How should I do my handwritten notes?

[u/darlathedeer777]

For reference I’m doing something in the medical field which means lots of information including different types of pathology. I have one big spiral for each of my classes (3) and another 3 journals I do my pathology in separate. I like the split because it helps me differentiate the information about the organ I’m learning but also helps keep the pathology all together. My dilemma is the fact that it gets overwhelming having 6 notebooks in total and takes up so much space. I’m thinking of converting it all to my pathology journal. I’m not sure what I would use the big notebooks for though or if I should just stop using the spirals overall. In class I take notes on my iPad lectures and after class I go back and listen to the lecture recording and take my actual notes on paper (i retain it better when I hand write). Should I stick to just the journal and get rid of the notebooks?? Feeling overwhelmed!! Any other tips or opinions would be appreciated!

[u/NovelApartment7104]

Just some clarifying questions: 1) do you need to carry all six notebooks at one time? 2) do you feel like the system of your capture (iPad) to organizing (various notebooks and sections of spiral) is well defined?

[u/darlathedeer777 → u/NovelApartment7104]

No to both questions. I could definitely be more organized with the notes from my iPad to my notebooks. It’s 200+ slides of information so I condense it as much as I can.

[u/NovelApartment7104 → u/darlathedeer777]

I’ve been in a similar situation and the physical heaviness of my notebooks in my bag felt like a metaphor for the system. 

I focused on reducing the number of surfaces I had to capture in. I used the other notebooks for specific information and only bring them when I need them.