What to Do with Old Notes: Preserving or Discarding?

Introduction

As we progress through our academic and professional journeys, the accumulation of notes and documentation becomes inevitable. Ranging from digital documents to meticulously written notes, they serve as a treasure trove of knowledge and insights. But what do we do with all these old notes once we finish our studies? In this article, we explore the considerations and actions involved in handling old notes, whether to preserve, discard, or repurpose them.

Digitally Stored Notes

Digital notes have the advantage of being easily accessible and searchable. When I was pursuing my masters, I preferred to maintain digital notes as a primary method of documentation. These notes are stored in a structured manner, making it easy to find and share information with my juniors or even retrieving them for my own purposes later. For example, when I needed to reference a specific part of my school project, I could easily extract it from a semester-wise zipped folder stored in my drive.

The process of storing these digital notes is simple and convenient. After each semester, I would create a zip file containing all the relevant documents. Occasionally, my juniors would request specific notes, and I could share these zipped files with them. Even when revisiting these digital notes later, they proved highly useful for assignments and personal references.

Handwritten Notes

Handwritten notes are a different ball game. They often hold a personal and sentimental value, and they are a direct record of one's thought process. Initially, I kept handwritten notes that I thought might be useful in the future, while I passed on the rest to my juniors. In some cases, when they required a copy, I would provide them with a photocopy. As for the notes that were no longer useful, I opted for recycling.

Over time, I accumulated a significant number of notebooks filled with handwritten notes. By the time I graduated, I had over a dozen notebooks. Most of these notes were redundant since the references to certain books were no longer accessible. However, I kept one notebook with particular significance. And even after graduation, I kept a few other assignments, essays, and papers because they had significant value to me.

Decisions and Actions

After collecting a substantial amount of notes, the question arises: what should we do with them? Here are three potential actions:

Preserve them: For those notes that hold sentimental or practical value, it might be worth keeping. Scanning and saving these notes in digital form allows easy access and retrieval when needed. Discard them: If the notes are not relevant and no longer serve any purpose, it might be best to dispose of them. This could be as simple as taking them to a recycling center. Repurpose them: Old notes can serve new purposes. For example, reading through old notes can provide a clearer picture of past events and may even evoke sweet memories or reveal new insights over time.

The decision to preserve, discard, or repurpose old notes is subjective and depends on personal and professional needs. For those of us who find comfort in holding onto the past, keeping old notes can be a journey of revisiting our educational and professional growth. However, for those who are willing to start anew, discarding old notes can be a liberating experience, allowing us to grow and evolve without the weight of the past.

Conclusion

Handling old notes is a process of reflection and decision-making. Whether we choose to sell, burn, put them away, or start anew, these actions reflect our values and our approach to personal and professional growth. The preservation, discarding, or repurposing of old notes is an opportunity to learn from the past while looking forward to the future.