Current Events — Starter Kit
Keeping up with what happens in the world always feels harder than it should. It’s not a lack of information, it’s the opposite. There’s so much happening, in so many places, with so many layers, that you constantly feel one step behind. You read, you understand, you follow… and still lose the thread.
Over time, I realized the problem wasn’t the content. It was the rhythm. News moves too fast, overlaps, contradicts itself, disappears. And when you try to organize everything into rigid categories — by year, by country, by theme — the system breaks.
That’s how the Current Events process was born. Not as a formal method, but as a way to regain clarity. The idea is simple: capture events briefly and consistently, revisit them in cycles, and let patterns emerge naturally. No forcing things into boxes. No trying to predict what will matter. Just observing, recording, and connecting.
The method works because it follows the natural flow of events. It doesn’t try to impose order. It creates space for order to appear. You capture an event when it happens. Then you review weekly to see what changed ([[Current Events - Weekly Review - <% moment().format('gggg-[W]ww') %>]]). You review monthly to see what moved ([[Current Events - Monthly Review - <% moment().format('YYYY-MM') %>]]). You review quarterly to see what became a trend ([[Current Events - Quarterly Review - <% moment().format('YYYY-[Q]Q') %>]]). You review annually to understand what truly happened ([[Current Events - Yearly Review - <% moment().format('YYYY') %>]]).
It’s a light, continuous cycle that turns fragments into understanding.
Each event becomes a short note. It’s not a report or a deep analysis. It’s just enough to remember what happened and why it matters. The structure is always the same: summary, source, key details, context, impact, and analysis — exactly what you find in the Template - Current Events. This repetition creates consistency, and consistency creates comparability. Over time, you start seeing patterns that used to go unnoticed.
The reviews are the heart of the process. The weekly review separates noise from signal. The monthly review shows broader movements. The quarterly review reveals trends. The annual review consolidates everything. Each layer adds depth. None of them require reorganizing the past. You simply observe what changed.
Instead of folders, you use links. Simple, direct, without hierarchy. An event can connect to a country ([[Country name]]), a theme ([[Theme]]), a year ([[Years]]), or an ongoing story. These connections create a living network. The backlinks panel becomes a map of what’s happening. You don’t force structure. You let structure emerge.
The process doesn’t demand extra effort. It adapts to your rhythm, your sector, your context. It works for technology (Technology), security (Security), compliance (Compliance), financial markets (Financial Sector), politics (Politics), economics (Economics), relationships (Relationships) — any area where events accumulate and patterns matter. Over time, you realize you’re no longer trying to keep up with the world. You’re keeping up with what matters to you. And that changes everything.
Directory structure
The structure is minimal. Folders are just containers. The real organization happens through links.
Essential templates
Below are the templates for each part of the process. These are only the body of the note, without metadata, which can follow the Template - Generic.
Event
# Current Event – <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD") %>
## Summary
What happened in a few lines.
## Source
Where the information came from.
## Key Details
- essential points
- numbers, dates, actors
- decisions or relevant changes
## Context
What led to the event.
## Impact
Possible consequences.
## Analysis
Your interpretation.
## Links
Connections to themes, countries, years, or stories.
Weekly review
# Weekly Current Events – <% tp.date.now("YYYY-[W]WW") %>
## Main Events
Most relevant events.
## What Changed
Perceived changes.
## Sector Impact
Possible sector impacts.
## Internal Impact
Internal effects.
## Points to Monitor
What to watch next.
## Links
Relevant connections.
Monthly review
# Monthly Current Events – <% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM") %>
## Structural Movements
Broad movements of the month.
## Consolidated Risks
Risks that grew or emerged.
## Opportunities
Identified opportunities.
## Internal Implications
Internal impacts.
## Actions Needed
Actions to consider.
## Links
Connections to notes from the period.
Quarterly review
# Quarterly Current Events – <% tp.date.now("YYYY-[Q]Q") %>
## Consolidated Trends
Trends of the quarter.
## Sector Shifts
Sector changes.
## Risk Evolution
How risks evolved.
## Strategic Implications
Strategic effects.
## Priorities for Next Quarter
Next quarter’s priorities.
## Links
Relevant connections.
Annual review
# Yearly Current Events – <% tp.date.now("YYYY") %>
## Structural Overview
Structural movements of the year.
## Sector Evolution
How the sector changed.
## Risk Landscape
Evolution of risks.
## Opportunities and Lessons
Opportunities and lessons learned.
## Strategic Direction
Possible directions.
## Links
Connections to syntheses and planning.
Current Full Template for Events Capture
Workflow summary
Daily capture
Record events using the standard structure. Write little, but write consistently. You can have multiple notes in a day. Or, no note at all.
Weekly review
Identify what changed. Separate noise from signal.
Monthly review
Observe broader movements. See themes gaining or losing strength.
Quarterly review
Recognize trends. Connect stories.
Annual review
Consolidate the year’s view. Understand what truly happened.
Where to start
- Create the minimal directory / folder structure.
- Create the event template and start capturing.
- Schedule your first weekly review.
- Adjust as needed and let the system evolve with use.
This Starter Kit is the starting point. The rest comes from practice.