How to wisely save information from the Internet and not only

Consideration of organizing information and brings me not only professional, but also personal interest. We are all familiar with the feeling of being lost and even impotence in front of a huge volume of information, which we are immersed every day. And we all want to get rid of this feeling and begin to fully control their information environment.

Much has been written about how to stop being distracted by meaningless articles or news and focus on the information that is really useful for us. But surprisingly little is said about how to properly structure this useful information.

Working on Channelkit, we have identified certain patterns and methodology in this respect, and I will share some basic tips.

1. Determine the range of topics that interest you

Think about what you do read, what websites save your bookmarks, browsing some videos during the week, and that this is important to you? Most likely, some of this information applies to your professional field and work projects, something personal to you and your family, but something - your hobbies and interests. Perhaps the secret.

On paper or in a text editor, write to the 3-5 that belong to each group. For example, here is my slightly simplified for clarity, a list taken from Channelkit.

By the way, spending a few minutes on this list - this in itself is a very useful exercise that helps to make sense of who you really are. And by doing this regularly, you will see how your interests will evolve.

2. Focus on the incoming information processing

Unfortunately or fortunately, the Internet is extremely varied and you are unlikely to be able to restrict the flow of incoming information by a single instrument or band. You can for six months to polish your RSS-feed in Feedly to perfection, until it was replaced by the new format will not come and you start getting the most interesting links in the Telegram-channels.

In addition, a lot of useful still occurs offline: someone mentions some blogger or a book that just want to record. Therefore, we recommend to stop worrying about where it is you learn something new, and focus on how this information is processed. More on that below.

3. Separate read from unread

Information "for later" is qualitatively different from the one with which you are already familiar. If you are able to retell in your own words what had just read or seen, then you have missed this information through itself and due to the fact that they knew before. This is the moment when Information is transformed into knowledge.

That's why we recommend you to share articles, books, movies, and everything else "for later" from what you have already processed and found it useful.

I do this: the article that I want to read and then are sent to the reader (I use Pocket, there is also Instapaper). Are perfect and classic stowing services Delicious, Pinboard or more straight from the tin Saved.ioBut you have to read in a browser, re-open the link.

If, after reading the article, it seems to me useful, I'm sending it to the appropriate channel in Channelkit. Classical alternative for storage of selected items - Multifunction Evernote. More visual options - Dropmark and Raindrop.

For the movies, books, blogs and websites that I still need to see, I'm doing some channels Channelkit. When watching a movie, read a book, and the site studied, I stand the best of them in the relevant thematic channels with your comment and tags.

For quick notes something interesting chat while talking with a friend or co-worker recommended app ThinglistVery simple and lovely.

In general, choose more suitable for your tools. The main thing - clearly separate what you only have to read or see what you have already evaluated and are willing to recommend.

4. Invest in description

It is essential that division of read and unread was not formal, so immediately after reading it is worth spending a moment of time and a little concentration on qualitative description. This will help to internalize new information, to make it truly yours. So it will be easier to remember, and the only way it would make sense for you.

By the way, if the comment is given to you is not easy, it is very likely that the subject is not worth saving. Why do you need to collect a trailer useless information, which you can not remember anything after a week? Better that you do not do - safely dispose of.

5. Break up the information on the types of

Our favorite theme. The main currency of bargaining on the Internet is a link. But only the link itself is meaningless for humans. We are not interested in a set of characters in the URL, and the object to which it is dedicated to a specific location on the Internet: an article, a book, a person, a blog tool, a video or picture.

Empirically, we have found that it is the most common entity of interest to people on the Internet. This is what in fact they keep adding a link to your bookmarks.

Think about what objects you are operating in their professional and personal life? I, as in the case of many other designers, in addition to all the above, more interested in museums, design studios, cool brands and works of art. These are important things for me, so they give me a pleasure time and place uniform card index, work with which I will be pleased.

6. return

There is nothing worse unparsed heaps of information, which has lost relevance and value to you. Do not be afraid to go back and revise their treasures - so you get rid of that already served, will to maintain their own interests to date and start even better navigate that caught your attention earlier.