> [!infobox]
<s class="aside-in"><em>mentioned in 2 topics, 6 evergreens</em></s>
#### [[Choosing a note writing system is choosing a system for thought]]
Choosing a [[note writing]] system is not about finding the right [[software]] to write in,
^[For that see [The best note-taking app of 2021 | Capiche](https://capiche.com/e/best-note-taking-app-2021)]
it is about choosing [[systems for thought|a system for thought]]. What system you choose depends entirely on what you are trying to accomplish. Are you a student or researcher trying to bring all of your knowledge together for new conclusions?
Are you a professional trying to map and manage all of your clients and projects?
Are you just trying to get a hold of your life and offload some of the mental effort of keeping track of everything?
All of these are prestigious goals, and can benefit from a well organized [[note writing]] system.
Unfortunately, we cannot dream up our perfect [[second brain]] and have it at our fingertips.
Creating a system that works for you can take a lot of work, but if you are committed to the process it can be highly rewarding in the end.
Additionally,
[[Learning how systems work can be a gateway to creating thought]].
Learning about and creating a system may help you clarify what you are trying to do.
So what are your primary concerns?
##### I want to connect and grow my [[knowledge]]
This is the most common goal of people seeking out [[knowledge management|knowledge management systems]]. Thankfully, much of the community is centered around it, and you can draw from a number of systems to achieve this goal.
- The basics: [[Densely linked webs of thought provide intuitive access to knowledge]]
- A major step: [[Prioritize understanding over organization or categorization]]
- The goal: [[Your second brain should be an inspirational hub of creativity]]
##### I need to know my notes are safe
[[Note storage is important because it defines how you access and retain knowledge]], but it is also important in terms of security and access. A lot of software will store your notes in proprietary databases, and struggle to scale. For this a system like [[Obsidian (software)|Obsidian]] is going to fit you best.
##### I need it to be really easy to take notes or else I won't do it
I fall into this boat. Until I found a note system that suited my brain and a software that allowed to me to reduce [[friction]] I almost never took notes.
This is why one of the main benefits of [[My TIM]] is that it inspires me to work.
^[[[Productivity tools are often most useful in how much work they inspire you to do]]]
- The problem: [[Friction is a hindrance to learning]]
- An answer: [[A second brain should mirror how we think]]
##### What if I don't know what I need
Many people know that they want to learn better or understand more, but they don't know what exactly they would use a [[note writing]] system.
My best advice is to involve yourself in [[note writing]] communities like Obsidian's. These can be incredibly inspiring and educational about what you would want to do with your notes.
^[[[Communities are knowledge graphs]]]
For people like this, it is most important to [[Write your notes like you're planting an evergreen forest]]
### <hr class="footnote"/>
**Status**:: #EVER/GREEN
*edited 7:35 AM - July 08, 2022*
**Topics**:: [[knowledge management]], [[second brain]], [[note writing]]