While i love physical books, papers, and sticky notes, working with a lot of information requires digital solutions for us to retrieve data and review. The key is finding a notes app that's not just functional, but sustainable for long-term use.

Your personal style of note-taking often dictates the choice of tool you should opt for. What works for others might not work for you; this is a personal journey that requires experimentation and honest self-assessment. The most effective tool is the one that feels comfortable and natural to use, regardless of what's popular. Prioritize adaptability and personal comfort over any hype.

Here are a list of notes taking apps that I can recommend:

My favorites:

Obsidian - A powerful, flexible tool that can be customized from minimal to complex setups. Free, open-source, and uses plain-text Markdown files.
Roam Research - Designed for interconnected thought with powerful linking capabilities. Excellent for building knowledge graphs and exploring connections between ideas.
QOwnNotes - Another flexible, open-source option that pairs well with Obsidian's philosophy of customizable note-taking.

Graph-Based and Interconnected Systems:

Tiddlyroam - Free, open-source alternative to Roam Research
TiddlyWiki - No-code personal wiki system with extensive customization options
- Stroll - TiddlyWiki plugin adding bi-directional links and Roam-like features
- TiddlyMap - Mind-mapping plugin for visual organization
Dendron - Combines Roam-like linking with hierarchical organization
Logseq - Block-based note-taking with powerful linking features
Capacities - Modern take on interconnected note-taking

Focused and Specialized Tools:

Typora - Clean, distraction-free Markdown editor with live preview
Hypothesis - Web annotation tool for social commentary and research
Notesnook - Privacy-focused, end-to-end encrypted alternative to Evernote
MkDocs with mkdocs-newsletter - Documentation platform with change tracking capabilities

Whether you're currently using Google Keep, Notion, or any other tool not mentioned here, the principles in this guide can help optimize your note-taking process. Focus on sustainability, personal comfort, and the tool's ability to support your unique thinking patterns.

Note: If you are a programmer, you're fortunate & can explore templates on GitHub for personal wikis, digital gardens or even build your own website that acts like a personal wiki for your notes, you'll be able to customize it to your preferences.