My Second Brain
There are a lot of tools for thought out there waiting for us to explore.
Some productivity apps have features with dizzying complexities. Others are plain simple. More often than not, there are features in an app that you wish were also present in another.
In our search for an "all-in-one productivity app," our quest seems endless.
Today, I'd like to share my approach to building a second brain by using multiple apps to ramp up my productivity.
Here’s the Tweet where I mentioned my second brain in a nutshell:
I use four apps: MindMeister, Nozbe, Roam Research, and Evernote.
Each of these tools has a specific purpose. I'll go through them one by one.
MindMeister allows me to see the big picture in my projects. It's the map I could glance over whenever I feel at a loss, which could happen at times.
Nozbe keeps the record of tasks I need to get done based on the projects I've mapped out in MindMeister. It serves as my inbox for my to-do list. By doing this, nothing falls through the cracks.
Roam Research lets me get down to the nitty-gritty part of the tasks I need to accomplish. Actual work happens here. I put together the nuts and bolts of that which needs my utmost attention in the app.
Evernote contains my output. It’s where I store my finished products. All of my work that is ready for shipping is all here.
Using multiple apps to create an effective productivity mental model seems counterintuitive. But once you get the hang of it, you'll realize that trying to find an "all-in-one productivity" app is unnecessary.
I have yet to see a one-size-fits-all approach to productivity. Meantime, my productivity system works for me.
Stick to what works for you, tweak where you can, and get things done.
3 Tweets that inspired this post:
This Tweet by Andrey Zagoruiko (@andreyzagoruiko) has sparked debate in the productivity niche. The exchange of ideas offered insights on tools for thought.
Yiliu Shen-Burke’s (@softspaceninja) Tweet caught my attention because of the advanced technology his team is building—a spatial medium for thinking called Softspace (@SoftspaceHQ).
Tiago Forte (@fortelabs) is the author of Building a Second Brain. According to him, you’ll have much greater peace of mind by having a Second Brain.
Before you go, I’d like to ask you this question:
What’s that one productivity app you use every day that has helped you?
Please share your answer in the comments.