The concept of a “second brain” has gained popularity in recent years, especially among individuals who want to improve their digital mindset and optimize their productivity.

Having written about having the right digital mindset previously, I am now looking at the next levels of these posts and what you can do in more recent times.

What is a second brain?

A second brain is a system that allows you to store, organise, and retrieve information and ideas that are important to you. This is basically a way of storing those useful bits of knowledge, other than just using an email system as a knowledge system.

A second brain is a personal knowledge management tool that can help you capture and connect your thoughts, ideas, and experiences. It is often used to augment your own memory, to increase your productivity, and to help you make better decisions.

Why is a second brain useful?

There are many reasons why a second brain can be useful. Here are my top three:

1. Better memory: A second brain can help you remember important information and ideas that you might otherwise forget. By capturing and organizing your thoughts and ideas, you can easily access them later when you need them.
2. Increased productivity: A second brain can help you stay organized and focused, allowing you to work more efficiently and effectively.
3. Better decision-making: By organizing and connecting your ideas and experiences, a second brain can help you see patterns and make connections that might not be immediately apparent.

How can you create a second brain using digital mindset tools?

There are many digital mindset tools that can help you create a second brain. Here are my top five, and there are many others such as One Note.

1. Evernote: Evernote is a note-taking app that allows you to capture and organize your thoughts, ideas, and experiences. It’s a powerful tool for creating a second brain because it allows you to easily tag and categorize your notes, making them easy to find later.
2. Notion: Notion is a versatile productivity tool that can be used for everything from note-taking to project management. It’s a popular choice for creating a second brain because it allows you to create databases, wikis, and other organizational tools that can help you stay organized and focused.
3. Roam Research: Roam Research is a note-taking app that’s designed to help you connect your ideas and experiences. It’s a popular choice for creating a second brain because it allows you to easily link and cross-reference your notes, making it easy to see patterns and connections.
4. Trello: Trello is a project management tool that can be used to create a second brain. You can create boards for different projects, and then use cards to capture and organize your thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
5. Airtable: Airtable is a spreadsheet-like database that can be used to create a second brain. You can create tables for different topics, and then use fields to capture and organize your thoughts, ideas, and experiences.

Are you going to develop your second brain?

Further Reading

Having the right Digital Mindset

How to Build Yourself a Second Brain

Building a Second Brain: An Overview

David Seah: Variety of Downloadable Productivity Tools (free to download for personal non-commercial use)