note-taking and the iPad

I have a tendency to repeatedly reevaluate my note-taking systems, apps, and tools. There is always this nebulous idea in my mind that I’m one tweak away from organizational bliss, extreme productivity, and lower stress.

Over the years I’ve often thought that incorporating an iPad (or other digital handwriting machine like a reMarkable 2) into my system would be helpful. Yet, as nice a device as it is, it’s never really clicked for me.

Here are some facts:

• I’ve been actively experimenting with note-taking systems for over 10 years, less actively for much longer.
• In that time I’ve repeatedly learned that incorporating handwritten notes in paper notebooks increases productivity and creativity, and decreases stress.
• I’ve repeatedly learned that handwriting on iPad falls short for a variety of reasons, as much as it seems like it should offer all kinds of benefits.
• In fact trying to introduce iPad into the mix, in any capacity, is a major net loss in productivity vs. not using it and focusing efforts on paper, truly mobile (smartphone), and “real” computer (laptop/desktop).
• Obsidian, and using file system-based plain text notes in general, has been a huge improvement over Evernote, Apple Notes and the like (database-based “everything buckets”… a term I got from Alex Payne’s blog which now seems to have disappeared).
• The combination of Obsidian (used on a large screen iPhone + laptop/desktop) with a small pocket-sized paper Field Notes notebook is as close to an ideal system as I’ve yet come across.
• Retrying stuff I’ve tried before, hoping for different results, never brings different results.

I think the key insights include:

• Obsidian and the file system provide long term storage and organization.
• Paper is for quick scribbles, jotting something down spur of the moment with minimal friction. To the extent these are helpful to reference later they can be easily scanned, saved in the file system, and referenced in an Obsidian note.
• Typing in Obsidian and writing or drawing on paper both help with thinking. I tend to be more creative with paper.

…and there isn’t a gap for iPad or other digital handwriting to fill.

• It’s not as good at being a long-term single source of truth as the file system plus basic file types (.txt/.jpg/.pdf).
• Adding iPad into the mix creates confusion on what goes where.
• It’s not as good at quick notes as paper… it’s slower and clunkier; sometimes batteries are dead or weather prevents use.
• It’s much more distracting than paper.
• The lack of tactile qualities inhibits creativity for me.
• Even markups on documents are better done with a keyboard and mouse… they’re neater and easier to share/search.

Basically there’s nothing lacking in my note-taking system that iPad is needed for, and it doesn’t improve anything that’s really important.

This is mostly a reminder to myself. YMMV.