This article is about how to take better notes to remember information from meetings, lectures, and talks. It argues that just attending isn’t enough – you need a good note-taking method.

Five techniques are covered, including bullet points, tables, mind mapping, the Cornell Method and templates.

• Bullet points: A simple and reliable way to capture key points in a list. Great for highlighting takeaways and action items, but avoid writing everything down.
• Tables: Useful for structured information that can be divided into sections. Makes it easy to find and compare key details.
• Mind maps: Perfect for visual learners. Start with a central idea and branch out with connected points, creating a web of information. Feel free to add doodles!
• Cornell Method: Divide your page with a large note-taking section and a smaller reflection section. After the meeting, use the smaller section to summarise the key points and condense your notes.
• Templates: If you know the agenda beforehand, create a template with headings and space for notes. This saves time and lets you jot down pre-meeting thoughts to be more prepared.

Get the most out of meetings, lectures and talks by finding a note-taking technique that works for you. 

Whether it’s a conference or a lesson, it isn’t enough to just attend. You also have to be able to retain and recall the information later on, and that’s where an effective note-making method can really help. 

In this article, we’ll cover the best ways to take notes for maximum recollection. 

5 effective note-taking methods 

• The Classic Bullet Point: A tried and tested technique, bullet points have served us well for many years – and you might not feel like changing that. Bullet points are a simple way of jotting down snapshots of the most important information in an easy-to-read list, allowing you to highlight the key takeaways and recall them later on. It’s also a great way of noting down any action points or questions that you will need to address. Just don’t be tempted to write down every single thing that is said, or you could reduce its effectiveness as a method. 

• The Table Approach: If the information you are taking in can be easily sectioned, then you may benefit from drawing a table. This gives more structure, flow and organisation to your notes, allowing you to easily find key bits of information as and when you need them. The table approach is also a good way of writing up comparisons, with different rows easily compared and contrasted with each other. 

• The Mind Map: Another classic note-taking technique is mind mapping. You begin with an idea or concept in the middle and draw arrows leading to related points. These points may then have their own related branches, eventually leading to a spider web of information across the page. This is a great option for people who respond better to more visual stimuli – why not use doodles to enhance your work? 

• The Cornell Method: This technique involves drawing an off-centre line down the middle of the page, with one side larger than the other. On the bigger side, you take notes as usual during the meeting or lecture. Later on, you use the smaller section at the side to further comment and reflect on the notes that you’ve already taken. It’s probably most handy to use this smaller side to summarise, using it to condense down the information taken down during the meeting into more digestible points – whatever works best for you. 

• The Template: The template method does exactly what it says on the tin. If you know the meeting agenda or the subjects that will be covered in the session, you can create a template in your notebook with headings, subheadings and space for notes below. Having this layout already created allows you to take notes more quickly. You can even go one further by jotting down a few thoughts before the meeting within the template, so that you can respond and contribute more readily during the session itself. 

Take notes your way with custom notebooks, journals and diaries from Curious Book Co. From bespoke page layouts to personalised colour options, it’s easy to make note-taking work for you. There’s also the option for branded notebooks for corporate clients, too. Get in touch to discover more.