5 Easy Tips to Be More Productive by Taking Better Notes

Note taking is an important part of the daily operations of a negosyante. It’s a simple yet proven-effective way to keep track of information — from important dates, to project progress to client data. It hasn’t lost its appeal after generations of keeping up the habit, but the method behind it has changed over the years.

With technology literally at our fingertips, note taking has never been easier. Many new and well-loved digital features make the process of note-taking effortlessly quick, easy and mobile. Here’s what you should do to up your note-taking game:

1) Invest in a smartphone.

• Take neat, easily-readable notes with the built-in Notes app, Pages, Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
• Take instant photos with your phone camera and add them to your notes.
• Mark important reminders or schedule events.

2) Collaborate real-time with your team on Google Docs or other platforms.

• Share your document with team members so everyone can work on it at the same time.
• Edit or add Suggestions to your employees’ documents or presentations in the Suggesting mode.
• Get instant feedback through Comments and Suggestions, and edit accordingly without having to create new files.

3) Write down notes quickly with pens

A callback to the original way to take notes, many smartphones now come with pens. They replace the use of fingers on your smartphone’s touchscreen. The best pens are connected to your phone via Bluetooth, which allows them to have additional functions:

• Scribble notes quickly, make diagrams and draw images on the Notes app using the pen as a stylus.
• Take photos and screenshots as you write notes by clicking the button on the pen.
• Launch other apps or use your voice recorder with your pen.
• Customize your pen’s functions so you can quickly access your phone’s features.

4) Share your notes easily

• Present your notes by connecting your phone to an external display like a TV or monitor.
• Post or send notes through social media groups, blogs, instant messaging apps like FB Messenger, Viber, or Whatsapp.
• Share and organize your notes through your own customizable collaborative platforms like Sharepoint, Google / Facebook for Work, or Huddle.   
• Quickly turn your notes into an email or SMS text message with a click.

5) Secure your sensitive data, especially if the notes you’re taking have to do with crucial tenets of your business.

• Keep your work safe with passwords.
• Protect your phone from viruses and hackers with built-in security features and protocols.
• Don’t share your important files to people outside of your community or organization.

Note taking has clearly developed over the years, but no innovation since the pen and paper has been as profound as what we currently have at our fingertips. With all these functions, you wouldn’t expect one phone, tablet or device to have them all. But you just might be surprised.