I'm in the same boat as you and wondering a lot of the same things. For bio, I've been both taking notes and making flashcards, but doing so kills a lot of my time. Does anyone have any recommendations on what study methods work best with flashcards?
By the way, something that's been helping me a lot is recording myself reading my notes a day or two after I've taken them. Then I'll listen to them on my phone as I do laundry or anything else where I can't be sitting down studying. Felt weird at first listening to myself but it really helps me remember the material. Feel free to give it a shot!