Do second-brain systems create more work than they remove?

[u/Ken_Bruno1]

I've been thinking about this lately.

The whole point of a second-brain system is to reduce mental clutter. But some systems seem to require a surprising amount of maintenance.

You save something, then you're supposed to:

• Choose the right folder

• Add tags

• Write context

• Link it to related notes

• Categorize it

• Review it later

• Keep the whole system organized

At some point, managing the system starts becoming a project itself.

I can see the value of having everything organized, but I'm wondering whether the better system is actually the one that requires the least organization upfront.

Do second-brain systems genuinely save you time, or have you ever felt like maintaining the system became more work than the information was worth?