I couldn't wrap my head around PARA. The waters were too muddy between projects, areas, and resources.
Take travel for example. I have travel resources (packing lists, loyalty reward numbers, etc). I would presumably have a travel area, as it's something I'd like to be a semi-major part of my life long-term. But I'd also think whatever trips I'm currently planning are "projects". Does this mean 3 travel folders, in 3 different parents, so I have to go 3 places for one topic?
I look at these systems like I look at templates or Lego instructions... here's what you can do! Now go do you.
GTD from the days of Palm PDAs still works fantastically if you just use it.
The key is just to choose a system that seems like it will work for you based on the published "way to use" it ... and then make it your own and stop looking.
You basically need a monogamous relationship with blinders on so you can actually become a deep expert in your own productivity tool and be able to rely on it and refer to it without thinking.
Yeah PARA is the new hype in knowledge management, those come and go (Zettelkasten, atomic notes...) I don't find PARA particularly useful. Using links and tags with no directories at all work much better for me. But I think that's the nice thing (and also the curse) of all of those you can spend your time biie shedding with the different versions of yourself in time instead of using it for your life.
