First, we need to start with understanding what your brain was designed to do. Your brain was designed to solve problems, to create and build things. Therefore we should leverage tools that enable us to do that more, and tools that do things that our brains cannot do by themselves.

… so we need tools… but what ones and how do we keep it simple?

I would propose that there are only 4 Categories of tools that anyone needs.

Let’s get one out of the way real quick because it’s hyper contextual…

Work Tools - These are things that enable the SPECIFIC work that you do.

For some its Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Store POS, Chat GPT, Logos Bible Software, and for some it’s simply Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).

3 Left…

Calendar - This tracks EVENTS, and helps you map out TIME.

Task Manager - This tracks TASKS, and helps you map out PROJECTS and WORKLOAD.

Note Taker - This tracks INFORMATION, and helps you near-instantaneously RECALL large swaths of information and COMPOSE information.

Essentially this type of tool will be the space where you transition from needing a tool, to activating your given brain to do the work that only it can do.

When people who are big on the 2nd Brain movement talk about building one out, they typically want a tool that will be all three of those essential tools.

I however take an integrated-toolbox approach: Instead of forcing one thing to be everything, considering those are three different types of tools that are needed. How about you pick the BEST of each category!? And so long as they are integrated well (at least in your mind/resolve), you’ll always have the best and can then swap out individual tools as better ones are created, instead of hamstringing yourself in the future because you chained your life to a single tool that might not scale as needed.

This means that the 2nd Brain tool that you have in front of you right now is a NOTE TAKER.

It’s not a Calendar or a Task Manager, even if there are components of those tools that you might find in certain spots (like how the goals screen has its own “task manager” in this 2nd Brain).

• Want to know my preferred Calendar and Task Manager?

How will you use this tool then?… well ultimately you’re just storing information.

• Notes / Thoughts / Ideas
• Pictures (ones that are for documentation - whereas your “photo album” is for ACTUAL pictures)
• Resources
• Personal Goals / Major Milestones / Project Ideas that haven’t launched into Task Manager mode yet

Here’s the best part… 95% of what you enter into this 2nd Brain is entered from the home-screen INBOX.

Add a new item in that top database and you’ll gain the ability to designate what AREA it belongs to, what type of RESOURCE it is, and you can tag it with other identifiers.

When you don’t want something in your inbox anymore you can send it to the AREAS & RESOURCES screen and it will stay there, sorted with the right parameters you gave it. Leaving your inbox for those things you’re regularly working on, or completely clear to capture new information.

All of this is customizable!