I get distracted and my mind starts to think of better ways to explain the last point... Soon I have no clue what the last ten minutes were about. Taking notes makes me get back on task faster so I can find the next note to write.

I'd like to slow down and just listen but the reality is I won't.

Interesting, so "otherthinking" is bad here. Have you tried other devices to turn yourself back on track without the extra work?

They way the slow down and spend extra effort is by writing notes.

Writing is thinking.

Certain kinds of writing is thinking, but you're not writing in the thinking way, you're transcribing.

Thinking is thinking. Then you can write your thoughts for later use of think more instead

Writing is a distraction from thinking.