# Para Method

> Organize information into Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives. Use when setting up notes, files, knowledge bases, personal systems, or migrations from messy folders; avoid for product backlog hierarchy, workflow Kanban, or strategic portfolio planning.

- Skill: `flpbalada/para-method` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add flpbalada/para-method`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/flpbalada/para-method/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Product & Planning
- Author: flpbalada (https://skillmd.com/u/flpbalada)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/flpbalada/para-method

---


# PARA Method

Organize information by actionability.
Not by topic.

## Goal

Put each item where future you will look for it.
Keep active work easy to find.
Move inactive work out of the way.

## Rules

- Use four top-level folders.
- Number folders: `1-Projects`, `2-Areas`, `3-Resources`, `4-Archives`.
- Do not overbuild subfolders early.
- Move items when actionability changes.
- Link instead of duplicate.
- Archive completed or inactive work quickly.

## Categories

- Projects: active effort with outcome and deadline.
- Areas: ongoing responsibility with standard to maintain.
- Resources: reference material or topic of interest.
- Archives: inactive items worth keeping.

Examples:

- Project: launch website by March 1.
- Area: health, finances, career.
- Resource: programming notes, recipes, market research.
- Archive: completed project, old job, past reference.

## Decision Flow

Ask in order:

1. Active now?
2. Has deadline and done state? → Project.
3. Ongoing responsibility? → Area.
4. Useful reference? → Resource.
5. Inactive but worth keeping? → Archive.
6. No value? → Delete.

When unsure, choose where you will look first.

## Setup Flow

1. Create four numbered folders.
2. Create temporary `To Sort`.
3. Move unsorted items there.
4. Sort one item at a time.
5. Add subfolders only when repeated need appears.
6. Review weekly.

## Review Flow

- Move completed projects to archives.
- Check stalled projects.
- Update active project list.
- Merge duplicate resources.
- Delete useless items.

## Resources

For detailed implementation guides, platform-specific setups, and advanced techniques, see [REFERENCE.md](./REFERENCE.md).

- [Building a Second Brain - Tiago Forte](https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/)
- [The PARA Method - Tiago Forte](https://fortelabs.com/)
- Official PARA Method Book (2023)
- BASB Course by Tiago Forte

## Output

```md
## PARA Sorting

Item: [name]
Current use: [active / reference / inactive]
Category: [Project / Area / Resource / Archive]
Reason: [why]
Move to: [folder]
Review date: [optional]
```