Write to think clearly

A simple structure for notes worth returning to.

A useful note does not need to be long. It needs to preserve an idea well enough that you can return a week later without rebuilding all the context.

Start with a question

Instead of a broad heading like “Ideas,” name the thing you want to understand, choose, or test. A specific question gives the note a boundary and makes it easier to leave distractions out.

Separate observations from conclusions

Write down what you know first, then add your interpretation below it. Keeping the two apart leaves room to reconsider a decision when new information arrives.

Leave a next step

Finish with one action: revisit a source, compare two options, or test an assumption. A small, concrete task is more useful than a long list of intentions.