How did I improve my focus & productivity with a simple Second Brain in Notion?

The author describes building a simple productivity system in Notion after struggling to connect tasks, goals, knowledge, and priorities. The setup is based on Second Brain ideas, Kanban, KISS, and YAGNI, with the aim of making the big picture and weekly work easier to see.

Reading notes

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• The system was created to better organize life, knowledge, projects, and priorities.
• The author wanted a way to see the big picture and the week’s current focus.
• The main problems were disconnected tasks, no clear view of end goals, scattered knowledge, mediocre priorities, no single place for storing things, and procrastination.
• The author started from Building a Second Brain and then built a personal knowledge management system in Notion.
• Ready-made templates felt too complex or needed too much reorganization, so the author chose a simple and minimal version.
• The system follows KISS and YAGNI and is described as moving quickly and touching lightly.
• The approach is centered on capturing, organizing, and retrieving knowledge and information.
• The framework is described through C.O.D.E. and P.A.R.A.
• Information should be left better than it was found, by organizing, summarizing, and making it more compact over time.
• Notes are organized by actionability to keep digital life clear and structured.
• The setup stays simple and is improved when the current structure is not good enough.
• The Notion system gives more clarity about priorities, focus work, aspirations, and projects.
• It helps show which areas of life are being worked on and which need more care.
• Every two weeks the author reviews the last two weeks and plans the next two.
• Each review includes a retrospective on what went well, what can be improved, and any ups and downs.
• The author uses Second Brain in Notion for knowledge and information, and a Kanban board for current tasks and their relation to projects.