Good notes are useful when you return to them. Put the course name and date at the top of each page, then write the main question the session is trying to answer. This makes later review much easier than a folder of unnamed files.

During a lecture or reading, capture the important idea in your own words and add one example. Mark anything you do not understand with a question. You can fill in the missing detail later without losing the thread of the discussion.

After class, spend ten minutes cleaning up the page. Add a short summary and move action items into your task list. Do not rewrite every sentence; focus on what you will need for an assignment or exam.

Once a week, try to explain a topic without looking at the notes. The gaps you notice are the best guide for what to review next.