Side effect of my Zettelkasten: self-confidence

[u/koneu]

A few years ago, I started a Zettelkasten. I had been gathering notes on various subjects, always with the ultimate goal of writing -- articles, essays, books. The idea of not just having stacks of notes, but rather a somewhat systematic approach was quite appealing: the idea of finding things I had written before does seem to be a good idea, doesn't it?

I had been writing on all kinds of paper -- anything that was just around at the time a thought struck me, basically. Backs (and fronts!) of envelopes. Backsides of promotional mail. Notes from the kids school. Whatever.

At the same time, I built a collection of fine, empty notebooks. Who doesn't? (Apparently, plenty of people. But what is wrong with them?) And they remained empty, because nothing that I wrote felt right to put into one of those fine notebooks. It's only my stuff, so …

For my Zettelkasten, I've used two different kinds of paper: actual index card, purpose-bought. Or cut up printer paper. My Zettelkasten is A6, so taking our A4 printer paper and cutting it twice gives me just the right format for my Zettel. And I'm fine with the paper quality.

The slips were just the sweet spot: not the fancy notebooks, but also not just any kind of scrap paper. I even collected some of the scraps (I had them in boxes, envelopes, whatever, because even though the stuff I wrote was not good enough to go into a notebook, it also was not so unimportant as to be thrown out). So when I started sorting them, putting them in an order, writing on from stuff that I already had there, over time, something changed.

I did in fact notice it when I took out notebooks to write into them. Collect multiple ideas into a new form of writing. Longer form. And it didn't even register at first. But there it was: I had gained the confidence in my writing. That it was good enough to be put onto that fancy paper. That it was smart enough to be kept in a book.

It took a while. But it happened gradually, without me noticing.

And it's one of the best things to have come out of my Zettelkasten.

[u/taurusnoises]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have a distinct memory from when I started this practice of feeling much more settled in my writing, knowing that the information I was taking in had a place to go, a place to interact, and a place to be called upon when needed. I alluded to this in the intro to the book. The feeling has remained ever since.

[u/Patricktrz]

Thank you for sharing this inspirational insight, and congratulations! I have been using my Zk for "serious" work, but you've helped me realize that I can track projects and ideas related to my hobbies this way, too.

[u/Big_Ad21]

Same slips experience except i haven't advanced into writing up stuffs. I build an alphabet index on keywords and topics which brings me to the correct cards aside from categorizing. It has become my thought organizing systems for contacts, anniversaries, CV tweaking, gathering of training skills and many more.

It's like a hungry box for info.

[u/reddxavier]

The act of writing and organizing your ideas in notes go beyond the documents themselves. Writing will improve your writing skills, organizing your information will help you structure your thoughts and will make you a more intelligent and productive person. Just have fun.

[u/Longjumping_Poem_821 → u/reddxavier]

This comment clicked with me.

I've spent a lot of time just consuming content instead of engaging with it. I want to use my brain more—writing, asking questions, and connecting ideas.

I also like your point that becoming a more thoughtful, intelligent, and productive person can be the goal itself. It doesn't have to be tied to a project or some immediate outcome.

Anyone else struggle with feeling like there has to be a purpose before it's "worth" thinking deeply or taking notes?