E2EE Solutions for Second Brain & GTD Setup

Questions
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I’m new to the Getting Things Done (GTD) method and currently exploring how best to build a second brain in a scalable, usable knowledge management system with strong end-to-end encryption (E2EE). I’m deep in the Apple ecosystem and am testing out different task management and capture tools to find the right balance of privacy, functionality, and ease of use.

What I’m Looking For:

  • Capture Tools: The tool I use for capturing tasks (like Todoist, Apple Reminders, etc.) should be frictionless with features like email forwarding to inbox tasks for later clarification and organization. I also need subtasks for breaking down larger tasks.
  • Privacy-Focused Solutions: E2EE is a priority, as I’d like to keep data secure across all my systems. I’m considering adding a personal knowledge management tool like Obsidian for private, secure note-taking.
  • Simplicity and Minimalism: My goal is to consolidate as much as possible, reducing the number of tools to create a sustainable, streamlined workflow. I’m testing Todoist currently but am looking at other options to make sure the system is scalable and future-proof.

Current Setup:

  • Notesnook for general notes (folder hierarchy is something inconvenient)
  • Apple Reminders for tasks (no ability for email forwarding tasks)
  • Proton Mail (using their password manager as well; tried Proton Calendar, but it’s not quite at par with Apple/Google)
  • Apple Calendar

Apps I’d Love Feedback On:

  • Obsidian (leaning toward this for notes and knowledge management with E2EE)
  • Standard Notes (how it compares as an E2EE note app)
  • Todoist (testing for GTD, but open to suggestions on how it integrates into an Apple-focused workflow)

Specific Questions:

GTD and Building a Second Brain (BASB): Has anyone successfully combined GTD with BASB, and if so, how did you set up your tools and workflow? I’m aiming for something that reduces the mental load of keeping track of tasks and ideas without relying too heavily on complex setups.

Experience with Privacy-Focused Task Managers: If anyone has insights on Todoist’s privacy stance or recommendations for other E2EE task managers, I’d appreciate it.

Advice for Keeping It Simple: Given my goal to minimize the number of apps I use, how would you recommend structuring a secure, frictionless setup that doesn’t lose out on functionality?

Thanks in advance for any insights or suggestions! I’d love to hear what’s worked for you in creating a reliable, privacy-respecting setup.

3 Likes
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Specifically speaking to the apps you wanted feedback on, I’d recommend Obsidian. As far as data management and knowledge webs go, I think it’s the most intuitive app out there based on what I’ve tried. As a notetaking app, it’s actually my favourite as well. The power of the thriving plugin and theming community is also great as well, and is part of the reason why I wouldn’t consider anything else. Custom LaTeX shorthand, chemfig in LaTeX, rendering SMILES in notes, Excalidraw, and others have become essential to my notetaking workflow for classes, and there’s whole worlds of plugins out there to change up personal notetaking, journaling, and the lile. It’s one of the most versatile apps I’ve ever used that isn’t just overbearing.

All that said, from a privacy/security/freedom standpoint, some people won’t like that Obsidian is closed source. Personally I am okay with this, as all the files are stored locally in a universal format (markdown), and the only outbound connections the app makes are to check for updates, and to connect to the plugin and theme libraries to download new ones & update them from within the app. Obsidian also offers a paid syncing service, which supposedly will include real-time collaboration soon. The sync is E2EE, and has also heen audited, but is also closed source implementation. Other options for working on multiple devices are to use Syncthing, or to just keep your vault on a flashdrive (this is what I am doing at the moment).

I haven’t tried Todoist personally, but I’ll speak to Standard Notes as well. I had a paid subscription for a while, but I’ve always just had a poor experience using SN. To me, using them has always felt clunky, buggy, sluggish, or unintuitive. I’ve always wanted to really like Standard Notes, but any time I’ve come back to demo them again I’ve gotten similar impressions. Taking notes on SN just doesn’t feel effortless to me, especially after using Obsidian. To be fair, I am quite picky with the software I use a lot, but notetaking is something that takes up a lot of time, so I think it’s important to use an app that increases your productivity and makes it fun rather than a headache. One thing I did like about SN was some of their document types (not all of them though lol). Spreadsheets are very handy, and the supernotes thing they’ve added was interesting when I tried some months back.

Anyways, I’d recommend checking out Obsidian. If that isn’t for you, do give SN a try and see if it works out for you. Even though my impression has been negative, they’re a popular and successful app for a reason, and they do have lots going for them. Personally though, if neither of those work, I’d stick with Notesnook :slight_smile:

2 Likes
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This is a complicated topic where there are many different methods to improve GTD. On one hand there is finding tools with functionality that meets needs, and it is also important to customize your workflow to take advantage of the tools.

One thing you mention is less friction, but in some cases friction can be good. Low friction can lead to storing information you never use again and can easily lead to clutter. Heard a rule of thumb “If something is a quick google search away, it doesn’t need to be stored”.

It’s difficult to give too many specific tips, because everyone has their own way of doing it. Take obsidian for example, there are countless videos where people show their way of doing it. It’s not possible to do all the methods, so you have to take what works for you. The only way to find out trying the tools over time. I’ve used obsidian myself for many years, and I’m still finding new ways to use the tool in a better way.

The great thing about obsidian is that it doesn’t take much to get started, and the tool can grow with you through the use of plugins. I used two other note-taking tools before obsidian, which became too limited in functionality over time. It required a lot of work to switch to a new tool and to transfer previous notes.

General tip is to look for new tools or solutions when you feel like something create to much friction or feel like something is missing. Would not change workflow if I am not certain of what I’m trying to do. Its easy to add a new tool, but to actually use it for its potential is hard.

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You can use obsidian or similar apps like Logseq by hosting your data on your cloud. I used it along with iCloud one year ago and did not face any problem. I did not have a look at their E2EE encryption methods for their cloud, but probably won’t trust them.
Anytype can be another option, but has a steep learning curve. It’s kind of a E2EE notion, which makes the need for todoist.
If you are on Apple, why not use Apple reminders?
You cannot use SN for a second brain. It would be very daunting task to establish a system, and linking blocks notes.

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To clarify, you’re saying that a note taking application like standard notes or Notesnook would not work as a second brain? Could you explain? I genuinely don’t know as this subject is relatively new to me.

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It depends on the approach you will follow. I cannot one hundred per cent say you cannot. In theory, it’s possible. In practice, I don’t think so. Even using notion to create a second brain or other personal knowledge methodologies is a really daunting process. I can’t imagine doing it on those apps. You won’t be able to find any template made by others or tutorial on YouTube. You first need to decide on which methodology you will apply and match the necessary features with tools.

PVV method: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAl0gPKnL3V8s7dPXoo07mYnuErhWVk8b&si=lvUzXNSo4FzAUm2T