If you struggle with overcomplicating personal knowledge management, you’re not alone.
I have been running an ongoing survey and found that among thousands of note-makers, the most common struggle is with overcomplication.
Falling into the overcomplication trap is detrimental for creatives.
Complex systems breed complexity, and the more complex a system becomes, the more likely it is to fail. That means you will stay stuck in the endless cycle of fighting against the urge to add complexity to your system while missing all the benefits of adding complexity where it matters––in the unique connections you can be making with your ideas.
But what if I told you the hidden solution to your overcomplication of knowledge management could be right inside your note-taking system itself?
I want you to imagine for a moment, an office surrounded with bookshelves filled from top to bottom. There are partially read books all over the place, random folders and huge piles of papers and notebooks stacked on the floor.
In the corner of the office, there is a cluttered desk full of more papers and books piled on top of each other. In the middle of the desk sits a teapot and a large red typewriter with just enough space in front of it to actually write on some 4×6 note cards.
Does this sound like the workspace of the person who pioneered the ultimate informational organization system?
Yet this was Niklas Luhmann’s office. Yes, the legendary zettelkasten pioneer was an incredibly disorganized person. See for yourself here.
Luhmann referred to the filing technique of his zettelkasten as chaotic order, much like his office. Organization in a zettelkasten is open and dynamic, it does not become a hindrance to knowledge development, it enhances it.
Notice how I say knowledge development, not management. There’s a good reason for that.
Your brain’s memory does not compartmentalize information in a linear order or hierarchy. If we are to build a true second mind as a thinking partner, it must adapt to how our own mind thinks.
That is why the zettelkasten system works so well as a creative tool for divergent thinkers.
In his essay “Communication with Noteboxes”, Luhmann stated that it is impossible to think without writing. He’s not alone, either. Many of the greatest philosophers have associated writing with the process of thinking.
So if we must write in order to effectively think, why not leverage this practice by building an effective communication partner to systemize note-making?
If human memory retrieval utilizes inter relationships to reduce its own complexity, so should a second mind.
Unlike conventional PKM systems, the way notes are filed in a zettelkasten start from the bottom-up instead of the top-down. This allows you to spend more time writing notes and less time managing them.
Do you see why the zettelkasten is such a powerful tool for divergent thinkers?
You don’t need to fight against your brain with more plugins, apps and complex workflows. You need a system that works with your unique brain wiring, not against it.
This dynamic system you are building is a life-long thinking partner and not just another trendy PKM tool to tinker with. Now it’s time to learn more about the skills you’ll need to leverage this system to your advantage.
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