It’s been a little over a month since I started using this new note-taking method and I wanted to provide some details on how it’s going for me. To be honest, it hasn’t been as easy to switch to this note-taking style as I thought it would be. I have struggled on a few fronts–
Paper
The Cornell Note-Taking Method utilizes a special paper layout that divides the page into discrete sections. Each of the sections has a specific purpose. In my original post on this topic, I provided some links to Cornell Note-Taking Method page generators, but I found that to be a bit wasteful. I didn’t see the need to use a whole page of paper (even recycled paper) for every meeting so I decided to use my existing notebook (one of those bound composition notebooks with the black and white cover that you see in the school supplies section at the store) and just create the Cornell Note-Taking Method layout manually using my pen.
This has worked fine, except that I still end up wasting a lot of paper because I don’t end up taking a full page of notes every time. I’ve even had the occasion to cross out the original meeting title and write a new one because I didn’t write anything down.
Space
Using the Cornell Note-Taking Method, I sometimes find that I feel cramped when I write ideas down. Because the note-taking area is smaller than without the Cornell Note-Taking Method, I find myself running out of room on the page faster. I also find that it seems harder to write down a complex thought with less space. It’s nice to have the other areas to write additional or clarifying notes in, but sometimes it ends up being wasted space if I don’t use it.
Reverting
Another challenge that I have had is that it’s quite easy for me to forget to use the Cornell Note-Taking Method and go back to my old style of note-taking. I usually notice this about 1/4 to 1/2 of the way down the page. I don’t know if I just need more time or if breaking the habit of my old style is just going to be a challenge I will face for a long time.
Time
Part of the Cornell Note-Taking Method is going back over the notes that you have written and re-stating or summarizing them to better ingrain them in your memory. I have found that due to my schedule (lots of scheduled and impromptu meetings and phone calls), I don’t have or take the time to go back and do the secondary note-taking steps. I do give my notes a cursory once-over to look for action items or things I need to follow up on, but as for summarizing all of the days notes, that just doesn’t happen.
Next Steps
I’m going to keep trying the Cornell Note-Taking Method for a while longer to see if I can get over the hump of my past note-taking habit and see if there is a bump in usefulness/productivity for me, but I thought it would be easier to switch to using the Cornell Note-Taking Method and the benefits would be more pronounced.
