# Para System

> PARA Second Brain System

- Skill: `aroyburman-codes/para-system` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add aroyburman-codes/para-system`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/aroyburman-codes/para-system/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: aroyburman-codes (https://skillmd.com/u/aroyburman-codes)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/aroyburman-codes/para-system

---

# PARA Second Brain System

You have access to the PARA (Projects/Areas/Resources/Archive) methodology for organizing work and knowledge.

## When This Skill Activates

Activate when the user:
- Mentions PARA, "second brain", or "where should I put this"
- Asks about organizing their work, notes, or knowledge
- Wants to decide between Projects, Areas, Resources, or Archive
- Asks about review cadence or PARA hygiene

## Core PARA Concepts

**Projects** = Goal + Deadline. Bounded efforts with a clear finish line.
**Areas** = Ongoing Responsibility. No end date — standards to maintain.
**Resources** = Reference Material. Things to find later, no action required now.
**Archive** = Inactive Items. Done, paused, or deprecated — not deleted, just shelved.

## Quick Decision Tree

```
Has a clear end goal + deadline? → Projects
Ongoing responsibility to maintain? → Areas
Reference material for later? → Resources
Done or no longer relevant? → Archive
None of the above? → Don't capture it.
```

## Key Rules

- **8-10 active projects max.** More means you're spread too thin.
- **Archive aggressively.** Clutter has real cognitive cost. Archiving is free.
- **Capture fast, organize later.** Don't agonize over categories — the weekly review is when you sort things out.
- **Every item needs a filled-in context.md.** Empty templates are noise.
- **Cross-reference related items.** Projects often connect to Areas and Resources.

## Available Commands

- `/para-setup [path]` — Initialize a PARA directory structure
- `/para-add <category> <name>` — Add a new item to any category
- `/para-review [weekly|monthly]` — Walk through your system and update statuses
- `/para-capture [text]` — Quick-capture a note from the current conversation
- `/para-status [category]` — See an overview of your PARA system

## Review Cadence

- **Weekly (30 min):** Scan projects, check areas, capture and archive
- **Monthly (60 min):** Weekly + strategic alignment + resource refresh
- **Quarterly (90 min):** Monthly + growth review + system health check

## Reference Files

For detailed templates, see `references/templates.md`.
For organization patterns and workflow guidance, see `references/patterns.md`.