202209091142 Notes are the fundamental unit of knowledge work

The number of 202109091129 Evergreen notes written per day might be the most valuable metric for measuring the productivity of a knowledge worker.¹ Consider that 202209091141 The goal of note-taking is not to be better at taking notes, it's to be better at thinking. This sharply contrasts to taking transient notes which create busy work without accumulating knowledge (202209091140 Transient notes don't create knowledge).

There are a few good reasons for this metric's value:

1. Evergreen note writing helps insight accumulate
2. Evergreen note writing helps reading efforts accumulate
3. Evergreen note writing helps writing accumulate

If writing is the medium of research and studying nothing else than research, then there is no reason not to work as if nothing else counts than writing.

Focusing on writing as if nothing else counts does not necessarily mean you should do everything else less well, but it certainly makes you do everything else differently. Having a clear, tangible purpose when you attend a lecture, discussion or seminar will make you more engaged and sharpen your focus.

Even if you decide never to write a single line of a manuscript, you will improve your reading, thinking and other intellectual skills just by doing everything as if nothing counts other than writing.²