#visualnotes

Graphs showcase trends, relationships, and key takeaways in a format the mind grasps faster than rows and columns. When you need to drive home critical data or demonstrate complex connections, graphs speak volumes.

I believe that the ability to sketch is useful as the ability to write. Visual approach for note-taking help me to learn, remember and organise information. And also it is great skill to make your presentations more fun!

Now I am working on the online course where I will share my approach for note-taking and you will learn the basic principles of how to make your notes and slides more visual, fun and useful.

Want to know when the course is ready?

…OR JUST NOTE TAKING IN GENERAL 

I have been inspired by the artistic prowess of many note takers and how they have incorporated art into their journals/notebooks. As I browse through countless studyblrs I have noticed a “shift” in my note taking dynamics. I began to be more concerned with whether or not my notes were “visually appealing” rather than it being practical. While there is no harm in wanting your notes to look pretty, there is in a fact a line between wanting your notes to look nice and wanting your notes to actually be useful.

I have fallen into a trap thinking that my notes would be horribly bland without fancy stickers, cute washi tapes, midliners, and brush pens (and yes it DID look rather dull). I started beating myself up because I could not emulate how others make their notes. At first I wondered if I wasn’t doing something right or I didn’t follow a tutorial correctly. I was discouraged to even lift up my pen because of the fear of my notes not looking a certain way.

For those of you who are like me and have felt this way, my first advise is to FORGET EVERYTHING. It is alright to draw inspiration from others however, when the thought ‘My work looks nothing like (insert favorite study blogger)’s work’ or ‘I’ll never reach their level’ comes into mind, it is wise to just take a deep breath and step back for a moment. 

So here are a few friendly tips for all the note takers who are feeling this way (if there are any ^^”) :

Do not set yourself to somebody else’s standards. Trust me, it would only set you in a world of hurt when you do, not to mention that it is unhealthy. The reason why other people’s notes/journals look the way they do is because that is their own personal style, not yours. While like I said earlier, it is alright to draw inspiration from others, remember being inspired doesn’t necessarily mean to imitate. Liberate yourself from the heavy weight of feeling like your work would never be good enough because you compare it with someone else’s.

Do not let the lack of materials discourage you or define what you can do. I know that bullet journals, pretty notebooks, ink pens, water colors and others of the like are costly. And I have always thought that since this certain brand is the one that (insert favorite study blogger) uses, I have to use it as well. WRONG. True artists make the most of what they already have. And I think that note taking is an art form in and of itself. So what if you don’t have fancy stationary? You could make your notes look nice without it. You just have to be creative and put your resourcefulness to the test.

Find a style that best suits YOU not them. “Them”, loosely speaking, could be anyone or anything that is hindering you from being yourself. If you are comfortable in using the Cornell method, go right ahead. If you find that Mind Mapping suits you better, then do it. Or if you are feeling adventurous, create your own style of note taking. The most important person that should benefit from your notes is YOU not “them”.

Be spontaneous. Act on your impulses. No one is stopping you from creating random doodles on the borders of the page or writing down quotes that inspire you in fancy lettering if you feel like it. Remember that you are not confined by any one idea. Experiment. The more spontaneous you become, the more uniquely you your notes are.

Forget everything. Now this might seem counterintuitive to all of the other things I have said before but it really is best to just forget everything and enjoy yourself in your note taking, I had found that taking down notes is highly therapeutic (for me at least) and made it into a time where I could write down my thoughts and the things I have learned how ever the way I want to without being subjected to the fear of it not looking a certain way. There is still an opportunity for improvement…scratch that there is ALWAYS an opportunity for improvement,