New Perspectives on Note-taking#
These past few days, I've discovered the essence of the card note-taking method and can finally use this method comfortably.
- The card note-taking method requires two types of cards: the first type is for writing notes, and the second type serves as an index for the first type of card.
- A note-taking system is the embodiment of a personal knowledge system. All categories are important, and the number of categories should be kept to a minimum. The more categories there are, the harder it is to remember. Ensure that your categories can encompass the entire knowledge system. For example, primary categories can be "Work," "Study," and "Life," and secondary categories can be adjusted based on personal preferences.
- Folder directories need to be categorized (blocks in Notion can also be understood as folders), and tags also need to be categorized.
- Maintain a consistent format and avoid frequent changes. Write down your categories on a mind map.
It is now December 16, 2023, and I have opened VScode again today, wanting to write something.
Regarding the record from December 3rd above, I won't make any changes, but I'll leave a comment: the new method mentioned above still doesn't meet the requirements and should be rejected. Let's not fuss about it for now and focus on keeping the categories and tags as minimal as possible. Design all small systems (folders and tags) based on the "Excerpt-Inspiration-Output" loop. Classify folders based on themes or projects, collect information with the purpose of input, read information to solve current problems, and integrate information with the purpose of output. This is currently what I believe to be the best solution for knowledge management.
The above is a textual description, and it may be more effective to demonstrate it step by step or record a video to avoid forgetting in the future.
The Significance of Personal Hobbies#
The day before yesterday, I was chatting with my mom during lunch and she mentioned the karaoke group she joined. She talked about the difficulties she encountered in life and how the friends in the group would comfort her, with strangers from all over the place even sending her red envelopes. I won't go into the specifics.
I know she has been in this group for many years, and I know there is a middle-aged man named Lao Cai in the group who is a big boss but never reveals his personal information.
He is a busy boss who spends his days chatting with a group of middle-aged women about trivial matters (without revealing personal information), purely for entertainment. As a young person who has not yet achieved financial freedom, I am constantly bound by the future and do things in a very utilitarian way, resulting in frequent anxiety and self-doubt.
My mom told me about Lao Cai, how he joined the group for entertainment and relaxation, and how he cultivated personal hobbies in his spare time. This gave me some inspiration.
So, it's important for people to have their own hobbies and interact with friends who are not driven by personal gain. Otherwise, all we talk about all day long is growth, making money. Isn't it exhausting? Just hearing others talk about it is tiring enough.
Blogging is a Good Hobby#
Thinking back, I have also joined some hobby circles in the past, such as a Don't Starve Together QQ group, a purely public welfare book reading group, and a blogging group. Although I hardly participated actively, I enjoyed lurking and it was indeed a personal hobby.
Later, influenced by growth-oriented books, I thought, "Paying attention to these things is a waste of time and doesn't bring any so-called value," so I left the gaming circle. But the result wasn't good. I lacked a handle to grasp the tail of life, and such a life was devoid of joy.
Now I have joined some so-called valuable circles (money-making, personal growth), but I feel anxious. People inside are either trying to stimulate you to make money in various ways or providing examples to prove their own growth. I haven't felt like paying attention to these groups for over half a month.
I'm not saying they are doing something wrong, but the atmosphere feels unnatural, with too many people intervening. I can't speak freely, and the evaluation of value is in the hands of the group owner, not a collective evaluation by all group members.
Today, I browsed the blog of a peer who is studying human resource management. His life seems simple: job hunting, part-time work, spending time with his girlfriend, studying blogs, and taking notes. I don't see any anxiety.
With a part-time job that earns around 2000 per month, he can support himself. He doesn't think about whether doing something has meaning or not. He does what he likes: blogging, photography, writing, thinking, and so on. Then he calmly looks for a job without anxiety. I envy this kind of life state.
Perhaps the existence of Lao Cai and blogs is to tell me that people should cultivate their own hobbies and not invest all their thoughts in utilitarian matters.
I suddenly realized that blogs are really great places. You can write what you want to write and say what you want to say.
I still have more than half a year left for my domain name, so I'll enjoy it for the last time. From now on, if I want to use it, I'll have to spend a few dozen bucks. I will continue to record my experiences in the future.