Block
The smallest unit of information in Notion. Every piece of content on a page is a block – a paragraph of text, an image, a checklist, a table, an embedded link, a header. You build pages by stacking and arranging blocks. There is no fixed format; a page can contain a single block or hundreds of them. What is a block?Collection
A collection is a Notion database dedicated to a specific category of information – recipes, contacts, books, life notes, and so on. Each collection has its own structure, metadata fields, and views designed around how that type of information is actually used. Collections are the building blocks of the Extended Mind System. They are where information stops living in your head and starts living somewhere you can find it, filter it, and build on it over time. The available collections are listed in the navigation on the left. Each one is documented separately and can be read and implemented on its own. Note: database and collection are used interchangeably.Database
An organized collection of structured information that allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and filtering. In Notion, a database is a collection of pages displayed in rows, with metadata fields displayed as columns. Each row is a full page; each column is a piece of information about that page. Databases are the organizational backbone of the Extended Mind System. Unlike folders, which force you to organize information one way, databases let you view the same collection through multiple lenses – filtered, sorted, or grouped however you need. What is a database? Note: database and collection are used interchangeably.Extended Mind System
The Extended Mind System is a personal methodology for organizing information, managing projects, and building a system that helps you think. It is implemented in Notion and organized around a set of collections – each dedicated to a specific category of information in your life. The name reflects the core idea: that your mind works better when it has a trusted external system to offload to. Some refer to this concept as a “second brain” or personal knowledge management system. This is that – built a specific way, for a specific purpose, and documented here for others to adopt and adapt.Information type
The category of information a collection or page is organized around. The Extended Mind System groups pages by information type – people, books, life notes, knowledge articles, and so on – rather than by project or context. Organizing by type keeps metadata fields and page templates consistent and meaningful across every entry in a collection.Metadata
Data about data. Structured information attached to a page that describes it – making it easier to find, sort, filter, and build views around. Examples:| Primary source | Metadata |
|---|---|
| Book | Author, publisher, publication date, ISBN |
| Photo | Timestamp, location, device |
| Recipe | Meal type, main ingredient, cooking time, skill level |
| Notion page | Created on, last edited, tags |
Notion
The tool behind the Extended Mind System. Notion is a flexible workspace that combines notes, databases, and pages in a single application – making it possible to build a personal knowledge management system without code or technical setup. Notion is available on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, with a web version as well. This means your system travels with you wherever your phone goes. notion.comNotion space
Your Notion space is your personal workspace – the top-level container for everything you store in Notion. Think of it as the house. Databases are the rooms, pages are the drawers and cabinets within those rooms, and blocks are the individual objects inside them. Everything in your Extended Mind System lives within your Notion space.Page
A Notion page is a single entry within a database – a full, open-ended container for whatever belongs to that topic. A page might hold a person’s contact details and notes from past conversations, a full recipe with photos and your own annotations, or a structured knowledge article with sources and links. Pages are not meant to be finished on day one. They are living containers. You create one when something is worth capturing, and add to it over time as you learn more or encounter more. The page grows with you.Personal knowledge management
The practice of deliberately capturing, organizing, and connecting information that matters to you – so it can be found, used, and built upon over time. Often abbreviated PKM. The Extended Mind System is one implementation of this practice. Others have approached it through systems like Getting Things Done (GTD), Building a Second Brain (BASB), or the Zettelkasten method. What they share is the same core insight: your mind is better at generating ideas than storing them. A trusted external system takes the storage burden off your brain so you can focus on thinking.View
A filtered, sorted, or grouped window into a database. Views don’t move or alter your pages – they surface a specific subset based on constraints you define. The same collection can be viewed as a table, a gallery of index cards, a calendar, a board, and more. Each view is just a different lens on the same underlying data.Last update: 2026.04.17