I’m the kind of person who’s always jotting things down. Whether I’m revising an academic paper, writing an informative article, or brainstorming truly awful puns, you’ll find me surrounded by scraps of paper covered in scribbles. There’s always a pen in my hand, and probably another one tucked behind my ear that I’ve forgotten about.

You should be like that, too. Research has shown that using strong note-taking methods can lead to a significant boost in academic performance, enough to improve by an entire letter grade! Even if you’re not a student, think about how much more organized and productive you could be at work or in daily life with better note-taking habits.

Stop wondering and start doing! We’re here to guide you through a simple five-step process for taking notes effectively.

Prepare

Preparation is key when it comes to effective note-taking. Just like you wouldn’t show up for a marathon without proper shoes and water, you shouldn’t head to a class or meeting without basic tools like a pen and paper. Plus, constantly borrowing supplies from someone else might test their patience eventually.

Note-Taking Supplies

Having the right tools makes all the difference. Check that your pen has ink, your pencils are sharpened, and you’re ready to go. And before you think about typing your notes, let’s reconsider. Studies show that writing by hand not only enhances learning but also helps you stay focused by reducing distractions. Unless a laptop is absolutely necessary, stick to old-school writing tools.

That said, it’s possible to overdo it. A friend of mine once carried around 20 gel pens and 10 highlighters to color-code her notes. While her notes looked stunning, she was so busy organizing that she missed important parts of the lecture. Focus on practicality rather than aesthetics, listening is what truly matters, which brings us to the next step.

Listen

Listening may seem like common sense, but it’s often harder than it sounds. If you’re scrolling through social media or distracted by other things, you’re not really absorbing what’s being said.

There’s also a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is passive, like background noise. If your teacher or manager starts to sound like the muffled drone of Charlie Brown’s teacher, you’re only hearing. Listening, however, is an active process.

As my mom likes to say, “Listen not just to hear but to understand.” Active listening helps you process and retain information. Instead of just memorizing for a test, you’ll actually comprehend the material, making it easier to apply later.

Act

Once you’re equipped and tuned in, it’s time to take action and start writing. Focus on capturing the key points of what’s being said. If you’re unsure whether something is important, write it down anyway, you can always edit later. If a topic comes up repeatedly, it’s likely crucial, so mark it with a star or underline for emphasis.

Write as much as you can, but don’t aim to capture every single word. Think of it like gathering coupons. You don’t know which ones you’ll need until later, but if you don’t collect any, you’ll miss out entirely. Similarly, detailed notes give you a chance to refine and focus on what matters most after the session.

If the speaker is talking too fast, prioritize brevity in your notes. Use shorthand or abbreviations to keep up. If you still struggle, don’t hesitate to ask them to slow down or clarify. Alternatively, consider recording the session, but always ask for permission first.

With the speaker’s consent, use your phone’s Voice Memo app or a voice recorder. This allows you to review and transcribe the key points later. Plus, having a recording is a great backup in case your notes get misplaced.

Emphasize

Now’s the time to put your highlighter to work. Think back to the topic of the lecture or meeting and refer to your syllabus or agenda for context. This will help you identify what’s most important as you review your notes. Highlight key concepts, terms, definitions, or anything you expect to be tested on or asked about later.

Also, pay attention to ideas or terms that came up repeatedly during the presentation. If you recorded the session, reviewing it can make it easier to spot these emphasized points. This is where color-coding can help, but it’s important to use restraint. When I was in college, I stuck to two colors: one for major concepts likely to appear on exams and another for essential definitions or terms.

Be selective with your highlighter. Avoid creating a page that’s glowing neon from top to bottom. Highlighting sparingly will make it easier to focus on the truly important points, which is critical for the next step.

Revise

Handing in a first draft of a paper isn’t ideal, right? (Okay, we’ve all done it, but it’s not the best habit.) The same goes for your notes. If they’re messy or incomplete, they won’t serve you well when it’s time to study.

Now is your chance to polish them up. Think of note-taking as an ongoing process, just like good writing requires revising, good note-taking benefits from review and refinement. If your notes are disorganized or full of scribbles, don’t worry. This step is where you tidy everything up.

On fresh paper, rewrite only the key points in a clear and organized format. Make it neat enough to read easily. This process isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s scientifically proven that writing things out by hand helps you retain information better. By revising your notes, you’re not only organizing them, you’re reinforcing the material in your mind.

Conclusion

By now, you’ve prepared your supplies, paid close attention, jotted down notes at lightning speed, highlighted the crucial bits, and rewritten them with care. What’s left? Studying, of course!

You’ve mastered the art of effective note-taking, and your well-prepared notes will make studying much easier. Now, go put them to good use and show everyone what you’re capable of. You’ve got this!