11 No-Nonsense Tips to Build a Note-Taking Habit That Sticks

Notes by the computer, let’s go

As 2025 approaches, it’s natural to start decluttering.

You’ve probably cleaned out your desk, closed a hundred browser tabs, and vowed to stop signing up for every free productivity tool. But have you taken a look at your notes lately?

If your note-taking habits feel more like a digital junk drawer than a creative toolbox, now’s the perfect time to clean house.

Let’s clear out the clutter, ditch what’s not working, and set up a system that’s actually useful before the new year rolls around.

These 11 tips will help you build a note-taking habit that’s simple, flexible, and, most importantly, something you’ll actually want to use.

1. The best tool is the one you already have

You don’t need a fancy app or a bullet journal with perfectly aligned calligraphy. If you’ve got an idea and a sticky note, that’s good enough. The goal is to get the thought down before it vanishes, not to win an award for aesthetics.

Takeaway: Capture the idea now. Pretty can wait.

2. Start simple (seriously)

Forget about nested folders and detailed tagging systems. If your note-taking starts to feel like a full-time job…