Capturing what resonates seems much like hoarding if anything is allowed to take up space. I recently heard someone make the difference between "stuff" and "gear". Stuff is clutter in your life that doesn't add value. Gear is necessary to the task you're trying to perform.
I generally find that organization is less useful to me because everything that I put into a box to make it more organized either gets pulled out right away and then it's less organized again. Or it stays in the box and I don't use it because it's harder to get to. So while my space might have some clutter, access to the things that I want to be able to quickly pick up is important.
I find the more important skill is trying to limit the amount of "stuff". It's much easier to be creative when the things around you are "gear". So I don't have tiktok on my phone, and i don't build long todo lists that will be ignored. Which might just be the distil step mentioned in your post.
I totally agree. A very important part of curation is limiting the amount of "stuff". Curation implies being selective, and I mention the PARA framework to highlight the importance of intentionality. Without intention, it's indeed just "organized hoarding".
Still, it's a tremendous challenge. But I think creating a practice of distillation can bring incredible value. When second brains systems are mentioned, they usually always highlight the benefits of structured capturing, but after that, the truly important work to be done is the intentional consumption of what we capture. To build a habit of staying on top of what we capture and keep our system free of clutter. Keeping what's valuable, and letting go of what is not.
This was my first take on the concept of curation that leads to better creation. But I want to write in more detail about this last bit I just explained.
Thank you Mike for your response! I truly appreciate the input and discussion :)
I have started creating some kind of second brain on Notion but I haven't gone too far yet.
I purchased Tiago's book but still haven't read. I did read How to Take Smart Notes and started doing the process described in the but which I believe still applies to curating information from the internet. But the process on this book it is quite time consuming so I could not do it for long.
I think the challenge is to find a process that works for you and stick with it in the long term.
I hear you Alex! I can't remember how many articles, books, and videos I consumed, how many times I started and gave up, before I actually managed to build and use my second brain.
This article has resonated with so many that I'm working on a Notion template specially crafted as a second brain for the creative process. I don't want to rush it but I think I'll release it in a week or two. So stay tuned! 😊
Digital FOMO should be treated as an addiction. It sounds drastic, but this is what it is. We are addicted hamsters pushing pedals all day for the next hit.
Absolutely Andrei! Digital fomo is destroying our attention and everything else with it. But unlike other addictions, it's not like we can remove ourselves from the world to avoid the temptations. Whether we like it or not. Digital experiences are embedded in our everyday life. That's why it's critical to set boundaries and define systems that can help us rip the benefits.
This comes at the right time—a week when I've reached the toleration limit for my overload. I've been running in the red for far too long. The only solution, as is said here, is "letting go" or put another way, the only remedy is elimination.
I deleted my read later app this week. I abandoned thousands of kindle highlights. I haven't checked my email in six days. (I'm determinied to only look once a week. Consequences be damned.) I simply walked away.
I'm tired of swimming in other people's thoughts. I need time with my own thoughts. WE need time with our own thoughts. The image I keep in mind now is that of Nietzsche walking in the woods for 6-8 hours a day exploring his own thoughts.
Capturing what resonates seems much like hoarding if anything is allowed to take up space. I recently heard someone make the difference between "stuff" and "gear". Stuff is clutter in your life that doesn't add value. Gear is necessary to the task you're trying to perform.
I generally find that organization is less useful to me because everything that I put into a box to make it more organized either gets pulled out right away and then it's less organized again. Or it stays in the box and I don't use it because it's harder to get to. So while my space might have some clutter, access to the things that I want to be able to quickly pick up is important.
I find the more important skill is trying to limit the amount of "stuff". It's much easier to be creative when the things around you are "gear". So I don't have tiktok on my phone, and i don't build long todo lists that will be ignored. Which might just be the distil step mentioned in your post.
I totally agree. A very important part of curation is limiting the amount of "stuff". Curation implies being selective, and I mention the PARA framework to highlight the importance of intentionality. Without intention, it's indeed just "organized hoarding".
Still, it's a tremendous challenge. But I think creating a practice of distillation can bring incredible value. When second brains systems are mentioned, they usually always highlight the benefits of structured capturing, but after that, the truly important work to be done is the intentional consumption of what we capture. To build a habit of staying on top of what we capture and keep our system free of clutter. Keeping what's valuable, and letting go of what is not.
This was my first take on the concept of curation that leads to better creation. But I want to write in more detail about this last bit I just explained.
Thank you Mike for your response! I truly appreciate the input and discussion :)
I have started creating some kind of second brain on Notion but I haven't gone too far yet.
I purchased Tiago's book but still haven't read. I did read How to Take Smart Notes and started doing the process described in the but which I believe still applies to curating information from the internet. But the process on this book it is quite time consuming so I could not do it for long.
I think the challenge is to find a process that works for you and stick with it in the long term.
Thanks for your post.
I hear you Alex! I can't remember how many articles, books, and videos I consumed, how many times I started and gave up, before I actually managed to build and use my second brain.
This article has resonated with so many that I'm working on a Notion template specially crafted as a second brain for the creative process. I don't want to rush it but I think I'll release it in a week or two. So stay tuned! 😊
I will stay tuned! Thanks
Digital FOMO should be treated as an addiction. It sounds drastic, but this is what it is. We are addicted hamsters pushing pedals all day for the next hit.
Absolutely Andrei! Digital fomo is destroying our attention and everything else with it. But unlike other addictions, it's not like we can remove ourselves from the world to avoid the temptations. Whether we like it or not. Digital experiences are embedded in our everyday life. That's why it's critical to set boundaries and define systems that can help us rip the benefits.
This comes at the right time—a week when I've reached the toleration limit for my overload. I've been running in the red for far too long. The only solution, as is said here, is "letting go" or put another way, the only remedy is elimination.
I deleted my read later app this week. I abandoned thousands of kindle highlights. I haven't checked my email in six days. (I'm determinied to only look once a week. Consequences be damned.) I simply walked away.
I'm tired of swimming in other people's thoughts. I need time with my own thoughts. WE need time with our own thoughts. The image I keep in mind now is that of Nietzsche walking in the woods for 6-8 hours a day exploring his own thoughts.