For centuries, humans have sought better ways to store and connect knowledge. How do we hold onto the ideas that move us, connect them over time, and let them shape the way we think? This post explores the quiet power of tools and methods that help us do exactly that.

The brain:
The typical notes app (Notion, Evernote) is structured like a filing cabinet - requiring additional mental space to sort & organise which takes you out of flow state, conversely, our brain stores information like a tree of infinitely interconnected nodes. The study of neuroscience aided in the curation of meos.

🧠 For the brain, inspired by the brain!

The vessel & the filter:
Meos’ quick-capture feature addresses this by allowing you to record thoughts and impressions instantly—preserving raw input before it’s reshaped or forgotten. This is a habit artists often adopt as a kind of spiritual imperative—when an insight comes, they stop everything to capture it. It’s not just about taste or output; it’s about honoring the moment and what moves through them. Meos ensures this is captured for later exploration.

Read more about this in Rick Rubin's The Creative Act.

Common-placing:
Like a personal museum of knowledge, a commonplace book serves as your curated collection of the most impactful ideas you encounter, allowing you to revisit and connect them in ways that spark new insights.
Explainer from author Ryan Holiday.
Video by academic content creator, Robin Walden.

The Zettelkasten method:
A passive method of collecting notes that turn into a living, growing network of knowledge. Developed by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann, who used it to write over 70 books and 400 scholarly articles, this system helps you think better, write more effectively, and develop ideas organically.

Dynamic Spaced Repetition
Meos tracks when users revisit notes organically and surfaces items for review based on actual usage patterns. This dynamic scheduling leverages real behavior to surface relevant notes just when users need them, optimizing recall through natural engagement. It uses organic interactions.

Contextual Cognitive Loading
Meos minimizes cognitive load by providing contextual recall on demand. With a quick search, you can retrieve past conversations, reflections, or topic-specific notes—right when you need them. This second‑brain approach reduces mental overhead, letting you focus on execution instead of scrambling to remember previous insights.