Reviving Creativity: My Journey to Building a Second Brain
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Chapter 1: The Emotional Awakening
Reflecting on my creativity journey, this Medium post diverges from my usual technical insights. Instead, it delves into an emotional self-exploration that may come off as unstructured but hopefully resonates with others.
It has been some time since I last contributed to Medium. I often find myself procrastinating, attributing my absence to work commitments, responsibilities, and fatigue—excuses that come all too easily. However, as time passed, the challenge of returning to a mindset of reading, learning, and sharing became increasingly daunting.
Last night, everything shifted. While gazing at my bookshelf, I picked up "Atomic Habits," a book I purchased years ago, and began to read in the sweltering heat of 35 degrees Celsius. Just a couple of chapters in, a revelation struck me:
"You don't achieve your goals; you fall back to your systems."
Goals reflect the outcomes we aspire to, whereas systems outline the processes leading to those outcomes. This realization ignited a desire for change within me. But would I be able to sustain it?
Section 1.1: Understanding the Second Brain Concept
The concept of a second brain initially felt nonsensical to me. Memories aren’t retained effectively in our minds. Years ago, as I prepared to lead a project that would earn me my first promotion, I discovered the idea of a second brain to enhance productivity. Our brains are designed for creativity but struggle to retain fleeting memories.
Despite my skepticism, my chaotic knowledge repository has contributed significantly to my career advancement. This was my first attempt at constructing a second brain, which ultimately did not succeed.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Struggle of Disorganization
Fast forward to today, I find myself comfortably seated in my home office yet yearning for intellectual breakthroughs. My neglected knowledge repository desperately needs attention, and I feel increasingly demotivated to embark on side projects. I have over 20 drafts waiting on Medium and five ideas that need further contemplation, but all I desire after work is to appear busy.
The spark I felt recently is something I must cling to, and I believe rebooting my knowledge repository can be a valuable starting point for organizing my thoughts and experiences.
Section 1.2: The Rebooting Process
Bit by bit, I began exploring current trends in productivity and the "second brain" philosophy. Tools like Evernote, Notion, Roam, and Obsidian caught my interest. However, right before I dove into a YouTube rabbit hole, one video struck me:
"Commit to a tool for at least 30 days rather than switching every few days. By sticking with it for 30 days, you'll gain valuable insights; quitting early eliminates the chance to form a habit."
With that in mind, I decided on Obsidian.
Description: In this video, learn how to organize your life effectively using the Second Brain methodology. Discover practical tips for enhancing productivity.
Rather than a meticulously organized library of documents, I appreciate how Obsidian embraces the chaos of creativity. It visualizes ideas in a graph format, enabling rapid navigation between interconnected concepts. Additionally, it's free!
Slowly, I began setting up various plugins to assist in rebuilding my repository. Automation became crucial. I started transferring my Medium highlights into my vault with the Readwise plugin, linking highlights to core data science concepts, and writing my interpretations anchored to sources.
I also dedicated time to creating my daily notes—documenting feelings, nurturing inner peace, and expressing gratitude to those who have positively impacted my life. More importantly, this practice encourages me to write at least four lines of creative, non-work-related content each day.
Chapter 2: The Growth of My Second Brain
Thus, the genesis of my second attempt at building a second brain begins, aiming to rejuvenate my creativity. To many, this may seem trivial, but for me, it signifies a significant and sincere first step.
Kudos to anyone who reads through to the end.
Best,
Louis
Description: This video showcases how we utilize Notion to organize our lives effectively, providing insights into building a second brain for personal productivity.