The first step of any note-taking session is to make sure your desk is set up to your liking. I like to have plenty of pens to hand, the learning objectives in one corner (top left on this occasion), a textbook to the left, my notebook usually in the middle, my computer at the back of the desk so I can do an emergency Google for things if necessary and a few post-it notes nearby. My desk can end up quite messy during these sessions so I always tidy everything away at the end of each day.
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The pens I like to have to hand are some form of colour (either Staedtler Fineliners or Muji gel pens), a decent fountain pen (shown below is a Pilot Vanishing Point Raden on the left and Platinum 3776 Century Nice in the middle and a Lamy Safari on the right). Post-it notes are invaluable also for the tiny bits of niche knowledge that may be the difference between being in the top 20% and the top 10% (I use my own judgement for this!).
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When it comes to the layout of my notes, I try and keep it simple. Colour is kept to a minimum (much different to how my notes were last year) and there is a bit more underlining and highlighting in the form of boxes around key words. I try and keep each section as short as possible because a consultant once told me that medicine is all about knowing a little about a lot. I also write them with the thought that if someone else at a similar stage to me in their training were to pick them up, they'd be able to learn from them and understand them straight away.
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I know a few of you have asked me to write a post similar to this (such as a step-by-step of how my notes are made) but each time I do a study session, I'm concentrating so hard, it makes it hard to make sensible notes and take photos for a blog post at the same time.
I think your desk is actually quite neat! Mine looks like a complete mess and I find that I always have to rearrange items on it :)
ReplyDeleteYou should see my desk after a study session - it's pretty messy then! :) x
DeleteI have a question: what would happen if the sticky notes were to fall out? Do you tape them in?
ReplyDeleteI've never had an issue with them if I'm honest! I just try and buy ones that are super sticky x
DeleteWhat is your study routine? Could you do a step by step of how you study for exams and how you memorize things?
ReplyDeletehello! With medicine, my study routine is a bit haphazard as I know I'll never be able to learn everything for exams so I try and concentrate on topics that are 'high-yield'. I can try and write a post on how I study for exams but not sure how beneficial it would be for other subjects x
DeleteI second Shanice's request.
ReplyDeleteLove reading your blogs! It would be super helpful to know your study routine. Your notes always look amazing! Thanks :)
ReplyDelete