If you often forget what you read almost instantly, building a personal knowledge management system could be the key to finally remembering and using what you learn. Here’s how I made it work.
How a PKM System Unifies Information
I didn’t have a defined or organized approach to capturing what I read before building my personal knowledge management system. Everything I read was scattered in various locations. I had my book highlights in Apple Books, saved articles were buried in Pocket, lecture notes were lost in notebooks, and random ideas found their way into whichever note-taking app I was using on my phone at the time.
This was overwhelming to say the least, and anytime I needed to refer back to something I read, it was a tedious and time-consuming process. One of the main ways a personal knowledge management (PKM) system helps you remember more of every book you read is by centralizing your information in one location.
Instead of having pieces of information scattered across various sources, such as physical books or note-taking apps, I use Logseq as my central knowledge hub. Now, book highlights, notes, and even fleeting ideas flow into a single location.
However, the productivity tool you choose matters far less than the system you build and how you organize it. Whether you prefer Logseq, Obsidian, Notion, or even a physical notebook, what’s crucial is creating a structure that works for you—one that makes it easy to capture, connect, and retrieve information when you need it.
Active Engagement With the Material
If you want to learn faster and retain information better, actively engaging with the material is crucial. It’s not enough to simply read a book—you must be fully engaged in the learning process.
One way to do this is by highlighting key passages as you read. This will help you focus on key information and make it easier to review later. You can also take notes while reading and using your own words. This helps with retaining information and forces you to process and understand the material more deeply.
The next technique I’ve adopted is summarizing entire chapters or sections. After finishing a chapter, I’ll write a summary of the main points and key takeaways. This allows me to review important information quickly and easily, particularly when preparing for exams or projects.
Bi-Directional Linking for Deeper Connections
One of the most useful features you will find in many personal knowledge management apps is bi-directional linking, which is essentially a way to create two-way relationships between your notes. Instead of simply storing information in isolated silos, bi-directional linking allows you to weave a web of interconnected ideas, which deepens understanding and makes information easier to find.
I use Logseq to take and organize notes from books. When taking notes in Logseq, I can link a page to another page by using [[]] double brackets and typing the name of the page. This creates a link that allows me to jump back and forth between the pages to build connections.
For example, let’s say I’m reading an article on all the essential productivity methods worth knowing and come across the Pomodoro Technique. I could summarize this on a page in Logseq and tag it with a [[Productivity]] reference. Later, while reading another article on time blocking, I can create its page and use the same [[Productivity]] tag. This way, Logseq connects two related concepts—the Pomodoro Technique and time blocking—making it easier to see their connection.
Linking various related notes together can spark insights and a deeper understanding of how these concepts relate to each other. As your network of linked notes grows, so does the depth of your understanding, making it easier to recall key concepts, see connections, and ultimately use the information more effectively.
Schedule Read-It-Later Sessions and Reviews
Read-it-later apps help you revisit interesting articles when you have more time. I use Readwise to import and sync highlights from various sources with Logseq, allowing me to have a central place for all my notes and highlights. However, you still need to schedule time to review your read-it-later items.
I have set my review sessions over the weekend. It helps me to explore the ideas and thoughts I have collected over time in my PKM system. I use these review sessions to refresh my memory, look for connections between ideas, reorganize my notes, and delete information I no longer need.
You can schedule your reviews according to your needs and preferences. Some people prefer a daily review session while others may choose weekly or bi-weekly sessions.
The goal is to regularly revisit your notes to reinforce learning and keep the information fresh, as our brains naturally forget things over time.
Find Opportunities to Use the Insights
A personal knowledge management (PKM) system is not meant to be a digital filing cabinet for information, but rather a tool to help you use the information effectively. If you only use your PKM system for storage, you’re not fully utilizing its potential.
But when you use the knowledge you have acquired in real, meaningful ways, it becomes an essential tool that benefits your day-to-day life and work.
The key to internalizing what you’ve learned is to actively apply it. One of the best ways to achieve this is by selecting and reading books that are relevant to your current needs or goals.
When you’re focused on specific objectives, you can prioritize learning that directly impacts your growth. Once you have captured those insights, don’t let them sit idle in your PKM system, but find ways to apply them in your daily life.
Another way to practice what you’ve captured in your system is by teaching or sharing the information with others. Explaining what you learn in your own words forces you to understand it better. Whether you’re writing a blog post, discussing an idea with a friend, or mentoring someone, teaching is one of the most effective ways to solidify knowledge.
A personal knowledge management system helps create connections between ideas, deepen your understanding, and actively apply what you’ve learned in your daily life.
By actively using and revisiting the insights stored in your PKM system, you turn it into a practical resource that you can apply to make smarter decisions, solve problems, and reach your goals.
