(来源：英语杂志 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

When you need a piece of information, is it at your fingertips? Or are you constantly chasing your info like papers in the wind?

　　当你需要一则信息时，它就在你手头吗？或者你总是像追逐飘在风中的纸片一般寻找你要的信息？

　　It is important to capture those finer details now, so that you will have them later. What information are you not capturing that you will need in the future?

　　现在就掌握精确的信息，这很重要，这样你以后就能用得上。哪些信息是你以后需要但却是你没掌握的呢？

　　Information Everywhere

　　信息无处不在

　　In these days of instant answers and online resources, you can't seem to find that one piece of information you need。

　　The Internet is a great resource. And Wikipedia provides us instant access to info that previously would have required a research project。

　　在这样有即时回复和在线资源的时代，你似乎找不到你需要的那一则信息。互联网是一个巨大的资源，维基百科即时提供给我们信息，这些信息在之前需要通过研究才能得到。

　　However, neither will help you figure out when your next doctor's appointment is… or tell you the cell phone number of the contact you worked with last year。

　　然而，它们既不能帮你找到下一次你和医生的预约时间在什么时候，也不能告诉你去年一起工作的同事的电话号码。

　　In these days of Wikipedia and Google, the hardest information to find …can be your own. So, when is that appointment that you were looking for? What is the phone number you needed? Or, maybe the question is, “Where is the scrap of paper that you wrote it down on?” What Information Are You Missing?

　　在有维基百科和谷歌的时代，最难找到的信息是有关你自己的。 那么，你寻找的那次预约在什么时候？ 你需要的电话号码是多少？ 或者，换这样的问题：你刚刚用来写东西的那张便签放哪儿了？你缺了哪些信息？

　　None of these should be difficult… if you are capturing the important information in your life. Otherwise, each of these could be a full-blown research project and take quite a bit of your time to locate. The important part is capturing the information now, so that you have it when you need it。

　　如果你掌握了你生活中的重要信息，所有这些都不会是难题。否则的话，其中任何一条都足以让你绞尽脑汁，也将花费你大量时间去找到答案。重要的是现在就掌握这些信息，这样当你需要它时，你就用的上了。

　　Here are 10 Pieces of Information That You'll Regret Not Capturing:

　　这里有10类信息，如果你不掌握，你就要后悔。

　　1. Appointments　　预约

　　Do you write appointments down on scraps of paper or business cards? Don't take those appointment cards from the doctor's office and the like. Instead, put them directly into your calendar. (You always have your phone with you, right?)

　　你把预约时间写在便签纸上或是名片上了吗？不要从医生办公室等之类的地方拿预约卡。把它们直接写进你的日程表里。(你总是会带着你的手机，对吧？)

　　2. Big Ideas　　奇思妙想

　　When you get that million dollar idea, make sure you capture it. How many great ideas have you forgotten until someone else acted on it? Have a notebook for those fleeting moments of inspiration. A paper notebook works great or an app like Drafts works wonders on your phone。

　　当你有了那个价值百万的主意时，你一定要抓住它！有多少伟大的想法是被你遗忘了，直到有人将它们在现实中演绎后才想起来？为那些一闪而过的灵感准备一个笔记本。一本纸质笔记本就很棒，或者像Drafts这样的应用程序就能在手机上发挥出奇妙作用。

　　3. Phone Numbers　　电话号码

　　Always capture phone numbers, especially cell phone numbers. This action only takes a few taps on your phone. You never know when you will need that number again. Even better, you will know who is calling your when they are in your address book. People are surprised when they call me after extended timeframes and I greet them by name。

　　永远要记住电话号码，尤其是手机号。你只要按几个手机键就好了。你永远不会知道在将来你是不是还会再需要这个号码。这样做更大的好处是，号码存进了手机通讯录，你就能知道是谁在给你打电话。在时隔很久以后他们打我电话时，我能在电话的问候中报出他们的名字，他们将会感到吃惊。

　　4. Addresses　　地址

　　Even in the age of the Internet, it can be hard to get personal addresses. When someone sends you a note or card, always capture the return mailing address. You never know when you might want to return the gesture in the future。

　　即使是身处互联网时代，要得到私人住址也是一件困难的事。当某人寄给你一张明信片，永远要留下回信的邮寄地址。你不会知道在将来什么时候你可能想要回寄他们。

　　5. Reference Info　　参考信息

　　Capture those random reference pieces of information so that you have them when you least expect it. For example, the size of air filter that your home takes, or the special lightbulb that a device requires。

　　掌握那些随手可得的参考消息，这样万一要用上的时候，你就有信息可以使用了。比如说，你家要装的空气过滤器的尺寸大小，或是某一设备需要的特殊灯泡。

　　6. Notes　　便条