Embrace your imperfect note-taking system.
Effective mindsets you can practice - Wabi-sabi and healthy skepticism.
Intro
Are you chasing a unicorn, wishing that you can finally find a perfect solution for your note-taking system? Aren't you exploring any new software that is available in the market? Aren't you investing your time in efficiency?
You might be wasting your focus.
Hype of perfection
I was curious why people, including myself, are so obsessed with having a perfect note-taking system. Based on my observation, these are what contributed to the hype.
The word, efficiency
Once we start considering time as a resource, it creates an urgency to make the most of the time available and accomplish as much as possible within a given period. This leads to a greater interest in efficiency.
"How can we improve our note-taking system?" "How can we save time when capturing, organizing, and maintaining notes?" Companies have developed new software and argue that previous solutions cannot address all of your issues, offering better alternatives.
Fear of missing out
For whatever reason, people experience FOMO (fear of missing out). We are afraid that we are missing out on important information or experiences that could be beneficial in the long run. This fear seems to apply to a note-taking system as well. To be fair, I understand that new starters try to experiment with different software or methods to find what works best for them. However, I have noticed this behavior even among experienced note-takers. Despite having already figured out a system that works for them, they still keep seeking out new, shiny things that might be beneficial for them due to FOMO.
Social comparison
With technology, it's a lot easier to see how others are using their note-taking system than Niklas Luhmann's (Founder of Zettlekasten method) period. As someone passionate about taking notes, you may find yourself watching others introduce new software, methods, or themes and wanting to try them out, right?
You can argue that you are constantly trying to improve your system, and I agree. However, my point is that we need to be careful not to fall into the trap of perfectionism. In the book Daring Greatly, it is stated that,
"Perfectionism is addictive because when we inevitably experience shame, judgment, and blame, we often believe it's because we weren't perfect enough. Instead of questioning the faulty logic of perfectionism, we become even more entrenched in our quest to look and do everything just right."
I wasted years trying to find the perfect note-taking system, only to realize that I was wasting energy that could have been used for writing.
I would like to share two mindsets I have been practicing to overcome the desire for perfection and find greater happiness while taking notes.
Apply Wabi-sabi
Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy that celebrates the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and the natural cycle of growth and decay. It also recognizes the inherent beauty in simplicity, asymmetry, and the unique characteristics that develop over time. It encourages an appreciation for the imperfect, the transient, and the incomplete, highlighting the beauty that can be found in the flaws and imperfections.
All of the description above was counterintuitive to me. As someone who always strives for constant improvements until I find a perfect note-taking system one day, I wasn't even sure I can practice this mindset. I started with doubts, but experienced peace after I admitted that my note-taking system will never be perfect. And that's ok.
Here are what I tried to incorporate to drop perfectionism and Wabi-sabi:
- Be okay with decency: Let's look at a prolific author, Niklas Luhmann again. We shouldn't forget that his Zettlekasten system was established in an analog manner. He didn't even use Notion or Obsidian to improve his research. Yet, how could he publish 70 books in his life? I believe that he was okay with his *decent* system and focus on materials.
- *Be simple*: Wabi-sabi also emphasizes the simplicity. We can achieve simplicity in note-taking system as well. This involves you choosing one platform and committing to it, rather than moving around. It means you choose your own structure and stick to it, rather than constantly trying different ways of organizing notes. It means you keep the number of plugins minimal, rather than trying all the options available.
These require overcoming perfectionism and FOMO as well. It's hard. Yet, you feel liberated once you start practicing Wabi-sabi.
Apply healthy skepticism
If you find yourself haunted by the pursuit of efficiency, you may think the only way to escape is to become more efficient. So you try out more methods - Zettlekasten, Cornell notes, etc. You experiment with different software and plugins. These are all good approaches. However, if you don't establish your own rules, the effort you put into creating a perfect system ironically ends up making your system worse. To keep your system aligned with your own philosophy, it is important to maintain a healthy skepticism, even if your system may appear imperfect to others.
Here are a few strategies you can use:
- Question: Let's say people talk about a graph-based note-taking app like Obsidian and claim it's beneficial for everyone. Yet, would it be beneficial for you? It may or may not. If you are someone who - prioritizes note organization, Notion might be a better choice for you. Thus, it is important to question.
- Evaluate: Especially when you are incorporating new elements into your current system, consider advantages and disadvantages. What are the tangible benefits you can expect? What are the drawbacks it may entail? These questions have been useful in forming a balanced viewpoint. As I realized that everything has its pros and cons, I've slowly overcome the fear of missing out (FOMO) and perfectionism.
Conclusion
I was pursuing perfection in all aspects of life, and PKM was not an exception. I believed I could be more efficient and satisfied by improving the note-taking system. However, I was constantly haunted and frustrated by endless options from new software, plugins, and methods I hadn't tried yet. It took me a while to realize that I don't need a perfect system to write and share with others. Recently, I've come to understand that Wabi-sabi and healthy skepticism play a significant role in letting go of perfectionism. I'm writing this to remind you that you don't have to be perfect either and you can embrace an imperfect note-taking system by practicing these mindsets.