🗄️ Keyword Index

• zettelkasten Classical zettelkasten was a balanced but outdated system
  • engagement For notes to be useful, actively engage with them
    • reading Active reading is the foundation of continued self-improvement
    • underlining misapplied tools might trick people into thinking they understand material better than they do. It leads to busy-work. The look of understanding
      • isolation_paradigm highlighting is a dangerous technique to separate important points from others. It is too easy to ignore main points
    • remembering Only actively engaged and repeated information is remembered
    • inquisitive Questions help us to actively search instead of passively receive (information)
      • selection most information is useless or redundant. filter out everything you won’t make notes about
    • emotion Create notes with a view on creation, not rehashing old ideas
      • accountability Permanent note metrics are not to measure quantity but productivity
      • order PKMs need limited chaos to flourish substance is more important then form
        • lumping categories make terrible keywords
        • index Walking keywords shows multiple contexts in which we can find answers
          • doors keywords open new doors, conversation starters for a note
      • expansion Our understanding broadens and gets strengthened by adding nodes and connections to our ZK
    • creativity Permanent notes are intellectual creativity
      • flow For flow you need a relaxed state and a proven system
  • connection A good note connects your current understanding with the needs of your future work
    • folgezettel note sequences are the key to ZK, they create clusters that birth new ideas
      • combinations thoughts are not unique, but the combination (or linking) of thoughts are what makes them distinct
        • randomness Luhmann improved using notecard by adding an indexing system that made unexpected combinations possible
      • overview the careful initial placement of a note is the first conversation it takes part in
        • branching atomic notes should be densely linked
    • next_step keywords open new doors, conversation starters for a note
      • purpose Studying and highlighting is not to cover material, it is to add notes to our zettelkasten. For this we should always keep in mind, how does what I read fit with my other notes?
        • component notes are simply components, stripped of external context, collected for future use
          • specific A permanent note should answer one specific question
            • polishing spaced repetition enables a workflow of incrementally improving notes
    • interconnection links are more valuable than the notes they connect
      • serendipity insights or originality occurs at the juncture of two before unrelated concepts
        • improvement innovation needs space and not too much order
          • convenience Use stumb notes to park thoughts until you’re ready to expand them
        • limits There is freedom in letting go of assumptions and limits. These less traveled paths will be more fulfilling and adventurous
      • measure The value of a permanent note is in its links
      • cluster Use indexes to point thought and search in the right direction
    • context A quote is an idea without context. An idea without context is ill-defined, and cannot be used
      • daily_note writing from the daily note gives context temporal context, aiding growth analysis
      • binoculars True understanding is understanding the limits (borders) of a text, and then having the ability to look beyond
      • scope Notes need to be atomic because all external context is lost
        • limit reducing scope sets up meaning and questions bring it home
• understanding there is understanding in the combination of ideas
  • knowledge For information to become knowledge it should be processed
    • analysis transcription and copying leads to lack of understanding. It leads to passive study instead of active engagement
      • resistance parsing information should not be too easy, as it invites shallow studying
  • specific A permanent note should answer one specific question
    • naming Declarative titles test the validity of the note’s claim
  • vision A good note connects your current understanding with the needs of your future work
    • benefit Collecting information that is not processed and incorporated feels good, but has no long term benefits
  • opinion When reading you should be actively looking for support or refutations of previous notions, don’t passively accept the status-quo
    • ignorance intellectual laziness is deceiving
• productivity
  • self_deception it is easy to think we are productive, but it is hard to measure oneself
  • consistency consistent naming and coloring taxonomies lowers mental overhead
    • routine well practiced-simple steps gently force towards results
    • journaling Journaling is healthy for mind and body
  • planning The present and future can coexist if tasks are planned accordingly
    • goals Avoid ill-defined goals, instead focus on flexible projects
    • structure A good workflow is carefully balanced between freedom and structure
      • process Defining satisfactory workflows reduce stress and increase productivity
      • golden_ratio Elegant shapes and beauty promote understanding
      • consistency consistent naming and coloring taxonomies lowers mental overhead
    • procrastination bad systems induce bad working habits
    • future Key applications should be chosen with the long view in mind
      • shortcut rigid planning leads to short term success
  • flexibility If something doesn’t work, find an alternative
    • transformation reimagining vs iteration
      • joy good (work) habits give a perception of freedom
• psychology
  • trust learn to let go
  • personality_type To reduce friction people should use applications or tools that fit their personality
    • success A fitting work environment will enhance productivity
  • habits Start a new habit with something simple, there will be a bigger change of success
    • improvement recognizing problems is the first step to solving them
  • memory People tend to remember unfinished, interrupted or incomplete tasks better than completed tasks
    • repetition visiting old memories, for example in past daily notes, strengthens memory, and lets us revisit and see how old ideas formed
  • feedback Distinguishing feedback from a personal attack helps seeing where we can improve
    • interference Affirmative action has a positive net result on society
    • stage the interpretation of feedback is context dependent. In the earlier stages of a goal encouragement or positive feedback is paramount. Later, improvement comes to the fore
      • feedback_loop Seek an internal positive feedback loop for ongoing motivation
        • motivation Tricking motivation reduces reliance on willpower
        • dopamine seeking short term external rewards is dangerous and harmful. Personal motivation, fueled by successful work is a solid long-term solution
          • happiness beauty, be it things or people, makes us happier, and more outward-looking hopeful
    • attitude developing an growing attitude means inviting feedback, positive or negative, as both help to move forwards