🎸 Be brief, be wrong: A new study shows that telling AI to “be concise” makes it hallucinate more. Yup, your polite little prompt for brevity might be the exact thing making ChatGPT write, “Elvis is still alive, trust me.”
Outsource your memory, keep your genius
ChatGPT
Your brain is meat. Beautiful, magical meat.
But it loses things. Important things like “brilliant 4 a.m. business idea” slip into the gray matter of the most sophisticated organ on the planet.
That’s why the smartest people I know (including me!) have a “second brain.” A digital vault that catches ideas, plans, reminders and projects before they vanish into the void.
If you’re still trying to keep it all in your head, it’s time for an upgrade. Here’s how second-brain apps like Notion, Evernote and Apple Notes can help you work smarter, not harder.
🧠 Step 1: Pick your tool
- Apple Notes (free and probably already on your iPhone/Mac): Fast, simple, searchable. It’s the one I use.
- Evernote: Great for organizing notes, web clippings, PDFs and images.
- Notion: For power users who want to build an entire “command center” for their brain. I’m talking about tasks, notes, databases, even project dashboards.
👉 Only rule: Pick one you’ll actually open and use daily. Don’t overcomplicate it.
🖊️ Step 2: Dump everything
Scribble half-formed shower thoughts. Save quotes, links, screenshots of tweets you laughed at too hard. Whatever needs saving, get it in there before you forget it.
Save quotes, book ideas, article links or random tech tips you want to try later. Snap a picture of handwritten notes, and drop them into your app. Dictate quick thoughts using voice-to-text if you’re driving or walking. You get the gist.
👉 Tip: Don’t overorganize. The goal is to catch ideas, not perfect them.
✅ Step 3: Build simple systems
700
The number of customer service agents Klarna said AI could replace. Plot twist: The buy-now-pay-later company is hiring again (paywall link). Turns out cutting costs tanked service quality, and surprise, people still like talking to actual humans. They want new hires to be remote students or folks from rural areas.
🔎 I spy a virus: If your connection’s dragging, a virus might be the culprit. I trust and recommend TotalAV. It’s just $19 a year to protect up to five devices on Windows, Mac, Android and more. That’s total peace of mind for your phone, laptop and tablet.
🤐 Mute yourself: When you call customer service and hear, “This call may be recorded,” it’s not just while you’re talking with a rep. They can hear everything, even when you’re on hold. So hit that mute button next time you want to vent your frustrations.
⌨️ Shrink your iPad keyboard: Hate how the keyboard takes up half the screen in apps like Messages? You can make it smaller. Just place two fingers on the keyboard and pinch inward. It’ll turn into a smaller, floating keyboard you can drag anywhere. Want it back to full size? Pinch outward with two fingers.
🖨️ Print with your voice: Got a 3rd-gen Echo or newer? You can link it to your printer. Make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi network and say, “Alexa, discover my printer.” In the Alexa app, it’s Add (+) > Device > Printer to set it up manually. This only works on some models. Click here to see what’s compatible.
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🔔 See old notifications: Swiped an alert away too fast? Turn on Notification history on your Android. Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Notification history and toggle it On. Bonus: If a text or DM popped up before it was deleted, you might still catch it here.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use dictation in Microsoft Word: Click “Dictate” in the ribbon and just start talking.
💻 Speed up startup: Is your PC booting up slowly? Too many apps may be launching when you turn it on.
🌳 Last chance to save on beautiful trees without the wait or the hassle: At Fast Growing Trees , use promo code KIM to save an extra 15% on fast, easy and expert-approved planting. They have the perfect trees and plants for your location, shipped right to your door. No messy trips to the garden center. I love my avocado tree!
💵 A dollar here, a dollar there: It seems like every subscription is more expensive than when I signed up. Use the Rocket Money app to see what you’re paying for. I do! They’ll even cancel a subscription for you if it’s not worth the money anymore.
What’s that song’s name? The YouTube Music app can help you track it down. Just hum, sing or whistle the tune. Open the app, tap search and hit the audio wave icon (top right) and give it a try. Heads up, it works best with popular or catchy tunes, not indie ones.
🔊 Master volume control: Is the volume too loud or too quiet but never just right? You can change it in smaller increments.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Want to silence a call in a nanosecond? Just press the power button on your phone once. Poof, off to voicemail the person goes.
😃 “My knees feel so much better in only one month!” That’s what Julie wrote to me since she’s been taking NativePath’s collagen. You ought to try it, too. Go here now to claim your 45% discount, free shipping and a free gift bundle, exclusive for my listeners.
🏊 Pool safety tip: Drowning is the top cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4. Sadly, 88% happen with an adult nearby. That’s why the Y-M-C-A launched Phones Down, Eyes Up. Take their pledge and get a free lock screen reminder, pool safety tips and a “Water Watcher” lanyard for the grown-up keeping watch.
Stop Kindle fumbles: Disable your touchscreen so taps don’t register, but swipes to turn pages still work. Open a book, tap More options (three-dot icon) > Disable Touchscreen and hit OK. Want it back on? Just press the Power button to sleep and wake your Kindle.
🖼️ Bring doodles to life: Got a great idea? Canva’s Sketch to Life app turns your drawings into AI images. Go to Apps > Sketch to Life > pick either Use in existing design or Use in new design. Then, draw your idea, describe it and tap Generate. You get seven free credits per day.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Got kids? Set up YouTube Kids with age filters and disable the search bar to avoid sketchy content.