A YouTube notes template that works in any app

Quick answer

The best note template is one short enough that you actually fill it in. This one takes two minutes per video and works in any notes app.

What 125x is: 125x is a web app at 125x.app. You connect your YouTube subscriptions, and it gives you a feed of the latest videos from the channels you follow, each with a summary: a verdict, the 5 key takeaways, and the spoiler, plus Actionable and Lessons tabs with more tips. You read that and decide what's actually worth opening.

Open 125x

The template

Video: 
Channel: 
Link: 
Why I watched: 

Key ideas (3 max):
- 
- 
- 

Timestamps worth rewatching:
- 

One thing I'll do: 
By when: 

Review on:

How to use it

Fill 'Why I watched' before you press play. It keeps you focused.
Three ideas max, in your own words.
One action with a date. Put it in your to-do app too.
Set a review date a week out. Delete the note if it didn't matter.

In your app

Notion: make it a database template with properties for channel and topic. See Notion for YouTube notes.
Obsidian: save it as a template note and link topics. See Obsidian for YouTube notes.
Apple Notes or Bear: pin it and duplicate it.

How 125x fits

125x fills most of this in for you. Each video's summary has 5 takeaways, the Lessons tab covers key ideas, and the Actionable tab gives you the 'one thing I'll do'. Copy the ones that matter, rewrite them in your words, done.

FAQ: questions people ask

What should I write in YouTube video notes?

Why you watched, up to three key ideas in your own words, useful timestamps, and one action with a date.

Is there a Notion template for YouTube notes?

You can paste this template into a Notion database template so every new video page starts with it.

How long should video notes be?

Short enough to fill in within a couple of minutes. Three ideas and one action is plenty.