How Taking Notes Can Kill Your Creativity Faster Than You Think
Here’s How to Take Notes and Boost Your Creativity at the Same Time
If you’re taking notes, you probably think that you’re doing something smart.
You may also think that writing down is the best way not to forget the interesting ideas you stumble across.
Well, as an avid note-taker myself, I can only relate!
You see, there is this common idea that writing things down is the best way not to forget information.
And I agree with this statement to quite an extent.
But it can also kill your creativity faster than you think.
Here’s why:
It’s true that if you’re taking the time to write things down, you are more likely to remember them.
Why? Because You engage with it not only with your mind but also by using your hot lil’ fingers.
But on the other hand (pun intended), writing things down can also have a disastrous effect on your incubation process.
Let me explain:
Research has shown 2 things.
First, is that incubation (letting ideas squirrel around) is the key to creativity. In other words, we need to keep ideas germinating in our brains so that they can grow into something meaningful.
Second, our short-term memory is limited to (more or less) 7 things.
It’s a dilemma:
If we want to become more creative, we have to let things float in our minds. But on the flip side, if we keep ideas without writing them down, we also tend to forget them.
Because here’s what happens when we write things down:
Our brain literally flushes the toilet!
The thoughts and ideas get wiped out, and we move on with our life.
This implies that you’re not going to think what you just dumped into your notetaking app.
So what’s the solution?
The solution is to set up a notetaking system that not only empowers you to not forget but also to re-engage with your ideas.
It’s finding a sweet spot between writing and incubating.
Easier said than done?
Well, not that fast.
I’ve created a FREE 7-day email course to show you the first steps to create a notetaking system not only to remember but also spark creative insights.
You can get it for free by clicking here (safe link to my website).
