In today’s tech-driven era, note-taking is no longer just about rewriting what we hear in class or read from a book. It has become a crucial part of learning and working strategies. However, a classic debate still lingers: is it better to take notes by hand (analog) or digitally (using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone)?

The answer isn’t as simple as “this one is better than that one.” In truth, there is no perfect or universally correct way to take notes. It all depends on context, individual needs, and learning styles. In fact, to achieve the best results in this modern age, a combination of both methods may be the most ideal strategy.

Before diving into how to take notes, we need to understand why note-taking is important. It’s not just about storing information, but also about helping us understand and internalize material, retain information long-term, and make concepts easier to digest and process personally.

According to a study by The Learning Scientists (2017), note-taking is a vital part of the encoding process in learning—how information is processed and stored in long-term memory. Effective note-taking increases the likelihood of that information staying in the brain.

Even though it may seem old-fashioned, handwriting notes has many cognitive benefits that are backed by science. Some of its strengths include:

✅ Helps with conceptual understanding
Writing by hand forces the brain to filter out the important information and summarize it, which leads to deeper understanding.

✅ Increases focus
Because handwriting is slower than typing, students tend to be more focused and selective about what they write down.

✅ Activates more brain areas
Research by Mueller & Oppenheimer (2014) showed that students who took notes by hand demonstrated better conceptual understanding than those who typed.

✅ More personal and reflective
Handwriting allows for scribbles, drawings, and symbols that make the learning process more individualized.

However, analog note-taking also has its drawbacks: it’s harder to search through, it can get lost or damaged, it doesn’t have automatic backup, and it takes time to recopy.

Taking notes digitally (on laptops, tablets, or phones) offers flexibility and speed, which are very helpful in modern academic and work environments. Some benefits include:

✅ Faster typing
This is very useful when you need to capture a large volume of information quickly, such as during meetings or lectures.

✅ Easily searchable and organized
Digital files can be tagged, sorted, and searched effortlessly.

✅ Shareable and accessible from anywhere
Facilitates collaboration with teams or study groups.

✅ Automatic backup
With cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud, notes are less likely to be lost.

However, digital note-taking also has risks. It’s often too neat and less reflective, leading people to copy-paste without really thinking. It’s also more prone to distractions from notifications and can promote shallow processing of information.

A study by Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer (2014) compared students who took notes by hand versus typing. While typists recorded more information, those who wrote by hand had a better conceptual understanding.

In many cases, the best strategy is to combine both methods—handwritten and digital—to get the best of both worlds. For instance, when reading a book, listening to a lecture, or brainstorming ideas, use handwriting to aid thinking and comprehension. Then, you can scan or transfer your notes into digital form. That’s where you can organize, tag, add references, or even share them.

One popular system for digital note-taking is Tiago Forte’s Building a Second Brain method. In this system, the note-taking process is divided into four steps:

1. Capture – Collect ideas and insights from books, articles, discussions, or personal experiences.
2. Organize – Group and tag key parts based on projects, areas of responsibility, or references.
3. Distill – Summarize and simplify the notes into their most meaningful essence.
4. Express – Reuse the notes for writing, speaking, teaching, or content creation.

To make your note-taking (whether analog or digital) more effective, here are a few practical tips:

– Use icons or color coding to mark important ideas. This makes it easier to scan when reviewing.
– Set aside 10 minutes each night to transfer handwritten notes to digital. This can double as a moment for reflection and reinforcement.
– Turn off notifications when taking digital notes to avoid distractions and stay focused.
– Don’t be afraid to make “messy” notes— focus on comprehension, not aesthetics. The principle is: Whatever works, just write.

In the end, there is no one-size-fits-all method for note-taking. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable, understand the material well, and can access the information later when needed.

Everyone has a different learning style. Some prefer bullet journals, others feel at home using apps like Notion or Obsidian. And some remain loyal to their lined notebooks and favorite pens.

Over time, you can explore different methods and discover the best note-taking style that works for you.

 

The question of analog vs. digital note-taking is no longer about which one is superior. Today’s world demands flexibility and efficiency, and combining both methods might be the wisest path forward.

Use handwriting to deepen your understanding and internalize information. Then use digital tools to organize, store, and share your notes. This way, your learning process becomes deeper, more structured, and sustainable.

Remember, a good note isn’t the prettiest one—it’s the one that helps you understand and grow.