Have you ever watched a video or read an article and felt like you didn't really understand or remember anything afterward? I used to have the same problem. I was consuming information but not really retaining it or using it in a meaningful way. That was the moment I realized I needed a system to actually remember what I was consuming, especially in a world where we're constantly flooded with information.

My turning point came when I watched a video about Niklas Luhmann, a German sociologist best known for his work in systems theory. He created a system called the Zettelkasten, a note-taking method that uses "smart notes" which you connect with each other to form new insights and ideas.

The Zettelkasten System

But How does this System actually Work and How could i or you use this System in our Daily Life ?

The system has four different types of notes you can take: the fleeting note, the reference note, the permanent note, and the literature note. But let me Explain each Note Type and how you can use them.

The Fleeting Note:

Fleeting notes are quick captures of ideas or thoughts that you want to remember later. You can think of fleeting notes as little reminders. They don’t need to be perfect, but they should capture information quickly. Fleeting notes are often raw thoughts, quick captures, temporary, and unorganized.

The Literature Note:

Literature notes are summaries of source material that capture the main ideas. Whenever you read or watch something valuable, you write it down as a literature note. The important part is that you should write it in your own words, not copy it directly.

The Refrenz Note:

Reference notes are detailed explanations or clarifications of ideas you’ve learned. They’re written in your own words and show your personal understanding of a topic. These notes often link to other notes and help build a deeper network of ideas.

The Permanent Note:

And then there are the permanent notes. These are notes you create based on all the other notes. This is the final goal of the system. Permanent notes contain your own thoughts and ideas, and they stay in your project forever.

But what does my Personal system look like? I created my system inside a note-taking tool called Obsidian. It’s a tool that lets you connect different kinds of notes to each other, making it perfect for the Zettelkasten system.

My system is organized using nine different colors: red for Spanish, blue for design, green for neurology, dark green for goals, turquoise for Notetaking, blue for traveling, magenta for psychology, and pink for philosophy.

As you can see, the system is all about connecting multiple different topics with each other. It’s basically a system designed for a polymath.

I think this system is valuable because it allows you to connect different topics with each other, which leads to the creation of new ideas and insights. In my opinion, this is the most valuable aspect of the system.

If you're interested in this topic, feel free to reach out to me. I'm always open to making new connections: