TL;DR: Build an external system to capture, organize, and retrieve information using the PARA method: Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive.
The concept of a “Second Brain” refers to an external system for capturing, organizing, and retrieving information. It extends your cognitive capabilities.
The PARA Method
Tiago Forte’s PARA method organizes information into four categories:
| Category | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Projects | Active work with deadlines | Personal Website, Learning Rust |
| Areas | Ongoing responsibilities | Health, Finances, Career |
| Resources | Topics of interest | Knowledge Management, Programming |
| Archive | Inactive items | Completed projects, old notes |
Capture Everything
The Capture Habit
Your brain is for having ideas, not storing them. Capture immediately.
Tools for capture:
- Quick notes on your phone
- Obsidian daily notes
- Voice memos
- Screenshots and clippings
Progressive Summarization
Not all notes deserve equal attention. Use layers:
- Layer 1: Original content (highlight nothing)
- Layer 2: Bold the important parts
- Layer 3: Highlight the essential
- Layer 4: Create an executive summary
This connects well with the Zettelkasten Method and Evergreen Notes.
CODE: The Four Steps
Capture → Organize → Distill → Express
- Capture: Save interesting information
- Organize: Sort into PARA categories
- Distill: Find the essence
- Express: Share and create with your knowledge
My Implementation
I use Obsidian as my second brain:
vault/
├── 00-inbox/ # Capture
├── 01-projects/ # Active work
├── 02-areas/ # Responsibilities
├── 03-resources/ # Reference material
└── 04-archive/ # Completed/inactive
Start Small
Don’t try to organize everything at once. Start with one project and let the system grow organically.
The Benefits
As explored in The Value of Slow Thinking, having an external brain allows you to:
- Think more clearly
- Make unexpected connections
- Build on past work
- Reduce cognitive load