Benefits of Taking Meeting Notes
For the past few months, I’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of notes I take during meetings. My usual “idea capture” and “research” notes haven’t changed much, so what’s going on? While the increase in meetings is undoubtedly a factor, there’s more to it.
I’ve always been a note-taker. I diligently record the date, time, subject, project, and attendees using my preferred tool, Obsidian. This simple metadata is incredibly useful for searching and backlinking. When I think, “I know I met with Sandra recently, but what about?” I can navigate her contact note and see all related documents through backlinks.
Improved recall
The curious thing is that I rarely refer back to my meeting notes. I usually recall the important details without them. So, why do I bother?
I’ve realized that the act of taking notes itself is a powerful memory reinforcement technique. I may not retain every detail, but the key points — agreements, problems identified, and action items — stick with me long after the meeting ends.
Peace of Mind
My notes also provide peace of mind, a reassurance that I have a record to consult if needed. With those details safely captured, I have the mental space to focus on the present.
Here’s my simple template, containing a few standard fields plus a tagged #ToProcess task: This task ensures I follow up on any action items promptly.
Every few days, I review my recently made meeting notes to ensure they’re complete before archiving. This serves as a quick refresher and a final check that “future me” will have the necessary context.
Want to learn more about the “future self” concept? Check out this article: Dear Future Self, I Wrote this Note for You
Don’t forget to check out some of my interesting projects at my store: https://store.tfthacker.com
