Mastering the Art of Note-Taking – Tips, Tricks & Tools for Students and Professionals

Note-taking can be quite beneficial for both students and professionals. This is because it allows them to efficiently retain and understand key information, and prepare themselves for exams and meetings.

Remember, note-taking is a skill, and as a student or professional, it is necessary to master it so that you can quickly get the most out of your notes.

In this blog post, we are going to explain some of the best tips and tricks that will help you to take notes like a PRO.

Proven Tips & Tricks for Efficient Note-Taking

Below we have explained some of the effective tips and tricks that both students and professionals should follow to

1.   First Decide on the Note-Taking Method

To take effective notes, it would be good if you first decide or choose the right note-taking methods. There are a number of note-taking methods, and each has its own structure and different purpose.

For instance, Cornell is a popular note-taking method that involves efficiently organizing and condensing information. It greatly helps the readers to quickly skim through the information and recall it.

Some other note-taking methods are:

• Outline
•  Mapping
• Charting
• Sentence
•  Boxing

Students and professionals should go with the one that fulfills their specific needs and requirements.

2.   Make Use of Headings & Subheadings

Using headings and subheadings while taking notes will make them clear and comprehensive. Let us explain how.

The headings & subheadings will divide the notes into small portions, making it easier for the person to quickly scan through without any confusion. Moreover, these also make the note more focused and attractive.

To explain this better, we created notes for a student by using headings and subheadings.




 

As you can see in the attachment above, the use of headings has not only made the information attractive but also easier to read. So, as a student or professional, you should do the same as well.

3.   Use CUBILS to Explain Necessary information



 

It is also considered an excellent tip to use CUBILS in order to come up with perfect notes. Wondering what exactly CUBILS is? In the context of writing, it refers to Bolding, Italics, or Underlining some words and phrases that explain essential information.

Besides this, it also involves using:

·         Bullets & Numbering

·         Margins

·         Short sentences and paragraphs.

·         Appropriate white space.

Using all these will make the notes organized and clear. Both these elements will indicate that the person is a master at note-taking.  

4.   Always Leave Room for A Final Review

Whether you are a student or an experienced professional, you are prone to make mistakes, because it’s human nature. This is why it is recommended that you always proofread the notes once you are done with them after the class or meeting.

Proofreading will allow you to make sure that every important point is noted down without making any kind of grammatical mistakes. Additionally, while reviewing, if you find some unclear arguments or gaps, it is crucial to resolve them as soon as possible to avoid later confusion and frustrations.

These are the tips and tricks that you can use for efficient note-taking. What we’d like to do now is mention some of the tools that students and professionals can consider using for note-taking.

3 Online Note-Taking Tools That Students & Professionals Can Consider Using

Below we have mentioned some of the best online tools that students and professionals can use for taking notes online. Doing so will give them the authority to access their notes anytime from anywhere.

1.   Evernote.com

Evernote is one of the oldest note-taking tools that is available in both free and paid versions. It allows users to take notes of essential things with maximum ease.

Apart from this, it gives a number of options to efficiently format them. Its formatting options include:

·         Headings

·         Font styles & sizes.

·         Text color & alignment.

·         Bullets & Numberings

·         Insertion of media (images, charts, tables, etc.)

Moreover, the tool also offers multiple pre-built templates that students and professionals can use for their ease. The templates include a “To-do list,” “Reading list,” and many more.

One of the most amazing features is that it offers a “Calendar” feature through which users can set reminders for both taking and opening notes.

Finally, Evernote also gives the option to share the notes with others via email or through a link.

Pros:

·         Easy to understand interface.

·         Available in both mobile and desktop applications.

·         Offers a free version along with a paid one.

Cons:

·         The premium plan may seem expensive, especially for students.

2.   Editpad.org

Editpad is a completely free-to-use online notepad that students and professionals can use unlimited amount of time. Just like Evernote, it also offers formatting options such as headings, text alignment & style (Bold, italic, & underlined).

Additionally, it also provides a dark mode, especially for users with sensitive eyes. The good thing is that Editpad automatically saves the content which means if you accidentally close the editor, there is no need to worry. Because after reopening, you will start where you left.

Besides this, Editpad supports 21 languages. So that students and professionals from different parts of the world can use it in their native language. Apart from multilingual support, Editpad also offers:

·         Real-time word, character, & sentence count.

·         Live chat support.

·         Option to upload and download the notes.

Pros:

·         Available for free.

·         Mobile & desktop application.

·         Supports 21 languages.

·         Live chat & dark mode.

Cons:

·         Some may not find the interface attractive.

3.      OneNote.com

OneNote is a product of Microsoft. It is also completely free to use and is almost similar to Microsoft Word. Let us explain how.

It has a ribbon bar containing a number of similar features that MS Word contains. For instance, it has:

·         Font style & size option.

·         Text coloring & highlighting.

·         Text alignment.

·         Heading styles.

Moreover, this free notepad also gives the option to insert images, tables, margins, etc. Besides this, it also allows to sharing of the notes as a whole notebook or through a link.

Pros:

·         The free version offers all the features without any limitations.

·         Can store projects on the cloud for easier accessibility.

·         Allows text, image, and attachment placement anywhere.

Cons:

·         Local storage is only offered to Windows users.

Final Words

Whether you are a student or professional, it is necessary to take notes so you can quickly recall essential information. However, you must take notes efficiently so that you or the other person don’t have to face any difficulties in understanding the information. In this article, we have explained some effective tips and tricks that will help you master the art of note-taking. If you're looking for ways to relax after a long study or work session, consider visiting a Massage Center. Taking breaks and treating yourself to some relaxation can rejuvenate your mind and body, helping you stay focused and productive. 

In this article, we have explained some of the effective tips and tricks that will help you in mastering the art of note-taking.