Augmenting our minds
With a second brain
Our minds are computers, capable of doing amazing things. But at times, they hit their limits. In our consumable lives, when something doesn't fill our needs we buy a new one. While we cannot buy a new mind, we can augment it.
The concept of augmenting our brains is simple — using external tools or systems to help us process or recall information. This can be done by using basic tools, like a notebook or a planner to jot down thoughts or keep track of tasks. You could place stickies on your wall to process ideas in a visual and spacial format. You can create a digital second brain, which covers more possibilities. I recommend most people go the route of a second brain, but most don't use it efficiently.
A second brain is not a new idea. It’s been kicked around for decades and popularized through the likes of David Allen and Tiago Forte. I see a lot of people creating a second brain from scratch or using predefined systems and not getting much out of them. The problem is that most people do not use their second brain efficiently. Most people use them as a dumping ground for articles, videos, ideas, and tasks — but never act upon or capitalize on the utility of a second brain.
A second brain's core purpose is to offload things out of our brain, so we can allow space for real thought, but most of us leave it there. We clip an article into Pocket, we save a YouTube video to our watch later, or we jot down an idea, but we rarely go back to them. If we do, we consume it or think about it at a surface level. We build an archive of knowledge that we never capitalize on. How do we change that? How do we evolve our brain by augmenting it?
Firstly, cut the bullshit. Stop consuming things for the sake of consuming them. If the article does not truly interest you, don't save it. If that video seems like a waste of your mental space, don't finish it. Don't save the whole article to your second brain, just the parts you find value in. Try to focus on things that truly tickle your interest. If you need to consume something out of obligation, try to find topics that you can relate to it to make it more interesting.
Continuing the idea of relating — find a tool or tools that allow you to form connections with past and present thoughts. Apple Notes, Evernote, or Google Keep – do a shit job of this. While those tools are great in their own respect, they are not good at making connections. Most modern tools kick around the idea of back-linking or, to a more extreme-level, networked thought. These tools are Notion, Obsidian, Roam Research, Logseq, and the new kid – Tana. Each tool does this differently. Depending on the goal of your second brain, there are tools that do things better than others.
I mainly have experience with Notion and Obsidian. The key difference between the two is that Notion is a tool with near-infinite possibilities, while Obsidian feels more focused on note-taking. Notion structures its information around the idea of blocks and databases, while Obsidian's main structure is around pages of notes. Notion requires you to form your own structure with your data, while Obsidian does not. I plan on going deeper into each of these tools in the coming editions, as I do have a lot of thoughts here. But for now, they are both great and can be used for most of the same purposes, though they achieve them slightly differently.
The next thing to consider is the system that you use to manage your augmented, second brain. People throw around terms like GTD, PARA, Zettelkasten, etc. While understanding the systems that are out there is great, conforming your brain to one or another is not recommended. Everyone's brain is different, so everyone's second brain should be as well. Your system can also evolve, just like the tool(s) you use. Sure, you can buy a tool, download a template, or build something modeled off someone else's ideas. But unless you are exactly like them, some or all of these systems will not work, at least not forever.
When augmenting your mind, I recommend a few key things.
Find a tool or set of tools that can evolve with you. This can be achieved by selecting a tool that is malleable or allows you to export your data in a universal format.
Build your second brain like your real brain — using an atomic structure. Don't put all the knowledge about a topic in one note, separate atoms of it over multiple and link them together. This way the information is more pliant and adaptable to evolve and grow.
Find a tool and system that allows your connections to form. This means linking between notes, tasks, etc.
It also means having rituals of reviewing these atoms regularly. The best way to recall information is to leverage the spacing effect. In its simplest form, going back to ideas and thoughts regularly to harden your long-term memory and form new connections based on new-found knowledge.
Always have your second brain at arms reach. Pick a solution that allows it to be on your person. This can be a mobile app or even a pocket notebook if you decide to go analog.
Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them. – David Allen
We are expected to consume all the things, context switch constantly, and recall information instantly. Our brains are not built to do this, but we can augment them. Yes, the second brain is a fantastic solution, but only if done right. So choose a tool or set of tools, be thoughtful of what you put in it, and interact with it regularly. If you do this, you can truly augment your mind.
I am trying something different. I am being transparent with upcoming editions. Let me know what you think.
Upcoming editions (not in this order or naming convention)
The next operating system is the web
Networked thought
Digital gardening
Zettelkasten
Atomic notes
Notion vs Obsidian
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