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    How To Take Smarter Notes, According To Psychology

    Improved memory, anyone?

    We’re all guilty of it: We’re in a meeting, a lecture, a classroom setting, whatever, and we’ve got our laptop open and primed to dutifully take copious notes. In reality, we’re scrolling through Facebook or adding toilet paper to our Amazon shopping cart.

    Use your own words (i.e., verbatim isn’t your friend).

    Engage and paraphrase.

    Utilize keywords, dates, and colors (among other things).

    Review and continue to revise (always!).

    Compare notes whenever possible.