The Dark Side of a Second Brain
Taking notes so I can avoid these pitfalls ;)
Summing up:
- Digital hoarding - pure accumulation without revision
- Weakened memory - cognitive offloading results in weaker recall
- System maintenance trap - spending more time maintaining the system than using it
- Decision fatigue - hyper-organization and excessive complexity causes you to abandon the system
- False productivity - note-taking feels productive but doesn’t lead to learning
To avoid these pitfalls: keep your system simple, and give it a use, don’t just convert it into a dumping ground. If possible, link your notes. Simple systems can lead to serendipitous connections that a more complex organization will not allow.