We all have goals and aspirations, things we want to achieve and improve upon. But often, we find ourselves stuck in a cycle of inaction, constantly seeking the next best thing that will finally push us forward. We turn to notes apps, bookmarking tools, and various other methods of capturing our thoughts and ideas, hoping that they will somehow provide us with the motivation and inspiration we need.

We all have goals and aspirations, things we want to achieve and improve upon. But often, we find ourselves stuck in a cycle of inaction, constantly seeking the next best thing that will finally push us forward. We turn to notes apps, bookmarking tools, and various other methods of capturing our thoughts and ideas, hoping that they will somehow provide us with the motivation and inspiration we need.

However, notes apps are not the solution to our problems. In fact, they are where ideas go to die. We save notes, links, ideas, and thoughts as insurance for the future, but we rarely look back at them. We feel a sense of safety in knowing that we have stored these things away, even though we may never revisit them. It's a way for us to justify our loss aversion, the fear of losing something that we perceive as valuable.

But the truth is, most of what we write down or save is not actually valuable. We ascribe meaning and importance to our thoughts and findings because they took time to think up and find. We are scared to lose them, to let them go. This is where the concept of loss aversion comes into play. Loss aversion is the idea that our response to losses is stronger than our response to gains. It's a biological instinct that has been naturally selected into our DNA.

However, trying to remember everything, trying to hold onto every thought and discovery, only leads to mental overload. We end up with a million open mental tabs, unable to remember the important things. We need to forget, but we can only do so if we first feel safe forgetting. We need to believe that our memories were not in vain, that they will be there if we want them again. Only then can we let go.

This is where the concept of a "forcing function" comes in. A forcing function is an external stimulus that pushes us to do what we want to do. It plays on our fear of letting ourselves down. By creating forcing functions for ourselves, we can overcome our tendency to seek new tools and techniques in the hopes of finding a better solution. We can break free from the cycle of constantly seeking the next best thing.

So how can we create forcing functions for ourselves? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Set clear, specific goals: One of the reasons we often find ourselves stuck is because we lack clarity in what we want to achieve. By setting clear, specific goals, we create a target to aim for. This target becomes our forcing function. It pushes us to take action and make progress towards our desired outcome.

2. Establish accountability: Find someone who can hold you accountable for your actions. This could be a friend, a mentor, or even an online community. Share your goals and progress with them, and ask them to check in on you regularly. Knowing that someone is watching and expecting you to follow through can be a powerful motivating force.

3. Create deadlines: Deadlines create a sense of urgency and help us prioritize our actions. Set deadlines for yourself and stick to them. Break your goals down into smaller, manageable tasks with their own deadlines. This creates a series of forcing functions that keep you on track and prevent you from falling into the trap of constantly seeking the next best thing.

In conclusion, notes apps and other tools designed to help us remember are not the solution to our problems. They are where ideas go to die. We need to let go of our fear of losing our thoughts and findings and instead focus on creating forcing functions for ourselves. By setting clear goals, establishing accountability, and creating deadlines, we can break free from the cycle of constantly seeking the next best thing and finally make progress towards our desired outcomes.