In recent years, notes on smartphones have become one of the most popular tools, perhaps second only to social networks and instant messengers in popularity. In one survey, when people were asked to name the three most frequently opened apps, the majority included notes on this list. This seems telling: in an era when access to information and tasks is endless, notes have become a familiar and necessary way to organize thoughts, ideas, and tasks. And this applies not only to work tasks, but also to everyday affairs.

Why have notes become so popular?

People need somewhere to write down their thoughts and ideas. Notes are simple and accessible: when you open a note-taking app, you immediately get space for thought, without being distracted by the interface and without unnecessary steps. It is easy to understand why even such successful people as Jack Dorsey prefer to use the simplest tools to manage huge projects and key tasks. Apple Notes, for example, allows him to keep lists, record thoughts, and even make strategic plans.

Notes as a universal tool

The current capabilities of note-taking applications have gone far beyond the banal recording of text. Now it is not just a digital replacement for a notepad, it is a tool that can handle large tasks. For example, people use notes for:

1. Ideas and inspiration. The thoughts that come to mind can now be recorded immediately, without the fear of forgetting them. Someone saves interesting articles, quotes, project ideas, poems and inspiring sayings.

2. Organizing tasks. Many make to-do lists and form goals. Unlike standard planners, notes allow more flexibility - it is easy to add important details and links, clarify tasks, draw a diagram or chart.

3. Working with personal projects. Jack Dorsey is known to use notes to make lists of topics and ideas that he wants to discuss with colleagues. He also keeps strategic plans for the company and, oddly enough, even an "anti-list" - a list of things that should not be done. This approach allows you to clearly see where you should not spend your energy.

4. Feedback and self-development. Notes are a convenient place to record ideas that can be used for self-analysis or evaluating completed tasks. You can also add feedback from colleagues, personal successes, mistakes and lessons that are worth considering in the future.

Simplicity or complexity: what to choose?

We often believe that productivity comes with more powerful and advanced tools. But the experience of many people, especially creative professionals and entrepreneurs, shows that it is simplicity that helps focus on the content, not the form. Notes are a "blank canvas" where you can focus on the idea itself and not be distracted by additional functions.

What note-taking tools do people choose?

While Apple Notes is an example of a popular and easy-to-use app, many people also use Google Keep, Notion, Evernote, and Microsoft OneNote. Each of these tools has its own unique features:

  • Google Keep is great for quick notes, reminders, and working with checklists.
  • Notion is more complex and is used to organize large projects.
  • Evernote has long been the standard for digital note-taking and a popular tool for working with information.
  • OneNote is a solution for those who value integration with Microsoft 365 and prefer advanced note-taking features.

Ultimately, the popularity of notes is due to their versatility and the ability to be as simple or complex as we like — it’s up to us. And while feature-rich note-taking platforms like Notion can be impressive in their capabilities, a simple app like Apple Notes can sometimes give you the freedom you need to realize great ideas.