Notetaking : Para Method

Para method is a notetaking method developped by Thiago Forte. Its promise is to categorize information based on different areas in our lifes. 

P stands for Project. Short term endeavors focused on goals. They have clear end date.

A stands for Areas. Long term responsibilities you want to manage in Para method.
Continues indefinitely. 

R stands for Resources. Your point of interests. 

A stands for Archive.

Whenever an information needs to be stored, you ask yourself which folder to put it? 

So Para comes in here and categorizes notes based on the outcome the note serves. 

P can be your time-defined project of mowing the grass. Because it has defined time limit and one-time endavour, related information about mowing goes to project folder. 

A can be your long-term responsibilities. These can be your pet, your child or your relationships. Maybe house duties. Information related to those long-term endavours goes into this folder. 

Resources are your hobbies. You are interested in golfing but you're not serious about it yet. You read about it but do not allocate enough time for it because you do not see it serious area of your life yet. So you put information about golfing to resources folder. However if you go to golfing course with aims and deadlines, you can relocate it to the project folder.

Lastly archive is the place where we put all irrelevant information we do not need anymore. We can refer to archived information if it becomes relevant in our life. 

Para method is a great notetaking methodology where in our information-filled lifes finding relevant information becomes harder and harder. 

Because you note your ideas, what you find valuable. your notes will already be there when you need to start to your work. So many people that use Para method, do the work with Para method before everything else.

If all the information you need at your hand readily, your goal is much more achievable.