Evergreen Notes
Notes that are continuously refined and updated over time
Evergreen notes are written and organized to evolve over time, standing in contrast to transient notes like fleeting thoughts or daily journals.
Key Characteristics
Concept-oriented: Each note focuses on a single, atomic idea rather than a topic or project.
Densely linked: They reference and connect to other notes, creating a web of interconnected knowledge.
Continuously refined: Unlike blog posts that are published and left static, evergreen notes are revisited and improved as understanding deepens.
Why Write Evergreen Notes?
Traditional note-taking often results in notes that are write-only—captured once and never revisited. Evergreen notes encourage:
- Active engagement with ideas over time
- Compound growth of knowledge
- Discovery of unexpected connections
- Development of original thinking through synthesis
Related Concepts
- Zettelkasten method
- Knowledge graphs
- Learning in public
This concept was popularized by Andy Matuschak in his work on note-taking systems.