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Forte Labs Newsletter

Productivity Is Making You Unproductive

Published over 1 year ago • 2 min read

A study by McKinsey revealed that professionals spend about 20% of their work week—that’s an entire day—just searching for and gathering information. That’s a massive drain on time and energy.

This month in the Second Brain Membership, we’re tackling this with the PARA Method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives), my proven system to organize your personal and shared spaces.

By the end of the month, you’ll have built your own customized PARA structure, so that everything you need is exactly where you can find it.

The Power of an Inbox—For Your Physical Space

Here’s a great tip from Trevor, one of our Second Brain Members, who found a clever way to apply the inbox and weekly review concepts from Building a Second Brain to his physical space:

“I have a shelf in my garage I call my "inbox”. And I’ll just throw stuff there throughout the week - things I might get rid of, new tools/materials from projects, packages to return, stuff from my car, etc.

And with my weekly review every 1-2 weeks, I'll go in andtriage that shelf. Putting things in their homes or getting rid of them.

It's made my living space a lot cleaner and helped remove the minor mental stress when I come across an item that doesn't have a home in my house.”

This is such a simple idea, but it’s brilliant. What could you use as your “physical inbox”?

It could be a basket, a corner of a room, or even a drawer. Pair it with a regular review, and you might just feel a little lighter every day.

Have you tried something like this? Let me know how it’s worked for you!

My 2024 Year-in-Review

As I look back on 2024, I find myself at a crossroads—both literal and metaphorical. In my year-end review, I reflect on a journey that took me deep into my own fears, ambitions, and evolving sense of purpose.

From hosting our first in-person conference to celebrating 320,000 copies sold of Building a Second Brain, 2024 had its share of wins.

But it also brought challenges—declining newsletter growth, financial losses in the business, and the realization that my old models of success may no longer apply.

Turning 40 this year has brought a profound shift in how I think about goals and fulfillment. This year-in-review is more than a recap—it’s a raw and honest look at what it means to begin again.

Productivity Is Making You Unproductive

The latest episode on the Art of Accomplishment podcast naturally caught my attention. Brett and Joe dive into productivity and provide a guide that challenges the notion of productivity itself.

Here are a few of my favorite takeaways:

  • Prioritize tasks by asking: “What’s one thing I can do that will make everything else easier or redundant?”
  • Reflect deeply on why you seek to be productive. Is it for safety, validation, wealth, or happiness? Misaligned motives often lead to unfulfilling productivity cycles.
  • Watch out for dopamine loops. Tasks like responding to emails or social media notifications provide a false sense of accomplishment and distract from meaningful work.

Join the European PKM Summit This March

If you’re in Europe this March and interested in Personal Knowledge Management (PKM), you should check out the PKM Summit in Utrecht, the Netherlands!

Hosted by Digitale Fitheid on March 14-15, this event brings together a vibrant community to share insights, learn from international experts, and explore tools for organizing information, enhancing creativity, and making better decisions.

Whether you’re just starting or already deep into PKM, there’s something for everyone.

I won’t be there myself, but if it sounds interesting, head over to their website to learn more and grab your tickets!

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Build your Second Brain

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Create a system for productivity

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Join the global community

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Tiago Forte

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Forte Labs Newsletter

Build your Second Brain with Tiago Forte

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