The True Value of Notes Apps and the Need to Forget

The True Value of Notes Apps and the Need to Forget

Notes apps are often seen as a graveyard for ideas, a place where thoughts, links, and random findings go to die. But surprisingly, this is actually a good thing. We save notes and jot down ideas not because we want to remember them, but because we want to forget them. It may sound counterintuitive, but there is a reason behind this behavior.

When we save something in a note-taking app or bookmark it for later, we create a sense of security. We feel like we have stored our ideas and findings in a safe place, even if we never revisit them again. It's a form of insurance for the future, a way to justify our loss aversion. We want to believe that the time we spent thinking, researching, and discovering things was not in vain.

However, the reality is that most of our thoughts and random findings are not actually valuable. We write them down, but we never give them a second thought. It's like writing something on a piece of paper and then setting it on fire. The problem is that we ascribe value to these thoughts and findings because they took time to think up and find. We become scared of losing them, fearing that they might hold some hidden meaning or worth.

This fear stems from our natural tendency towards loss aversion, which is biologically ingrained in us. We prioritize threats over opportunities because it increases our chances of survival. We try to remember everything, clinging to every thought and piece of information, only to strain under the weight of a million mental tabs. In doing so, we erode our ability to remember the truly important things.

But the truth is, we don't need to remember everything. It's actually beneficial to forget certain things. In a podcast about the benefits of forgetting, it was highlighted that forgetting allows us to resurface what truly matters. It's about letting go of the insignificant and making space for the important.

To truly forget, we need to feel safe. We need to feel secure that our memories were not in vain, that they'll be there if we want them again. It's like sifting through stale garbage when we flip through our old notes. We realize that most of our ideas and discoveries aren't worth that much on their own. And yet, we blame the tools, the techniques, thinking that a new app or method will be better. We keep seeking the next best thing, hoping it will solve our problem of forgetting.

But in reality, the problem lies within us. We need to recognize that the value of our ideas and findings lies not in their quantity, but in their quality. We need to embrace the fact that most of what we come across isn't actually worth holding onto. Storage may be cheap, but the illusion of value can be mentally draining.

So what can we do to navigate this cycle of seeking and forgetting? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace the concept of selective forgetting: Recognize that not everything you come across is worth remembering. Focus on identifying and retaining the ideas and findings that truly matter to you and align with your goals.

2. Simplify your note-taking process: Instead of constantly switching between different note-taking apps and methods, find one that works for you and stick with it. Keep your notes organized and easily accessible, but don't let the process become a distraction in itself.

3. Take time to reflect and revisit: Set aside regular periods to review your notes and reflect on your ideas. This will help you determine what is truly valuable and worth pursuing further. Don't let your notes become stagnant, but also don't feel pressured to constantly revisit every single idea or thought.

In conclusion, notes apps and other tools designed to help us remember serve a different purpose than we may initially think. They act as insurance for ideas, allowing us to forget the insignificant and make space for the important. By recognizing the true value of our thoughts and findings, we can break free from the cycle of seeking the next best thing and find meaning in the things that truly matter.