so that you can remember what you

want to learn and also you could utilize

what you want to learn now you could

take notes in different ways some people

just like to audio record everything

from a lecture some people like to

handwrite notes other people like

something that's more digital now when

people are tested for comprehension and

retention we find that handwriting notes

will improve comprehension and retention

on that information we talk about about

that the reasons why in another podcast

you can refer back to that we'll put the

link to that in our show notes at

jimquick.com forward slash notes you

should always read the Highlight notes

always speed read those digital note

taking certainly is convenient it's a

great way of sharing information but

um it's not as good as to help people to

understand it and be able to retain it

some people use devices though where

they are handwriting notes onto their

device and I think that's a great

compromise if you will some people like

me what I'll do is actually handwrite in

a notebook because that's my preferred

way and then we will digitize it so that

we have it to be able to share so

whatever method that you prefer I'm

going to give you a way of doing it

that's going to enhance your

comprehension and retention and most

importantly help you to implement this

information all right and really why you

take notes is to capture the information

so you prevent or reduce mitigate what

they call the forgetting curve you know

the forgetting curve right right you

hear something on a podcast you read

something in a book you go to a lecture

and what happens within 48 Hours you

forget a lot of it in fact research

shows about 80 percent of what you learn

if you hear it just once is completely

forgotten so to be able to reduce that

you could capture it by taking notes now

when they were research done at

universities to find out the best way of

taking notes and the worst way one of

the worst ways is actually as you can

imagine is verbatim like full

transcripts having 23 pages of word for

word verbatim a lecture if you will of a

lecturer a professor is not as useful as

having the key words and the key ideas

because there could be something on page

17 that's more important than what's on

on page one but our brains don't always

think that way right you have a left

brain and a right brain so how can you

be able to knowing this taking notes

more effectively by the way if you want

to go deep in note taking the program to

enroll in is quick thinking

quickthinking.com go there it's our one

of our Flagship programs along with our

quick reading program and our quick

recall program quick thinking is a

little different because your ability to

think and to adapt is your ultimate

competitive advantage to be able to

solve problems to make better decisions

to be more creative and that's what

quick thinking is about so we go deeply

into the training again these podcasts

we make free so it's consumable tips but

if you a tip is something an idea that

could help move the needle a little bit

a training is where you permanently have

this superpower a new level of

capability an ability skill to be able

to take things the next level because I

get you every day for like 21 or 30 days

for 15 minutes a day so we can really

make it a habit these things so let's go

into the note taking so one of the ways

you could take notes is to grab a piece

of paper I'm going to use a whiteboard

for the purpose of this illustration and

what I do is if I'm listening to let's

say a podcast on sleep right we've done

a lot of episodes on how to maximize and

optimize your sleep and we know that

better sleep will lead to better focus

the next day help you to solve problems

the next day help you consolidate short

to long-term memory all the benefits of

sleep what I do instead of just writing

notes on a piece of paper is first I'll

put a line right down the page very very

simple line right down the page okay

and then what I do is on the left side

I'll do something called capture

and on the right side I'll do something

called create and this is what I call

the capture create method so you capture

on the left side

and on the right side you're going to

create so very very simple you want to

keep this extremely simple and easy so

left side you capture on the right side

you create so what does that mean that

means on the left side you're taking

notes and on the right side you're

making notes so you're going to take

notes on the left side and make notes on

the right side now the subtle but

distinct difference and let me break it

down for you when you learning something

like how to sleep better right you're

getting all these tips you want to

capture them so you're going to capture

those ideas on the left side you're

going to get tips if you listen to our

podcasts and the menu we've done with

interviews with people like Sean

Stevenson like the sleep doctor Dr

Michael Bruce and so on we'll get tips

on like no caffeine past 2 pm and I'll

write that on the left side right maybe

you'll get a tip a sleep tip on having

an alarm clock not just to wake up but

alarm clock to go to bed keeping a

constant schedule blackout out curtains

those would be things that we capture on

the left side maybe something like

having your mattress cold or sleeping in

a cold room will help you to create to

prompt you and Trigger you to know that

it's time to go to sleep produce

melatonin and so on right those would be

your captures but on the right sides

where the magic happens left side is

kind of like your left brain it's very

logical it's very language driven

sequential but if your mind is going to

distract you and it often does when

we're trying to learn something we're

listening to a podcast or reading a book

or listening to a lecture then I rather

instead of it going somewhere random I'd

rather go to the right side of the page

which is your right brain which is it's

left side's logical the right side's

more imagination it's more creativity

and that's why the right side is create

and so you're making notes and so what

are you putting on the right side you're

going to put your impressions of what

you captured so something like how can I

use this so that's where your

imagination goes right all the different

different ways you could use this

another question you want to ask

yourself that you could help make notes

to prompt you by giving you a question

why must I use this you know if you have

a little bit of downtime instead of

being distracted thinking about the dry

cleaning or something you have to do

right after that for work then like why

must I use this why because so it goes

from your head to your heart right and

then finally when will I use this I'm

going to start this today right one of

the greatest productivity Performance

Tools you have is your calendar and if

you don't schedule it it's not going to

happen that's why I say for every hour

you spend listening to a podcast and in

this case it's only 15 minutes that's

why you binge listen to so many of our

shows right spend another hour

implementing it that's where you take

the ideas and you put into

implementation right and hopefully I

give you a little inspiration show goes

from your head to your heart to your

hands you have an idea in your head but

you're not acting with your hands get

your heart involved so on the right side

I'm using my imagination I'm thinking

about how can I use this how does this

compare to what I already know

um what questions do I have about this

subject that's where you're creating who

do I want to teach this to that would be

on the creative side right and how does

this even relate to something else that

I learned maybe it's something that's

contradictory to something that you just

learned so put that on the right side so

you capture what you're learning on the

left and then you're creating on the

right side and again this is what I call

the capture create method you take notes

and then you make notes and it's so

simple and here's the thing it's the

Simplicity that fools you this is so

simple it's such a simple thing that

anybody could do and I would say do it

right now some things are so simple that

we don't do it you're like oh that's

just too easy and you never get the

benefit I'm going to challenge you to do

it today and if you could do it again

tomorrow get in the habit of taking

notes it'll transform the way not only

you learn the information but by

capturing it and creating it you'll

actually be able to teach yourself on

top of that because that's where the

magic happens when we talk about Like A

Book Like Mine called Limitless what's

truly Limitless where you're redrawing

the borders and boundaries what's

possible is in your creativity it's your

ability to create it's your ability to

imagine and this note-taking note making

method capturing and creating is a

tangible way you could do this and

here's the other challenge besides doing

it teach somebody else teach this to

your partner teach this to your team

teach this to a child or a family member

think about one person in your life that

you wish was listening to this right now

and teach it to them because you get to

benefit from the explanation effect when

you take time to explain something to

somebody else the effect is you're going

to learn it better because when you

teach it you get to learn it twice so

that's my challenge to you are you ready

to take notes and also make notes are

ready to capture and create it's going

to prove your focus it's going to

improve your memory you're not going to

be distracted as much and probably most

importantly you're going to apply it

because the truth is knowledge by itself

is not power it's a myth at best its

potential power it only becomes power

when we what when we execute on it when

we apply it knowledge times action

equals power and you have so much power

inside of you I want to thank you for

listening to this episode thank you for

watching it three points of action right

now

I want you number one to share this take

a screenshot of this right now take a

screenshot of this

and what I want you to do is tag me post

it online tag me in it and share it and

what I want you to do is share in that

post something that you're applying this

to you know have you tried this already

and as always I'll repost some of the

ones randomly and we'll gift a copy of

Limitless to one or two of you we should

do it every single week and because we

want to encourage you to make this a

game make this playful make this fun the

second thing I would say teach it to

somebody else and then the third thing

please leave a review if you've gotten

value out of this session and you want

to help us on our mission to build

better brighter brains no brain Left

Behind then the best thing you could do

is leave us a review wherever you're

consuming this right now on YouTube uh

like put a comment down maybe it's in

Spotify maybe it's in iTunes maybe you

want to leave a review on Amazon we have

I think 14

000 reviews for Limitless because when

people hear your stories they can see

themselves and you're able to affect

people then I simply can't and we want

to build an army a growing Army of

brainiacs that you know that you change

your brain you change your life you

change your brain you change the world

thank you so much for listening to this

episode I'll see you in our next one

until then be Limitless