How To Have Two Brains

Posted on December 25, 2007 by LJ Earnest
Categories: Uncategorized

Originally published as “Using my PDA As A Second Brain” on 18 Sept 2006.

Do you wish you had another brain? You probably do, sitting in your productivity system.

This past weekend I had a concrete example of how much I rely on my PDA to be my second brain. I had a weak moment, and ended up adopting a dog. In the process needed to provide addresses and phone numbers, both for the vet and references. Had I needed to remember these items, I would have been sunk. However, my second brain was right there (actually for the purpose of holding my shopping list), and I was able to give the information.

The part that I find remarkable is not that I use the system as it was intended, but rather the lack of stress that comes along with using it. I am a person who is bothered by leaving parts of forms I am required to fill out blank. I do not miss this stress.

What do I keep in my second brain that has proved itself to be useful at a moment’s notice?

Addresses
Phone numbers
Names of tradespeople
My calendar
Timesheets
Work notes
URLs for favorite websites
Notes on completed “projects”
Records of shots (animal and human)
Shopping lists

It’s amazing how much I use this device as a reference tool.

Update December 2007

I no longer carry my work notes or my URLs with me. The work notes are not needed while I am away from either my home or work computer, and the URLs are now stored in Del.Icio.Us