PARA Method: Organize your digital life with this trick

People’s lives are intertwined with technology, but its deluge of information makes it difficult to focus on the real world. That is why Tiago Forte released a book called The PARA Method.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the way Filipinos make jeepneys stop at their destination. It is Forte’s way of helping people create a “second brain.” 

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The latter refers to a set of processes that allow people to separate their digital lives from the real ones. Consequently, you can leave your actual brain free to be more creative and productive.

The PARA Method and the CODE Technique

Tiago Forte is the founder of the educational website Forte Labs, which helps people worldwide “build a second brain.” True to its goals, its founder Tiago Forte invented the PARA Method to realize that goal.

He defines it as, “a simple, comprehensive, yet extremely flexible system for organizing any type of digital information across any platform.”

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Forte also considers it “the most popular idea he has ever invented.” The PARA Method focuses on using the “CODE Technique,” which people must understand to properly use the former: 

1. Code: Start by identifying noteworthy ideas and insights so that you don’t have to worry about forgetting them. As a result, your mind is free for more creative tasks. For example, highlight ideas in an eBook or PDF so that you can refer to them later.
2. Organize: Organize those ideas using the PARA Method, which this article will elaborate on later.
3. Distill: Examine your notes further to remove non-essential information and summarize the content in your own words. 
4. Express: Share your work so that others may benefit from it. 

How does the PARA Method work?

The PARA Method helps you build a “second brain” so that you can implement the CODE Technique more effectively:

1. Projects represent tasks that require multiple work sessions to complete. Moreover, they have two parts: a beginning & end and an outcome. Projects could be anything from finding a new job to renovating your home. 
2. Areas are long-term responsibilities or continuous aspects of your life, such as “health” and “finances.” Unlike Projects, they don’t have a set completion date, but you still want to focus on them.
3. Resources include any topic you’re interested in gathering information about. Forte says it is a “catchall for anything that doesn’t belong to a project nor area.” For example, you might list “productivity” or “AI.” 
4. Archive covers items you’ve finished or are no longer in use. Nevertheless, you might need to refer to them later, so you should keep them in digital storage. For example, store your finished projects in a computer folder.

The PARA Method lets you streamline workflows by removing distractions and guesswork in finishing tasks, helping you become more productive.

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It also saves the hassle of remembering where you put relevant information or what you must do. Consequently, you can focus your mental energy on more creative activities. 

You may have heard similar techniques in other self-help books. However, Tiago Forte’s PARA Method fits well in the digital age so that you can thrive in it.