I learned a productivity system for organizing life

🗣️ Things I mention in this video:

Hi there 👋 If you're new to my videos my name is Matt D'Avella. I'm a documentary filmmaker, entrepreneur and YouTuber. I've made a couple documentaries for Netflix. I also teach courses on everything from filmmaking to habit change. If you like to nerd out about self-development as much as I do, you can subscribe for weekly videos.

🔗 LINKS

[aaronchampney]

I like being productive… so I’m watching a YouTube video on my couch

[camandrew]

When I takes notes like this I usually end up not enjoying the present thing I’m doing. It becomes more about saving this thing for my future self that may find it useful 🤷‍♂️

[bernardwright]

Its quiet interesting how we reject the reality of our situation and expect to be able to observe it, control it and even change it. I used to be financially depressed until I read a book that made me realized that the secret to making a million is making better investments.|.

[keonheelawrencecho]

PARA
Projects: store things you are actively working on (ex: office reno, upcoming trip to Europe)
Areas: store things of responsibility in your life (ex: vehicles, taxes)
Resources: store things like book notes and inspirations
Archives: store things that are no longer needed, but might be useful in the future

[MrCurlay]

Rearranging my notes folders into exotic structures that make no sense by tomorrow is my favourite form of procrastination. It also helps me convince myself that my life is under control having gorged on a box of crispy creme donuts.

[KEJosephFavorites]

Usually I'm inspired/slightly intimidated by your videos, but this might be the first time I've ever thought "wow, I' beat Matt to the punch" 😂 My notes app is an ~*organized masterpiece*~ with everything from recipes and travel plans to pre/during/post session therapy notes and a list of people I know who are pregnant and their due dates lol. It's SO helpful and easy to stay consistent once you make a habit of it.

[itsangelajane]

"there's something to be said about sticking with the basics & just doing the work." — this is so important as i've also recently found myself overwhelmed by the amount & popularity of different tools. lately, i've been building an essentials list of sort which are the things i live with & by, without the need to waste time looking for something else. thank you for this video!

[JezLerman]

One of the best videos on YouTube for this viewer. You introduced me to Tiago, Milanote, and Readwise, over a much enjoyable quarter of an hour, with a chuckle or two along the way. Brilliant. Thank you. Truly.

[bloom]

This is perfect timing for me! ☺️ Lately I’ve been stressing out a lot about my notes being all over the place. 🤪 Thank you!

[tina_about]

"How to improve your memory" is literally a question that haunted me all my student life. I make a thousand notes in the phone, on a piece of paper and generally everywhere until I created complete chaos in my life
Don't repeat it!

[Walter-knte]

This video came at the best possible time for me. Just two weeks ago, I started organizing my notes in the PARA way. This is a motivation to keep me going and finish all my notes to this system!

[JayPendragonWatches]

I appreciate you didn’t shy away from this video even though so many have already talked about it. Every one is on their own timeline!

[melihkaleciklioglu]

So happy to see that im onto something once.
With so much to remember and organizing my personal life and managing our family life my calendar is where most of my information goes.
Not even bothered anymore to clutter up my mind with everything as I'll forget it anyways. Takes getting used to but it takes so much stress away from the feeling of "am I missing something" and getting rid of some of the anxiety that comes with it.
Will try to implement this method to my information-pool too!

[theRenjie]

13:46. "The structure of your notes should match the structure of your life". Thank you.

[efficiencycorner]

I am in love with the editing style in your videos and how the storytelling actually leads you through the video. Thank you for the quality!

[happinessisafulltank]

There's something so simple and satisfying about Matt's videos. He's not talking about groundbreaking stuff (there is a MOUNTAIN of content out there about this), but the way he talks about it is just very simple, relatable, and enjoyable.

[JM_Architecture]

I love this technique! I do something similar. I have a “MIND” folder that’s split into “THOUGHTS” and “IDEAS”.It’s helped me to save the thought for a future journal, or the idea for a future project!

[WarrenG]

I have heard the pitch of "Tiago Forte's Building a Second Brain" multiple times before (Ali Abdaal and Thomas Frank come to mind). But, I always perceived it as something that I would do if I had a different job. Well, Matt, you've managed to paint it in a different light, and now I think I'm going to try it. Well done!

[karenm]

I bought Tiago’s book the same week of its release after consuming his YT content and have yet to implement it. Not a fault of his, bc his system makes so much sense, it’s just always seemed like a daunting task. But something about you actually documenting that process and outlining the time it took, the scares you had, and the silly things you kept over the years just made it more relatable and gave me a vision of what a starting point looks like. I especially admire your declaration of not switching your notes app and getting his input of working from the bottom-up until it breaks before “upgrading” bc I’m so guilty of being sucked into trying the newest tech in hopes it’ll solve the clutter in my brain. Thank you Matt!! And kudos to you to putting in the work to make sure you’re a supportive partner, wish y’all the best!

[shyu]

To be honest, most of the time I'm more attracted to Matt's video making and editing skill than the contents themselves.