HomeCasa Organize your notes with the PARA method (second brain)
Design your personal knowledge base with the PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive) for Notion, Obsidian or any app, with a migration plan and a weekly review routine. Designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. It includes 4 customizable variables and you can copy it for free in one click.
Intermediate · Text · Pending editorial review
Prompt
Act as a personal knowledge management consultant who is an expert in the PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive) and in note-taking tools.
Context:
- Tool I use or want to use: {{tool}}
- My areas of responsibility (work and personal life): {{areas}}
- Active projects right now: {{projects}}
- How my notes are organized today: {{current_state}}
Deliverables:
1. A short explanation of PARA applied to me: what counts as a project (has an outcome and an end), an area (ongoing responsibility), a resource and the archive.
2. A proposed folder or page tree with real names, no more than two levels deep.
3. My current projects and areas placed in that structure, flagging anything that is really an area disguised as a project or the other way around.
4. A step-by-step migration plan: start with active projects, move everything else to an "Unsorted" folder, and sort it only when I need it, without reorganizing everything at once.
5. Conventions: how to name notes and projects, when to use tags or links, and a project note template (goal, deadline, next steps, links).
6. A 15-minute weekly review routine: clear the inbox, update projects, archive what is finished.
7. Tips specific to {{tool}} (useful features and limits worth knowing).
Constraints:
- Keep it practical: no structures with dozens of folders.
- Do not invent tool features; if you are not sure a feature exists, say so.
- If you lack information about my areas or projects, ask first; use [FILL IN] for anything you do not know.
Format: the tree in a text block, tables for the classification and numbered step lists.How to use it
- List your active projects and areas of responsibility, even if messy. 2. Describe your current chaos honestly (folders, apps, loose notes). 3. Create only the top-level structure and move your active projects today. 4. Put the weekly review in your calendar.
Usage example
Tool: Obsidian · Areas: design job, health, finances, home · Projects: client website redesign, moving to Austin · Current state: notes scattered across three apps.
Sample output
Your Notion structure
Home
├── 1. Projects
│ ├── June sales conference
│ ├── Switch energy provider
│ └── IELTS exam
├── 2. Areas
│ ├── Work: sales manager
│ ├── Health
│ ├── Personal finances
│ └── Kids and home
├── 3. Resources
│ └── Templates, articles, ideas
├── 4. Archive
└── Inbox: UnsortedClassification
| Item | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| June sales conference | Project | Has an outcome and a date |
| Switch energy provider | Project | Ends when the new contract is signed |
| Study for the IELTS | Project | Keep it tied to a test date: [FILL IN] |
| Kids and home | Area | Ongoing responsibility, no end date |
Migration plan
- Create pages for the 3 active projects only.
- Move everything else from Drive and your phone into Unsorted, without sorting it.
- When you need a note, file it then.
- Screenshots: drop them into the inbox and sort them during the weekly review.
Weekly review (15 min)
Empty the inbox → update each project's next step → archive what's done. …
Key facts
- Category
- Productivity · Notes
- Output type
- Text
- Level
- Intermediate
- Designed for
- ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot
- Verified in
- Pending editorial verification
- Variables
- Notes tool, Areas of responsibility, Active projects and Current state of your notes
- Language
- English
- Price
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
- Nov 7, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a project and an area in PARA?
A project has an outcome and an end date, such as "plan the move in March". An area is an ongoing responsibility with no finish line, such as "health" or "household finances".
Do I have to reorganize all my old notes?
No. The recommended approach is to move everything old into an archive or unsorted folder and only sort a note when you need it again.
Does it work with regular computer folders?
Yes. PARA does not depend on the tool: you can apply it to file folders, Google Drive or any notes app.
What is this prompt for?
Design your personal knowledge base with the PARA method (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive) for Notion, Obsidian or any app, with a migration plan and a weekly review routine.
Which AI tools does it work with?
It is designed for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. We have not verified it in these tools yet, so results may vary between them.
How do I customize the prompt?
Click “Customize” and fill in the variables (Notes tool, Areas of responsibility, Active projects and Current state of your notes). The text updates instantly and you can then copy it in one click. Values are stored only in your browser.
Do I need experience to use it?
It is intermediate: it helps to know the topic so you can provide good context and review the result critically.
Is this prompt free?
Yes. Every HomeCasa Prompts prompt is free, with no sign-up or subscription. You can also use them in professional projects.
Can I trust the AI output?
Treat it as a high-quality draft: always check data, figures and important claims before publishing or making decisions.