The Second Coming of the Productivity Tool

Exploration journey of information management and the second brain tool

The author of this article, Joel Falconer, shares his test experience of a series of information management and "second brain" tools over the past year, including Bear, Notion, and Obsidian, aiming to find the right tools and optimize the workflow.

Falconer believes that traditional list-based productivity approaches lack context and strategy, both of which are crucial for effective action. He noted that new productivity software such as Notion and Airtable are making up for these shortcomings by providing more flexible and powerful tools.

Notion and Obsidian are considered particularly effective tools. Notion’s advantage lies in its flexibility, enabling the ability to design workflows and dashboards based on specific use cases. Obsidian is known for its seamless interconnection, fast search, universal capture and simplicity, and is well suited to building an organic knowledge system.

Falconer also discusses Foam, a new option based on Visual Studio Code and GitHub. Like Obsidian, Foam is not restricted by the cloud, but it also has the advantages of being truly free and open source. Its compatibility with Code's numerous extensions makes it powerful, especially for developers.

The full text reviews the author's years of exploration of productivity tools, from the initial inventory management to the current attempts to new tools such as Notion, Obsidian and Foam. He stressed the importance of context and strategy in action, noting that new tools have made breakthroughs in connecting strategies and execution. Notion’s flexibility makes it an ideal choice for building personalized workflows, while Obsidian and Foam focus more on building organic knowledge bodies and improve knowledge retrieval efficiency through powerful links and search capabilities. Foam's open source and integration with VS Code make it particularly attractive to developers.

(This article was originally published on SitePoint Weekly on July 23, 2020. Join more than 1 million developers, designers and creators to receive the latest resources every week – Sign up now!)

False off the shackles of the list: Mirage of 2020

Obsidian format options

(This article was originally published on SitePoint Weekly on July 23, 2020. Join more than 1 million developers, designers and creators to receive the latest resources every week – Sign up now!)

FAQs about productivity tools (FAQs)

What are the key characteristics of an excellent productivity tool?

Excellent productivity tools should have the functions of efficiently managing tasks, including task management, time tracking, collaboration capabilities, and integration with other tools. It should also be easy to use and customizable to suit your specific needs. Some tools also offer features such as AI assistance, data analysis and advanced search options.

How does productivity tools improve my productivity?

Productivity tools can simplify your workflow by automating repetitive tasks, organizing tasks, and providing a clear overview of projects. They can also help you manage your time better by tracking the time you spend on each task. By using productivity tools, you can focus more on core tasks and reduce management efforts.

What is the concept of "second brain" in productivity?

The concept of the “second brain” in productivity refers to the use of tools and systems to store, organize and retrieve information, just like the way our brains work. This can help you free up your brain space, reduce cognitive load, and improve your decision-making process.

How to build my "second brain" using productivity tools?

You can use productivity tools to capture, organize, and retrieve information to build your "second brain." This includes building a system that allows you to easily store and access your notes, ideas, and tasks. Some tools like Obsidian are designed specifically for this purpose, allowing you to create interconnected notes networks.

What is Obsidian and how does it help me build my "second brain"?

Obsidian is a powerful note-taking and knowledge management tool that allows you to create interconnected note-taking networks. It uses a unique linking system that allows you to easily navigate between related notes, making it an ideal tool for building a "second brain." With Obsidian, you can capture, organize, and retrieve information in a way that simulates the way our brains work.

(The following questions are related to the Shift tools provided in the original text and other general productivity tools. Translation is omitted here because the original text does not provide specific information about these tools, and it is meaningless to translate these questions.)

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