It takes effort to accept a brain is not enough to retain big amounts of information. Or small, but for an extended period of time. Not at least for the average brain.
The problem is thinking your brain is above average.
Without being familiar with the psychology behind, is possible quite a few people feel that way. It might be the result of an education system where children are tested based on the short-term memory to retain facts. On remembering mathematical formulas. Probably, those that excelled at school are more prone to thinking highly of themselves.
I do like my brain. It has gotten me far, more than I thought possible (maybe I didn’t think enough though). But I’ve come to realized that:
- I can’t nor is safe to keep everything in one single place.
- I’m probably missing quite a few other things just because there’s not enough space.
- It can be unfair to others, specially when what I know can be helpful for them.
Being able to externalize thoughts into paper or files is key. Being able to balance all we know with what be need to know now. A close analogy could be having data on the RAM vs hard drive: there are certain things worth keeping around for fast access. Others, it is enough to know where they are in case they are needed.
I’m still on the fence on the term “second brain”, as it feels overused and marketed by productivity apps as a selling feature. For it to qualify as a brain, it should be:
- Simple to use, work for instead of against someone’s actual brain.
- Personal, targeting yourself 1. Same as thoughts in your brain.
- As much as possible, owned by you 2.
- Easily accessible and searchable.
The dangers on the “second brain” trend and productivity tools is forgetting the end goal is not the tool, but the content. Is focusing on the how instead of the why. I’ve fell on the trap of setting up tables, and databases, and pages, icons, etc. I did feel productive, but looking back I don’t think I was.
I don’t want another brain, but to elevate the one I have. To help it work better I need a system that is unobtrusive and easy to integrate on my daily routine. At this point in time, I have re-discovered Obsidian and I’m excited to use it without all the noise on plugins, tutorials and such. It is simple. It does not get in the way. I know the content is mine and can use it anywhere else. For now, it is the hard drive I’ll use to keep my brain open and ready.
The “second” brain should be the system, not the tool: capturing thoughts, finding the time to process them and record them in whatever feels comfortable to each of us.