Develop topics
context-specific questions
Liberating our brains from the task of organizing the notes is the main reason we use the slip-box in the first place.
In which circumstances will I want to stumble upon this notes, even if I forget about it?
Keywords should always be assigned with an eye towards the topics your are working on or interested in, never by looking at the note in isolation.
Assigning keywords is much more than just a bureaucratic act. It is a crucial part of the thinking process, which often leads to a deeper elaboration of the note itself and the connection to other notes.
The way people choose their keywords shows clearly if they think like an archivist or a writer. Do they wonder where to store a note or how to retrieve it? The archivist asks: Which keyword is the most fitting? A writer asks: In which circumstances will I stumble upon this note, even if I forget about it? It is a crucial difference.