PKM as sophisticated procrastination

I just watched Sam Matla’s video on how PKM can actually function as a form of procrastination. As someone who has been getting into the PKM mindset (or, in a more general sense, started taking notes now and then with Obsidian), this resonates a lot with my experience. That being said, I’m not sure I agree completely with Sam’s analysis.

Obvious procrastination: Things you do instead of work, but you don’t enjoy them. According to Sam, these can be things like watching netflix or reading a book instead of writing an essay or replying to a message from a client. The supposed reason for us not enjoying these things is the all-encompassing guilt we have for not doing the thing that we know we are ignoring.

Sophisticated procrastinaion: These are things you do, that make you feel like you actually are being productive, but

Sam’s Principles for Beating procrastination

Sticking with one tool: To avoid constantly switching tools and procrastinating, it is important to stick with one tool for at least six months. Sam suggests that unless there is a robust argument for switching to another tool, the tendency to switch to new, shiny tools is often just a form of procrastination.

Trusting your brain: Sam encourages people to trust their own brain more and not rely solely on structured note-taking. He suggests that insights will come organically as you consume information and think through things, and that the best ideas often come when you are not sitting in front of a computer or phone. This principle can be interpreted as a reminder to relax and not to have a fear of missing out on information.

Project-based note-taking: Instead of trying to capture everything, Sam suggests being project-based with your note-taking. Focusing on specific projects, rather than trying to capture everything, will lead to more effective and efficient note-taking.

Consuming good information: Sam stresses the importance of being mindful of the information you consume. By focusing on consuming good information that will lead to valuable insights, your note-taking will be more effective.

Relaxing: Sam encourages people to relax and trust that good ideas will come to them when they are consuming the right information. He suggests that trying to take notes on everything can lead to a lack of room for actual thinking and that the fear of missing out on information is irrational.

Thoughts on productive procrastination

This all being said, I’d like to mention that until now, I’ve tried to cultivate productive procrastination. This means that I try to find something productive to do in order to avoid the guilt of procrastination. For example, when I need to write an essay, I might take the time to learn a new skill (programming, writing, etc.), or read a book, or watch a tutorial. I think that this can be a good way to make sure you are still being productive, even if you are taking a break from the task at hand.

In conclusion, I think that Sam’s video is an interesting perspective that has given me some food for thought. I agree with his principles and I think they are helpful, but I would add that it is also important to have a balance between structured note-taking and trusting your brain, as well as between structured note-taking and productive procrastination.