The Value of Notes Apps and Forgetting

The Value of Notes Apps and Forgetting

Notes apps have become a staple in our digital lives. We use them to save ideas, links, thoughts, and more, as a form of insurance for the future. But have you ever stopped to think about why we save all these notes if we rarely revisit them? The truth is, we don't write things down to remember them; we write them down to forget.

This concept may seem counterintuitive at first, but it holds a deeper meaning. When we take notes, we retrieve the information and store it externally, giving our brains a break from trying to remember everything. However, this act of writing can also lead to forgetting, especially when the note is fleeting and satisfies our need to capture the thought.

The true value of notebooks, notes apps, and bookmarking tools is that they serve as insurance for our ideas. They allow us to forget without the fear of losing valuable information. Most of our thoughts and discoveries aren't actually that valuable in the long run. We write them down, set them aside, and rarely give them a second thought. It's as if we could burn the paper and let the ashes scatter to the wind without losing much.

But why do we ascribe value to our thoughts and findings? It's because we want what we do to have meaning. We want to feel productive and make progress. This desire is rooted in loss aversion, a concept explained by Daniel Kahneman in his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow." Loss aversion means that we respond more strongly to losses than to gains. It's a biological trait that has been naturally selected into our DNA. We fear losing our thoughts and ideas, even if they aren't particularly valuable.

To alleviate this fear, we need to feel safe forgetting. We need to believe that our memories were not in vain and that they'll be there if we want them again. Only then can we let go and move on. This is why flipping through old notes can sometimes feel like sifting through stale garbage. We realize that most of our ideas and discoveries aren't worth much on their own. The tools and techniques we use to capture them are not to blame; it's our perception of their value.

We often fall into the trap of seeking the next best thing, thinking that a new app or platform will solve our note-taking woes. We dump our newest thoughts into it, try out the latest features to organize our notes, and repeat the cycle of safely forgetting things. But in the end, we'll come across those best ideas again and again, and our notes become nothing more than a record of when we first encountered them.

So, how can we break free from this cycle and make our note-taking practices more meaningful? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace the forgetfulness: Understand that not everything you write down needs to be remembered. Allow yourself to forget and focus on what truly matters. Don't let the fear of losing information hold you back.

2. Reflect on your notes: Instead of mindlessly saving thoughts and ideas, take the time to revisit your notes occasionally. Reflect on why you saved them and what they mean to you. This will help you discern the valuable from the insignificant.

3. Prioritize quality over quantity: Instead of chasing after the latest note-taking app or technique, focus on the quality of your ideas and discoveries. Seek depth rather than breadth and invest your time and energy in things that truly matter to you.

In conclusion, notes apps and other tools for capturing information serve as insurance for our ideas. They allow us to forget without the fear of losing valuable thoughts and discoveries. However, we must remember that not everything we write down holds great value. By embracing forgetfulness, reflecting on our notes, and prioritizing quality over quantity, we can make our note-taking practices more meaningful and fulfilling. So, let go of the illusion of value and embrace the true purpose of notes apps – to let us forget.