How I visually organize notes in Heptabase (note-taking methods)

Heptabase’s “Map” whiteboards are built to turn scattered notes into a connected knowledge landscape—using visual grouping, linking, and spatial organization to strengthen how ideas relate. The core premise is that thinking and creating get clearer when information is arranged so the relationships are visible: lines show connections, sections cluster related material, and the overall layout helps the brain form stronger associations. In this setup, Map functions as a visual thinking aid rather than a place for free-form cards or text blocks; the whiteboard is where ideas become a navigable map.

The notes system described centers on multiple whiteboards (about nine) inside a single Map workspace, each serving a distinct purpose. One of the largest is a scripture-focused board titled “God notes.” It contains insights gathered during study, organized with sub-whiteboards when a topic grows large enough—such as a major “Joseph” area. Within these areas, sections typically correspond to book chapters (or even smaller portions like parts of chapters). Each section holds the source text reference (the Bible) plus the creator’s insights, with arrows linking thoughts across the map. Those links aren’t just decorative: clicking a connection jumps to the relevant section, making it easy to trace context and move between ideas that belong together.

A second major organizing layer uses “value” whiteboards. Instead of collecting ideas by topic alone, the system filters what gets saved through what the creator values—explicitly framed as a way to reduce noise and keep only ideas that resonate. “Life of creating” is an example: at the top level it’s a value theme, then sections break it into niche areas. Inside each section sit cards that may include quotes, thoughts, or highlights from multiple books, all tied to a shared theme such as “partnership of wisdom and creativity.” Importantly, sections often form because connections are discovered between at least two notes; the workflow can start with cards and then promote them into a new section when they cluster into a coherent niche. A separate “note cards” area acts as a staging zone for cards that still need to be sorted.

For active work, a “workbench” whiteboard holds projects and questions under consideration. Organization here is lighter: sections group ideas that are being worked through, including “pondering” notes drawn from a recent homeschooling conference. Another work-focused example shows deep study of Genesis—again using the source text as an anchor and then drawing dense connection lines (“spaghetti noodles”) across insights tied to specific portions of the text. Links from those insights back to the relevant section provide context and make the reasoning retraceable.

The system also reserves space for human meaning, not just utility. “Meaningful moments” stores daily memories meant to bring joy, laughter, tears, and gratitude—organized into sections like personal accomplishments (abundance), encouragement from others (keep going), and family moments. Finally, “weekly reviews” are tracked in a dedicated whiteboard with a sub-whiteboard for 2024, where each week’s card includes dates, meaningful moments, and notes to chew on later. The overall effect is a PKM map that blends study, values-based filtering, active project work, emotional recall, and review cycles into one connected visual system.