Picture this: You’ve got a crucial task ahead—maybe it’s finishing a client proposal, drafting a newsletter, or creating content that needs to resonate and convert.
You sit down, ready to knock it out of the park, but then it hits you.
“I can’t find what I need!”
It’s somewhere—buried in your notes, lost in an email thread, or hidden in one of the countless tabs you’ve left open.
And 3 searches later, you are hit with information overload.
What was supposed to be a quick search turns into a series of micro-decisions that leave you mentally exhausted before you even begin the real work. This is what we call decision fatigue.
What’s worse is you know the answer but can’t quite escape the constant and unforgiving itch, “Where did I see this last?”
A year ago, I started dreading the idea of searching through Google—because that meant an hour down the drain.
All I wanted was an answer for that one specific thing going through my head.
God forbid the day ends without finding “the answer.” I’m not one for mindless scrolling in bed, but imagine going past page three of Google while trying to catch up with your partner about your day.
“Honey, I spent the whole day searching through Google…” said the sinner who brought work to bed.
And then highlighting, copying, and pasting that information into the notes app on my phone, fighting to piece it all together on a tiny screen against a tight deadline.
“Love, you do you. I’m off now. You have no boundaries,” said the lover who knew best.
It hit me hard: I had managed to push my partner away (night after night) without ticking off the task.
Why? Because I had all the information. Just no convenient, consistent way to save it so that I could find it when I needed it.
Ask yourself. No, click on your history and actually check. How many times have you searched Google through out the last week? What about the last month? And the last quarter? And what about the last 5 years?
Since you’ve been on the internet, you’ve spent an average of 1 to 2 hours a day searching.
Time spent searching is 2 hours less on:
- Ticking off tasks before 5.00 pm
- Building a personal brand on social
- Going out on romantic dinners or bonding & binging on a season in bed with a loved one
- Catching up with an old friend who grows further and further away because you’re too busy
- Offering your knowledge or automations that turn into a 5-6 figure monthly recurring revenue while you sleep
And before you know it, those hours turn into a loop.
You end up pushing the deadline further, convincing yourself that tomorrow will be different-that you’ll find the answer and finally “get time”.
Here’s the harsh truth: this isn’t research; it’s procrastination disguised as productivity. It’s where the real damage happens.
Procrastination invites (and hides) unwelcome guests, anxiety & stress. The two cloud your judgment, sap your energy, and make it nearly impossible to think clearly. The heavier your throat, the less likely you are to find the solution (no matter how hard you search!).
But by minimizing the “time to result”, you unlock freedom to:
- Build your first digital product
- Be a “real” person outside of your 9 to 5
- Stop participating in the “Busiest Person of the Year” awards
- Make your first internet dollar without selling your time or sanity
When you have a reliable system in place— a Second Brain OS that captures, organizes, and retrieves your ideas and information with ease-you can breathe easier— you can trust that everything you need is just an ask away.
And with that trust comes the freedom to focus, to create, and to excel, without the constant chatter of self doubt in the background.
But how do we break free from the exhausting cycle of endless Google searches, scattered notes, and the creeping sense of overwhelm?
Believe it or not, a year ago I stopped tagging, labelling or colour coding my notes. I don’t carry a note pad anymore. I am not divided between a dozen apps. And yes, no Apple Pencil or iPad either.
This technique is called “Retrieval Augmented Generation”— every time I ask ChatGPT a question, it connects & searches through my ideas, reflections, observations, and highlights (notes) to find EXACTLY what I am looking for. No more scouring the web for inspiration or pointless idea generation exercises
Ps. This secret made me indispensable at my last 9-to-5. Now as a Solopreneur, I’m on steroids – using my Second Brain OS to create Instagram Reels, Twitter Threads and Newsletters that nurture leads into loyal fans that are “pre-sold” on my offers.
1. Capture Everything in One Place with the Notion Second Brain OS Integration
Your ability to capitalize on opportunities is directly tied to how well you manage your information.
But do you know the root of all evil? Not having a single source of truth. A hub where all information lands.
And today I’m giving you a hands free shortcut that might be the biggest change to your daily workflow since ChatGPT entered your life.
What are the steps?
- Setup a new, separate Notion workspace (don’t use an existing one if you already use Notion, more on this later)
- Go this link, watch the Step by Step Video, enter your email and press the submit button to Install the Notion Second Brain OS Integration (the submit button is locked until you watch 25% of the video 😉)
- Refresh your new Notion Workspace and you will see the Notion Second Brain OS template installed
How does the template work?
- The template includes three key parts: Tasks, Notes, and Files. This structure ensures that every piece of information has a home, whether it’s a quick thought, a detailed plan, or an important document
- The top half of the template has dedicated sections for Notes, Tasks & Files, and each is is automatically grouped by day, which means you will have a clutter free experience
- The second half includes a dedicated “Content Engine” and “Productivity Engine”
Quick Digression: Why should you create a new Notion Workspace?
- A clean, fresh start will let you breathe without the burden of merging the old and new
- You can easily move pages from your previous Notion to the “Notes” table in your new workspace (when moving pages from your previous notion, always move them to “Notes” in the Notion Second Brain OS)
- And it’s easier to focus on creating your Second Brain Operating System with minimal clutter
2. Ask the Second Brain OS CustomGPT to Create Notes & Tasks in Notion for You
Today, we will only be focusing on the top half of the SBOS Notion template.
By installing the Notion Second Brain OS Integration, you can delegate “capturing information” to AI. The Second Brain OS customGPT connects to your Notion, allowing you to effortlessly push notes and tasks to Notion during conversation (in real time).
What are the steps?
- Start a conversation with the Second Brain OS customGPT about any challenge or topic of interest
- At any point during the conversation, ask it to “push it as a note” or “push it as a task” to Notion
- And viola, it will land in your Notion (yes, it’s that simple!)
- You can push as many notes & tasks through out the day
- In fact, you can even ask it to breakdown something into multiples notes or tasks and push them together
3. Retrieve Information Instantly with Lightning-Fast Search
Forget sifting through endless folders, emails, docs, drive and more—just ask the Second Brain OS CustomGPT for what you need.
Working on a client agreement? Just mention the {client name} and ask for it.
Thinking of what to post on LinkedIn? Ask it to search your Second Brain OS for ideas related to {topic} and see what it finds.
The real power of the Second Brain OS is its ability to recall information exactly when you need it.
And I am not kidding when I say it’s bloody fast. Ask it to push something to your notion and then search for it seconds later. You will see how it brings back not only the idea you just added, but also any other related notes you might have captured in the past.
This isn’t just keyword searching.
It’s a system that finally understands context, bringing a new level of intelligence to your searches, shaving hours off your day and turning you into productivity powerhouse— all while doing less.
But all of this only possible if that single source of truth, the Notion SBOS Template isn’t empty.
So spend just today conversing with and pushing notes to your Second Brain OS.
And in a matter of hours (not days, weeks or months), you will have a personal assistant who not only remembers everything you’ve ever told them but also understands the nuances and connections between different pieces of information.
Phew, we covered a lot today.
I hope this gives you a fresh perspective on why relying on “bad search” is holding you back—and some solid steps to activate your Second Brain OS.
But we’re just getting started.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at how the Second Brain OS Todoist Integration helps you build your knowledge base on the go.
Imagine being able to capture those $1,000,000 ideas as they happen (and before they slip)—whether you’re out of the gym, fresh out of the shower, or taking a walk. No notepads or iPads needed. Just your smart phone!
This is part of a 3 Day Crash Course on the Second Brain Operating System. Access all the Automations and the Second Brain OS CustomGPT to start capturing, searching & chatting with your notes by clicking the button below
