Write is Not Cheating

Geniuses do it, star students do it and the most effective business executives can be almost obsessive about it. Even in the age of computers, old-fashioned note-taking is just as useful as ever.

Jotting things down in a notepad may seem counter- productive if you are trying to boost your memory, but it’s actually complementary to it. The chances are that you already take notes, just not in any organised or systematic way. For this reason, many of us find writing a useful technique in itself. Equally, there are many types of information which you might need to retrieve in the future, but are not so vital to everyday life that you would want to spend the time and effort memorising them.

Here’s an idea for you…

Keep a notepad with you at all times; you never know when you might need to jot down important information. A small pad that fits easily into a pocket is best. Most of the time, for most people, paper is still better than electronic organisers, as it’s quicker to use, and you don’t need to be so worried about it being stolen. Important long-term notes can then be transferred to a digital storage medium later.

Writing up your notes a day or week later will give you a vital review of the information, helping to consolidate it into your long-term memory. At this point you can choose whether to physically write them up using pen and paper, or whether to transfer them onto a computer.

“The palest ink is better than the best memory”

Chinese proverb

By making notes of things to follow up in future, we free up a lot of mental space, allowing us to concentrate better. Similarly, taking notes can be essential in writing to-do lists. Students, in particular, need to take notes in lectures and classes. Even if they have well-trained memories, most will not want or be able to memorise things fast. After your classes, use the left margin to jot down the information in quick form, using key words. Then use the bottom margin to summarise the whole page in a couple of sentences.

By taking notes you don’t lose information, or end up working on things only to realise you’ve repeated something you’ve already worked on. It makes you smarter, and more efficient.