Why Productivity Fanatics Rely on "Notion" for 95% of Their Lives

Why Productivity Fanatics Rely on "Notion" for 95% of Their Lives

In the quest for optimization and organization, it's easy to get caught up in spending too much time on planning and creating to-do lists rather than actually completing tasks. This phenomenon, known as planning fallacy, has been pointed out by Gabriel Ettingen, a professor of psychology at New York University.

When it comes to knowledge management tools, it's important to understand their role and how they can be effectively utilized. Rather than using them as permanent storage spaces, they should be used in conjunction with permanent storage locations to facilitate archiving and deletion of consumed content, thus avoiding the accumulation of noise and becoming a graveyard of links. In an article by Matthew Guay, the creator of the writing tool "reproof," he states, "The problem is finding value in our own thoughts and discoveries. If we've spent time thinking about or finding something, it must have some value. We fear losing it. As Daniel Kahneman explains in 'Thinking, Fast and Slow,' our response to losses is stronger than our response to gains." Taking notes to avoid loss seems to align with this concept.

The act of jotting things down is incredibly important, as it satisfies a fundamental need for personal identity confirmation. Our identities are not always easily discernible, and we often seek confirmation through our relationships with others or by establishing a consistent, explicit history from our past selves. Data that connects our present thoughts and emotions with our past selves, existing over time, becomes crucial in understanding and reaffirming who we are. This reminds me of the character Motoko Kusanagi from the movie adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, particularly her wristwatch as an external representation of this concept.

The behavior of individuals who strive to retain content is intriguing, and there are several reasons why they do so. These include the ability to remember information by revisiting it, organizing specific content to understand its context and relevance, preserving valuable content for future reference, and allowing future self-analysis of current thoughts and emotions. Additionally, the fear of wasting time and effort invested in gathering and storing content also plays a role.

Temporary storage locations, such as my Capture database in Notion, tend to accumulate a lot of noise compared to discovery spaces. However, permanent storage locations should contain genuinely good, high-quality information that can be easily accessed. Excessive noise hinders efficient use of these spaces. Additionally, people expect a product or feature to fulfill a specific job, which is tied to their emotions and mindset when using it. It makes more sense to switch products when performing different jobs. This is similar to how the music streaming platform Revvin curates content, utilizing various filters to provide users with high-quality music that aligns with their preferences.

While some individuals may effectively manage both temporary and permanent storage locations, it is likely due to their ability to apply high-level filters when storing content temporarily or their skill in decluttering accumulated content.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a space where only truly valuable content and knowledge accumulate, minimizing the entry of noise. For example, in my current setup with Obsidian, I am hesitant to transfer my "ne-gima" style memos because I fear they may introduce additional noise.

After building a galaxy of notes in Roam Research, Dan Shipper discovered that most of our ideas and discoveries actually hold little value in themselves. This realization is something I am concerned about when transferring my "ne-gima" style memos to Obsidian.

In conclusion, utilizing productivity tools such as Notion can greatly enhance our lives, but it's essential to strike a balance between optimization and actual task completion. To make the most of these tools, it's crucial to understand their role as knowledge management systems, use temporary storage locations effectively, and create permanent storage spaces that prioritize quality and accessibility while minimizing noise. By doing so, we can optimize our productivity and enhance our ability to retain and reference valuable content.