The Eisenhower matrix does not work, and what to do instead
Sorting tasks into four quadrants is satisfying and short-lived, because almost everything lands in the same box. There is a simpler rule that survives the week.
Guide
Practical how-to articles on notes, tasks, self-hosting, and the tools around them. Each guide walks through a real setup end to end, with the trade-offs stated plainly.
A weekly review checklist that takes twenty minutes
The classic weekly review takes two hours and almost nobody sustains it. This is the short version I have kept running for years, plus the recovery move for the weeks you miss.
How to export Notion to Markdown and keep it readable
Notion exports cleanly on paper. In practice you get hashed filenames, broken internal links, and databases turned into CSV, and all three are fixable.
How to add an MCP server to Claude, step by step
Adding a connector to Claude takes about three minutes when it works and an afternoon when it does not. This walks the working path and the four failures that cause most of the confusion.
AI note-taking apps: what helps, what is a demo
Every note app now has an AI panel. Two of those features change how you work and the rest are demos that get used once and never opened again.
A meeting notes template that produces decisions, not transcripts
Most meeting notes are a record of what was said, which nobody reads afterwards. The version that gets used records four things, and you can fill them in during the call.
MCP security and privacy: what a connector can actually see
Connecting an assistant to your data is a permissions decision, not a convenience one. Here is what a connector genuinely has access to and how to keep the risky parts out of reach.
Zettelkasten without the ritual: what actually transfers
Zettelkasten produces beautiful screenshots and a lot of abandoned vaults. Two of its ideas are worth keeping, and the rest was designed around the limits of paper.
How to export Apple Notes now that Markdown export exists
Apple added native Markdown export, which fixed the worst part of leaving Apple Notes. It still does not solve attachments, scans, or moving thousands of notes at once.
The PARA method, and the simpler version I actually use
PARA is the cleanest folder system anyone has proposed for digital notes. It still asks you to make a filing decision every single time, which is where most people quietly stop.
ChatGPT connectors and Apps: what they do and what they cannot
Connectors turn ChatGPT from a text box into something that can read your actual files and tasks. The setup is simple, the limits are not obvious until you hit them.
Getting Things Done, simplified: the parts worth keeping
GTD has three ideas that hold up and a lot of apparatus that does not. This is the stripped version, and a straight account of what you give up by stripping it.
The MCP servers actually worth connecting to your assistant
There are hundreds of MCP servers now and most of them are demos. These are the categories that changed how I work, and the ones I removed after a week.
How to name notes so you can find them in two years
Search only finds what you wrote down in words you would search for. Most note titles fail that test, which is why the search box feels broken.
Using ChatGPT as a second brain, and where it breaks
People keep trying to make ChatGPT hold their knowledge. It is a good reader and a poor filing cabinet, and the difference matters more than any prompt trick.
How to export Evernote notes before you need to
Exporting Evernote is straightforward until you hit the per-export limits or discover what ENEX does to your attachments. This is the order to do it in.
What is MCP? The Model Context Protocol, explained plainly
MCP keeps getting described as USB-C for AI, which explains nothing useful. Here is what a connector really does once it is running, and when it earns the setup time.
Migrating from Notion to a system you will actually keep using
The hardest part of leaving Notion is not the export. It is deciding what you actually need the new system to do, and what you were only maintaining because the old system made it possible.
Simple task manager no subscription: the real options in 2026
The task manager market is dominated by subscriptions. The no-subscription options are fewer and quieter, but they exist. Here is what they actually deliver for someone who wants a durable personal system.
How to link notes to tasks so the context is never lost
The gap between the note where an idea was born and the task that eventually executes it is where most context disappears. Closing that gap does not require a complex system.
A capture inbox for thoughts, tasks, and ideas that you actually use
A capture inbox is the highest-leverage, lowest-friction habit in personal productivity. The trick is keeping it simple enough that you still use it on the days when you are already behind.
Self-hosted notes and tasks without running a server
Self-hosting your notes and tasks sounds like the right principle until you realise it usually means learning infrastructure on the side. There is a version that gives you the control without the operations burden.
No-subscription developer tools for bootstrappers
Subscriptions add up fast when you are bootstrapping. Here are developer tools you can buy once and keep, plus where subscriptions still make sense.
Your second brain is only as good as your tags
Almost nobody talks about tags, and they are the most underrated feature in note-taking. A small, consistent tag standard is what makes a second brain searchable, for you and for your AI.
Tech stack for SaaS: what I use to build Flow
Here is the complete tech stack I use to build Flow, why each tool was chosen, what it costs, and what I would do differently.
Best payment gateway for SaaS in 2026
Choosing a payment gateway for your SaaS should match your stage, not your ambition. Here are the best options mapped by what you actually need.
React Server Components explained for normal developers
React Server Components are powerful but poorly explained. Here is what they actually do, when they help, and when they are noise you can ignore.
A Git workflow for solo founders that does not waste time
Solo founders do not need enterprise Git workflows. Here is the simplest branch strategy that keeps your code safe without adding overhead.
How Resend works for entrepreneurs and small teams
Resend is built for developers running lean teams. Here is how to set it up, monitor deliverability, and make it work for your startup.
Best transactional email API for startups in 2026
Choosing a transactional email API should not be guesswork. Here are the best options in 2026, mapped by what your team actually needs.
How to deploy a React app for free
Deploying a React app should not cost money to start. Here is a step-by-step guide to free hosting on the three best platforms.
Netlify alternatives for static and Jamstack sites
Netlify defined Jamstack hosting, but it is not the only option. Here are honest alternatives mapped by what you actually need.
How to import notes into Flow Productivity
Move notes from another app into Flow with an Excel template. This guide explains each column, the accepted values, and what does not carry across.
Supabase alternatives for developers who want options
Supabase is not the only way to get a modern backend. Here are the honest alternatives, mapped by what you actually need.
Why you need a second brain
Your brain is for thinking, not storage. A second brain system captures ideas and tasks externally so you can focus on what matters.
What is Convex? A plain explanation for developers
Convex is a reactive backend for TypeScript apps. Here is what that means in plain terms, and when it is the right choice.