This is how I’ve been taking notes over the past 10 years, and the system hasn’t changed much. I upgrade to .md from .txt and have added some ancillary details like tags, but the core of the system is the same.
- Plain markdown, tab indented
- One per day, special notes for long-running topics
- Roll forward stuff that doesn’t get done from last day
Example:
TODO
** blah blah blah point 1 **
** subtasks for point 1**
** point 2 blah blah blah **
WAITING
** Stuff I need someone else to complete or am otherwise waiting on **
** person who owes me the thing **
DONE
** Thank god I got some stuff done **
MISC
**Notes I sometimes keep about tasks, extra pastebin-type config, etc.**
This has worked really well for me, over the past ~10 years of both college and professional life. I’ve expanded the system a bit – if we’ve worked together, there’s a pretty good chance I have dedicated note page filled under a relationship (colleague, customer, partner etc) that helps me keep track of everything.