# The PARA Method **The PARA method is guidance for organizing reference materials and project notes**, developed by [[Tiago Forte]] for use alongside [[Getting Things Done]]. The method advocates **having a similar structure across all storage systems in order to avoid questions like 'where does this go?' and 'where did I put that?' It categories all types of information one might come across into Projects, Areas, Resources and Archive.** ## Projects **A *project* is a series of tasks with a specific goal that need to be achieved in a specific time frame. A project always belongs to an area of interest.**[^1] [^1]: [[The PARA Method A Universal System for Organizing Digital Information - Forte Labs#^5dftpf]] ## Areas of Interest **An *area of interest* is a sphere of activity with a specific standard that needs to be maintained over time.** Evaluating if these standards are met usually requires intuition and self-awareness, whereas projects goals, by definition, must be easily evaluated.[^2] [^2]: [[The PARA Method A Universal System for Organizing Digital Information - Forte Labs#^10ay0p]] The main problem people encounter with PARA is the difference between a project and an area. **An area (usually) never ends, while a project has a specific end condition. E.g. health, finances, hobbies, travel, personal improvement, etc.** ![[The PARA Method A Universal System for Organizing Digital Information - Forte Labs#^bi9359]] ### Hobbies and Goals **Any goals you have in your life must have a corresponding project** i.e. goals and projects need to form a one-to-one relationship. If you have a project without a goal it's really a *hobby* (and you should consider promoting it into an area of interest), whereas a goal without a project can be called a *dream*. ![[The PARA Method A Universal System for Organizing Digital Information - Forte Labs#^bl04n2]] ![[The PARA Method A Universal System for Organizing Digital Information - Forte Labs#^o2sf66]] ## Resources ***Resources* include all information and materials about a specific topic.** Basically any knowledge you gather is a resource. ![[P.A.R.A. II Operations Manual – Praxis#^0bsm3j]] ![[P.A.R.A. II Operations Manual – Praxis#^tu8eqd]] ## Archive *Archive* contains any stale items from all previous categories.