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# Keep every idea in one place, so none dies in your head
For: anyone whose ideas are spread across notes, chats and scraps of paper · Time: 20 minutes · Works in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot.
## Before you start
- The AI you already use: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot.
- Your phone, with a notes app on it.
- Your calendar.
## How to use this guide
Open a new chat in the AI you use. Paste this whole guide into it and send it.
Your AI then takes you through it one step at a time. It waits for your answer before the next step. You can stop after any step and come back later.
A note for the AI reading this: take me through one step at a time. Tell me what to do in short, plain sentences. Wait for my answer before you move on. At the end of each step, read me the check and ask me if it passed. If it did not pass, give me the fix. If it fails twice, do it with me. Never send, delete, pay or publish anything for me. Start now with Step 1.
## Step 1: Choose the one place (5 min)
Pick one place for every idea. A single note in your phone's notes app works well. Call it "Ideas".
Choose a place you already open every day. Do not install anything new unless you have to.
Put it where your thumb finds it. Pin the note, or add it to your home screen.
Paste this:
```text
My one place for ideas is: [the app and the note's name].
Tell me the fastest way to open it on my phone, in no more than two taps. Give me one way only.
```
Do what your AI says. Then close it and open it again from your home screen.
Check: You can open it from your phone in two taps.
If it does not pass: Pin the note to the top of your notes app, then put the notes app on your home screen's first page.
## Step 2: Move in the ideas you already have (10 min)
Your ideas are scattered. Now you bring them home.
Look in three places: your other notes, messages you sent to yourself, and any saved messages. Copy each idea into your one place. One idea per line. Messy is fine.
If you have a lot, paste a batch into this chat first.
Paste this:
```text
Here are ideas I found in different places: [paste them].
Write each one as a single short line, in my words. Remove exact repeats only. Do not add, judge or sort them yet.
```
Copy the clean list into your one place. Keep the old copies for now. You can delete them later, when you are sure.
Check: Every idea from your notes and your chats is in the one place.
If it does not pass: Open each place again, one at a time, and copy only what is missing.
## Step 3: Set a weekly sort (5 min)
Once a week, you and your AI sort the list. Each idea gets one of three answers: do it, keep it, or let it go.
Pick a time you are free every week. Fifteen minutes is enough. Make a repeating event in your calendar called "Sort my ideas". Set it to repeat every week.
Save the sorting prompt below in the event's notes, so it is there when the reminder comes.
Paste this:
```text
Here is my list of ideas: [paste the list from your one place].
Help me sort it. Ask me about one idea at a time. For each one, I choose: do it, keep it, or let it go.
When we finish, give me three short lists: Do it, Keep it, Let it go. Do not choose for me.
```
Check: A reminder is in your calendar at the same time every week.
If it does not pass: Open the event, find "Repeat", choose "Every week", and add an alert at the start time.
## Done when
- Every idea has one place that opens in two taps.
- The ideas you already had are all in it.
- A weekly "Sort my ideas" reminder is in your calendar, with the sorting prompt in its notes.
- A new idea goes straight to the one place, not to your head.
Next, free: Set up 30 minutes of study a day that sticks. It is at praximedes.com/methodos/study
Works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot. About 20 minutes, once.