Zettelkasten Method Explained: A Beginner's Guide

Take smart notes with Zettelkasten! Zettelkasten is a note taking system for any knowledge worker looking to a better way to organize your old and new knowledge and ideas.

Zettelkasten is developed by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann as his personal knowledge management system to develop system theory and write more than 70 books and 200+ articles in just 30 years.

In the next video, I'll show you how I use Obsidian to set up my Zettelkasten and neo smartpen to digitize and sync my hand written notes with digital notes.

✏️Smart Note-Taking✏️
» Zettelkasten Workflow in Obsidian: coming soon!

⚡Framework & Tools⚡️

⏱ TIME STAMPS ⏱
0:00 The wonders of Zettelkasten
00:27 What is Zettelkasten
01:28 3 Types of Zettel (notes)
04:54 Setting up Kasten (boxes)
05:30 Why Zettelkasten
06:41 Customizing your Zettelkasten

#zettelkasten #knowledgemanagementsystem #notetaking
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» Connect with me

[yeehimwong]

Your video is the clearest and easiest to understand amongst the few dozens in YouTube. Congratulations

[ryanleemartin]

This was the clearest and most useful explanation of Zettelkasten I have come across! The way you layed out the difference between Fleeting, Literature and Permanent notes was just so well done. Thank you!

[kenfreeman]

My study notes while watching this video are 'literature' notes. My ideas for my own applications of this system are 'fleeting' notes. Now I move on to a review of both to make 'permanent' notes for my use going forward. Thanks for such a great overview of zettelkasten.

[GabriellaMarieTherapist]

Liked and subscribed. You are extremely talented at breaking down complicated ideas and explaining them clearly and concisely. Thank you very much for this phenomenal explanation- It was exactly what I was looking for and I am very excited to have found your channel!

[alyssacdavis]

Wow! I was wondering why this system seemed so much better for my Autistic brain than other methods. Then, you mentioned how this isn't top down organization! In general, people with ASD tend to understand the world in a bottom-up manner, making this so well suited for folks like me. 🔥

[VickyZhaoBEEAMP]

What do you think about Zettelkasten as a note taking system? I wish I had this when I was going to school so I can better use what I've learnt!
If you liked this, check out:

Thank you for watching!

[cindy]

I really enjoyed your video. It was very clear and detailed. The Zettelkasten Method is new to me. I am a 63 yr old woman! How did I not know about this before now? I have always been a note taker but I throw stuff away after a time. Just think of all the thinking I have done and tossed . . . what a waste of knowledge and time. I am hoping to make use of this now. I have so much I want to know and remember. This just sounds like a great method. Thank you for your helpful video.

[ramirooosting]

You may be one of the best explainers on youtube. Blown away by your ability to be clear.

[Cioangel]

Best explanation I've found. When she explained the difference between the chronological and Spatial thinker helped me to identify myself. Subscribed!

[adamduvick]

Thank you for this on-ramp. I actually have captured many literature notes & fleeting notes, but never had a clear workflow for using them as inputs for permanent notes. I am going to start this with obsidian by capturing a liturature note referencing this video. This method gives me guidance for cultivating my knowledge base.

[mackenzielopez]

Recently discovered your channel and I'm a fan! I've started thinking in frameworks as a designer and one thing I struggle with is note taking and seeing this method has really opened my eyes! Can't wait to try to build this habit.

[anitabeaver]

After going back to school, I realized as an older learning my brain is different. This all seems so much more effective. As well I sit on a school board, and the constant struggle to find the missing piece that the children are having to take their learning to the level of true knowledge. I feel like we are not teaching children how to learn this is eye opening to me. ThNks!

[home]

I’m genuinely using your videos as therapy. Great production. No distractions
Love it

[blessedbeyondmeasure]

Awesome explanation, makes it feel doable to me now! I am starting yo write a book and this makes so much sense to me how to organize my ideas and facts I have learned on the topic i am writing about. Thank you! You are an excellent teacher.

[christophechazarein-bea]

I've watched several videos about the Zettelkasten system, and this one is the clearest I've seen so far. Thank you!

[ThePeonyFields]

Thank you for this video. Have been trying to get my mind around this method, finding it difficult, but you've given me a handle on it. Thank you for being so clear.

[ewejinyeap]

Just starting to get into Zettelkasten. I liked that you explained the original method in its own video, and not suggest people follow a specific implementation of the method right from the get-go. Thank you!

[studiokaralis]

This video came just in time! I just recently started with my zettelkasten but still struggle a bit with how to organize and link my notes. Your video was clear and easy to understand! Looking forward for the digitizing the notes video!

[yeehimwong]

You’re video is the clearest and easiest to understand amongst the few dozens in YouTube. Congratulations!

[GadAnimations]

Thank you so much for the explanation! You've been the most helpful resource on my journey into this so far and it's much appreciated. If only I had known about this during my engineering degree, I might have been able to save myself from all of the late nights and general panic