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Notes Worth Keeping: A simple guide to writing notes that matter
If you’ve ever jotted something down and never looked at it again, you’re not alone. The real value of a note isn’t in the act of writing—it’s in what you can actually use later. Here’s a practical, friendly guide to what makes a note worth keeping, how cards differ from plain paper notes, and a little, doable origami-inspired note style you can try.
What makes a note worth keeping
Clear purpose
- Know why you wrote it. Is it to capture a task, a learning, a phone number, or a reminder? A note with a single purpose is easier to reference later.
Specificity
- Include concrete details: dates, names, places, amounts, and next steps. Vague notes fade from memory; precise bits stick.
Actionability
- If it’s a to-do, include the exact action and a due date if possible, like planning for a date. If it’s a fact you might need again for an anniversary, keep the note in a memory box.
Context and relevance
- A note should tell you enough to understand it later. If you need context, add a quick one-liner for yourself to jog your memory later.
Readability
- Legible handwriting or a clean typed note is essential. Use headings, bullets, or bold/underline to make skimming easy.
Longevity
- Consider the lifespan of the note. Is this something you’ll reference in a week, a month, or a year? Some notes belong in a notebook; others belong in a digital archive and others belong in your memory box for anniversaries.
Personal resonance
- A note that nudges you emotionally or reminds you of a goal you care about is more likely to be kept and revisited. Love and friendship are good topics.
Skimmability
- Keep critical ideas at the top, extra details below. A note should be digestible in a quick glance. If you need to add more information, write a letter.
Q: Is a card the same as writing a note on a piece of paper?
Answer: Not exactly. They’re related, but they serve different nuances and purposes.
Cards
- Often designed with a specific sentiment or occasion in mind (greeting cards, thank-you cards, index cards used as meeting prompts, etc.).
- Usually more polished, with a space that implies a “complete thought” or a ready-to-share message.
- Great for reminders you want to keep for a long time or messages you want to present with a little ceremony.
Notes on paper
- Typically informal, quick, and flexible (sticky notes, notebook pages, scraps of paper).
- Ideal for rapid capture, brainstorming, or temporary reminders you’ll discard or migrate later.
- Easier to create in bursts; perfect for daily habit-building.
Bottom line: use cards when you want a kept, shareable message or a durable reminder. Use plain paper notes for quick capture, rough drafts, or moment-to-moment memory aids. Both can be kept long-term if you design them with future you in mind.
Simple origami note style you can actually do
Origami-inspired note formats are a playful way to make the act of keeping a note feel special without being complicated. Here are two simple, super-accessible ideas you can try today.
Idea 1: The pocket origami note
- What you need: a square sheet of paper
- How to fold:
1) Write your note on one side of the square.
2) Fold the paper in half horizontally to make a rectangle; crease well.
3) Fold the top edge down to meet the bottom edge, forming a smaller square; crease.
4) Fold the left and right edges toward the center to create a little pocket at the bottom.
5) Tuck the folded note into the pocket so you can pull it out when you’re ready to read it.
- Why this note is worth making: This note is a nice decorative note that can be saved and kept on a desk or in a frame.
Idea 2: The origami bookmark-note
- What you need: a rectangular sheet of paper
- How to fold:
1) Write your note on one side.
2) Fold the sheet in half lengthwise to create a long card.
3) Fold the top and bottom edges toward the center to form a slim, flat bookmark with a pocket in the middle for a small slip of paper containing your note.
- Why it’s worth it: it doubles as a bookmark and a note carrier, so you can make them again and again while your loved one is reading a book. The notes are special but is still simple to make.
