👋 Hey, happy Monday.

This is about how to be a note-taking minimalist. Keep reading below or find this on Medium.

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Work is full of problems.

Some we enjoy solving.

Some we avoid.

And some sit in the back of our minds, gnawing at us while we go through the motions.

What’s the difference between those we’re energized to solve and those we’re avoiding?

Size of the problem matters, yes. How important it is matters too.

But another difference? It’s how you approach it.

When you’re overwhelmed, the issue is usually simple: you’re not thinking clearly.

In the modern work environment, clarity doesn’t come from consuming more information — we usually have enough of that.

It comes from organizing that information in a way that makes sense to you. That’s where note-taking comes in.

I know what you’re thinking — notes, really?

But trust me, note-taking is one of the most underrated tools for solving problems. And not in the way your teachers told you in school.

It’s not about writing down everything. It’s about zooming in on the important parts.

1. Work is about solving problems and notes help you do that

Most of the time, work is just a series of problems waiting to be solved.

Emails to respond to, projects to move forward, deadlines to hit.

Click, chat, repeat.

Those notifications and cascading inbox can get overwhelming quickly.

You need to slice through it.

That’s what note-taking does.

Notes help you externalize the mess in your head, putting it on paper (or a screen), and giving yourself room to breathe.

Once it’s out of your head, you can finally see the problem for what it is — something solvable.

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2. Meaningful problems narrow your attention

Not all problems are created equal.

Some problems matter because they have meaning. They challenge you. They make you better.

Others? They’re just noise. They’re the things that make you feel busy but ultimately leave you exhausted and unfulfilled.

The trick is narrowing your attention.

Zero in on what matters, and that’s what notes do. They help you sift through the noise, see the important stuff, and focus your energy.

Here’s a simple way to use notes for this: write down what the problem really is. Don’t just write down the task (“finish project”).

Get deeper.

Write down why this problem matters. What’s the actual challenge behind it? How will solving it push you forward?

That’s how you go from busy to productive. And that’s how you make sure the problems you’re solving are the ones worth your time.

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​3. Chosen problems vs. assigned problems

Ever feel like you’re just reacting to the problems coming your way, not solving the ones you care about?

Yes, life throws curveballs at you (just look at lives upended by recent natural disasters or a death in the family or an illness).

But in the regular day-to-day, often we’re reactive rather than proactive.

We’re taking on assignments rather than making choices.

Assigned problems are the stuff you didn’t ask for — tasks, responsibilities, and challenges handed to you by someone else.

Chosen problems, on the other hand, are the ones you want to solve. They’re the ones that excite you and move you toward your goals.

Now, even if you have assigned problems, notes help you reframe them. They give you control. By breaking the problem into manageable steps, you turn something overwhelming into something doable.

There’s a shift in mindset when you write it down: You go from passive to active, from overwhelmed to in control.

4. Solving problems expands your potential

Here’s something I’ve noticed: when you solve a problem, no matter how small, you grow.

You unlock a new level of potential, and suddenly bigger challenges don’t seem as impossible anymore.

But you can’t always see that growth in the moment.

Journaling and notes are a way of tracking progress.

They help you see the evolution of your thought process. They give you a record of the challenges you’ve tackled and the solutions you’ve come up with.

And as you solve more problems, you’ll notice your ability to handle bigger and more complex challenges grows. What once felt like a dead end is now just a stepping stone.

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​Write your wait through it…

The next time you’re stuck on a problem, don’t just think your way through it — write your way through it.

This helps you focus, solve meaningful problems, and expand your potential.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be useful.

And the more you practice, the better you’ll get at turning even the toughest problems into something solvable.

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Thanks for reading! When you’re ready, here are some resources that you may find helpful:

• ​Free note-taking cheat sheet and template​
• ​400+ ChatGPT prompts for productivity​

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Related articles by me (on Medium)

• ​good notes should be easier than you think​
• ​how to be a note-taking minimalist​
• ​5 note-taking habits that changed up my creativity​

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Keep going-

​Josh Spilker​​

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​PS: You got this b/c you signed up for the Create Make Write newsletter or downloaded something on notes or writing from me on Gumroad​

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PSS: Still here?​ WHOA, good job. Here's 61% off the Quick Start Note-Taking Pack (SHHH....it's the lowest price I've offered)

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