I have struggled with note-taking for my entire life. No matter how many techniques, programs, or apps I’ve tried, I have yet to find one that really “clicks” with me in every way. But I think the problem is probably me.
My problems with note-taking techniques and software is that they work for me while they are new, but over time, the novelty wears off and my usage habits trail off. Then, when I don’t have a completely reliable set of notes (because I stopped taking them reliably or stopped using the “system”), I consider that note-taking system a failure.
Recently, I read an article about Evernote that made me think that maybe I am the problem. For those of you that don’t know Evernote, it is a cloud-based note-taking app that claims you can “Remember Everything.” Evernote includes a web interface, Windows/Mac clients, and mobile apps for just about any device imaginable. That means you can capture (or recall) stuff just about anywhere. And because your “stuff” is kept on the cloud, the same set of stuff is available to you regardless of where you access it from (this is important).
Back to the article I read. In the article, the founder of Evernote pointed out that Evernote users are more likely to upgrade the service over time, and the reason is simple – Evernote is like an augmentation of your memory and your memories become more valuable over time as you collect more of them. Indeed.
OK, so now I’ve had a revelation about note-taking and the ways in which various techniques and tools have failed me in the past. I need something that is messy, that doesn’t require structure, and behaves more like my brain/memory. Evernote is helping me to see that. I’m learning that to get the most out of it, I need to keep exploring it, coming up with new uses for it, and ignore the “habits” and “procedures” that I used to think were critical about note-taking. Here is a brief list of the cool things that I have done with Evernote that have helped me “augment my brain”:
- Use my phone to take a picture of the model/serial numbers on something I need to fix so I can find a replacement on the internet when I am back in front of a computer (beats a paper and pencil)
- Ask the medical assistant to repeat the time and date of my next appointment while I record the audio into an Evernote note (beats fumbling with my schedule on my phone while I’m trying to get going)
- Take a picture of the sprinkler system in my yard and note the location of the valves I need to adjust when I winterize the system
- Take a picture of notes made on a whiteboard after an entire day of meetings at work (guess what, Evernote does text recognition on the handwriting and makes those notes searchable)
- Capture links of webpages that I want to read later (the Share button on my phone lets me send stuff right to Evernote)
Let me know if you’re using Evernote and you’ve found something cool to do with it.
Personal Learning 
I love Evernote.
* Recipes – All of my recipes are either clipped from the internet or scanned to pdf and stored in EN. I always have them, can search for them, and they are with me at the store.
* Remodel – I had a recent bathroom leak. I used EN to keep track of my insurance claim and the resulting remodel. Taking pictures of ideas at the store, shopping lists, and price comparisons.
* Paint colors – Brands, colors, and etc of paint used is rooms throughout the house. No more saving empty paint cans just so you know the color that you used.
* Settings – Whether changing the wiring on my router or my TV / Stereo, I take a picture of what it looks like before I mess with it. This also applies to how the device looks before I mess with it. For example which LEDs are lit and what colors are they.
* Scanner – Papers with calendars, appointments, and schedules that come home from my son’s school or soccer team end up in EN. I ultimately get them in Outlook, but I always have the original.
* Bookmarks – EN has become my replacement for browser bookmarks.
* Tracking – I was having sporadic trouble with my internet provider. A couple of times per day I would do a speed test and log it in EN.
Dude. You’re like an Evernote genius! Thanks for those cool ideas.