Reading
Keeping notes worth returning to
The most useful note is often a small one: a question, a clear example, or a sentence that helps explain an idea in your own words.
Start with a question
Before collecting a passage, write down what made it interesting. A question gives the note a purpose and makes it easier to find again.
Keep the source nearby
A title, an author, and a page number are usually enough. Keeping those details with the idea saves a surprising amount of time later.
Leave room for revision
A notebook does not need to be finished. Return to a few pages regularly, combine ideas that belong together, and let the rest stay simple.