Do we need a Second Brain? I call bullshit.

When I was a junior buyer starting out at Jaguar Cars in the early 90s, we were having an office refit. The director in charge of making the decisions on the refit decided to cut the amount of storage dramatically. He said that if he allowed storage, we would only use it.

We all thought he was an idiot.

I now think he was right.

Nowadays we are constantly bombarded with an overwhelming and ever-increasing amount of information. From social media feeds to news articles, podcasts, and videos, we are immersed in content we struggle to process and retain. Great quotes, ideas, theories and stories all come and go at speed. It’s no wonder that many people are turning to the idea of a “second brain” as a solution to this problem.

But do we really need a second brain, or is this just adding more complexity to our already crammed lives?

Just like that Jaguar director, I think the answer is clear: we don’t need a second brain. All of that extra storage space may be doing more harm than good. Instead of adding more complexity to our lives, we need less. Less storage space, less clutter, and less anxiety.

Creating more storage space for our thoughts is a fool’s errand. We consume so much media and information that our brains can’t cope. And yet, we keep trying to cram more and more into our heads. We create books and books of notes that we never refer to, simply because it’s become a habit.

What we truly need is a reduction, a return to simplicity. The goal should be to maintain a clear, uncluttered mind, rather than seeking additional mental real estate.

My personal strategy in navigating this information labyrinth is to adopt a ‘content minimalism’ approach. I immerse myself in the world of information, but I retain only what is essential. I read, I observe, and I note sparingly, steering clear of amassing vast, unused archives of knowledge (I’m renowned for having notebooks that never fill up).

Of course, each individual’s method will vary. Some may find that jotting down helps in assimilating information. However, for most of us, the essence lies in simplicity. We don’t need a second brain; we need to cherish and declutter the one we already have.