This video discusses five systems for organizing digital files:
PARA Method
Developed by Tiago Forte, this system categorizes files into four areas:
- P rojects: Tasks requiring immediate attention.
- A reas: Long-term responsibilities like finances or home management.
- R esources: Topics of interest for future reference.
- A rchives: Completed or inactive items.
Johnny Decimal System
A numbering system created by John Noble that provides a logical file structure:
- Files are organized into a maximum of 10 broad areas, each with up to 10 specific categories.
- Files are named with their area and category number for easy identification.
ACCESS System
A framework by Nick Milo for managing knowledge and tasks:
- A tlas: High-level overviews and dashboards.
- C alendar: Time-based information like daily notes and journals.
- C ards: Individual ideas and insights.
- E xtras: Supporting materials such as images and templates.
- S ources: External knowledge from articles, books, and videos.
- S paces: Different areas of life, like work and personal hobbies.
Flat File Structure (Zettelkasten and GTD)
This approach prioritizes file naming and linking over complex folder systems:
- Zettelkasten: A link-based system for connecting and exploring notes.
- GTD (Getting Things Done): David Allen's method for organizing reference information alphabetically.
The video concludes with the presenter's personal reflections, including a preference for the Johnny Decimal system's reference numbers and the importance of an inbox for unsorted items.