Zettelkasten and Build a Second Brain

While both Zettelkasten and Build a Second Brain (BASE) are note-taking methodologies, they serve distinct purposes and can be combined. BASE can be considered a time management technique builds on the tradition of Getting Things Done. Its focus is about reduce mental overload.

Where BASE ends, Zettelkasten begins. The progressive summarization technique of BASE never leave the source material. By contrast, Zettelkasten concept notes are always distinct from source materials.

Another distinction is that Zettelkasten requires a significant initial effort to create concept notes but entails no ongoing maintenance. It’s fine to leave your Zettelkasten untouched for months and return to it later. In contrast, PARA demands lower initial effort and entails (relatively low) regular maintenance. However, both methods continue to function effectively even when we are at a low point due to their low maintenance requirements.

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