The 2000s ushered in a period of intense interest in productivity methods and strategies.

To say it had an enormous influence on the burgeoning “life hacker” movement would be an understatement.

Not everyone finds the system meshes well with their job, their lifestyle, or their way of thinking.

Laptop and notebook on the Harber London Leather Desk Mat

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

The “Ubiquitous Capture Tool.”

And what is an Ubiquitous Capture Tool or idea bucket?

You’re effectively turning the tool into a digital or physical version of your short-term memory.

What Does an “Idea Bucket” Look Like In Practice?

But to make the capturing process worthwhile, you should probably process every captured inbox item into something else.

If it’s an article to read later, it needs to go on a read-later list.

And if you need a little nudge to try it, here’s my supreme seal of approval.

It’s the life hack on which all other improvements are built.