Personal knowledge management (PKM) is the process of collecting, organizing, and using information to improve your knowledge and understanding of a topic. It is a way to capture your thoughts, ideas, and experiences, and then connect them together in meaningful ways.
PKM can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:
Learning new things
Solving problems
Making decisions
Creating new ideas
Sharing knowledge with others
PKM can be done using a variety of tools and methods, such as:
Note-taking apps
Wikis
Personal websites
Project management tools
Knowledge bases
The most important thing is to find a system that works for you and that you are consistent with using.
Here are some of the benefits of using PKM:
Improved learning and retention: PKM can help you to learn new things more effectively and to retain information better.
Increased productivity: PKM can help you to be more productive by helping you to find information quickly and easily, and by making it easier to connect ideas together.
Enhanced creativity: PKM can help you to be more creative by helping you to see new connections between ideas.
Improved decision-making: PKM can help you to make better decisions by giving you access to all of the information that you need.
Increased knowledge sharing: PKM can help you to share your knowledge with others more easily, which can benefit both you and them.
If you are interested in learning more about PKM, there are a number of resources available online and in libraries. You can also find a variety of PKM tools and software programs to choose from.
PKM tools are software applications that help users to collect, organize, and manage their personal knowledge. They can be used to store a variety of information, such as notes, articles, images, and videos. PKM tools also typically offer features such as tagging, linking, and searching, which make it easy to find and connect related information.
Some popular PKM tools include:
Obsidian is a free and open-source PKM tool that is known for its powerful linking and search capabilities.
Logseq is another free and open-source PKM tool that is focused on helping users to create and manage knowledge graphs.
Roam Research is a paid PKM tool that is known for its unique "networked notes" system.
Evernote is a popular note-taking app that can also be used for PKM.
OneNote is another popular note-taking app that can be used for PKM.
The best PKM tool for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you are not sure where to start, I recommend trying out a few different tools to see what works best for you.
Here are some tips for choosing a PKM tool:
Consider your needs: What features are important to you? Do you need a tool with linking and search capabilities? Do you want a tool that supports knowledge graphs?
Consider your budget: PKM tools range in price from free to hundreds of dollars per year. Choose a tool that fits your budget.
Consider the platform: PKM tools are available for a variety of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Choose a tool that is available on the platforms that you use.
Once you have chosen a PKM tool, the next step is to start using it to collect, organize, and manage your personal knowledge. Here are some tips for getting started:
Start by creating a notebook or folder for each major area of knowledge that you are interested in. For example, you might create notebooks for work, school, hobbies, and personal development.
Save any information that you find interesting or useful to your notebooks or folders. This could include articles, blog posts, videos, images, and even your own thoughts and ideas.
Use tags and links to connect related information together. This will make it easier to find the information that you need when you need it.
Review your notebooks and folders regularly to make sure that they are organized and up-to-date.
PKM is a journey, not a destination. It takes time and effort to build a rich and valuable knowledge base. But the benefits are well worth it.