I’ve always been on the hunt for the perfect digital workspace. I want to create a place where ideas connect seamlessly, information is easily retrievable, and productivity flows effortlessly. Like many, I’ve tried countless note-taking apps and PKM systems, each promising to be the answer. Yet something was still missing.
I’ve heard of Capacities before, but was hesitant to switch. Then I finally took the plunge and started using Capacities. The immediate impact was undeniable and, frankly, I’m kicking myself for not having tried it sooner. Here’s the story of how Capacities transformed my workflow and why I think it could do the same for you.
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A unique object-oriented approach is a game changer
Personalize each note
What really sets Capacities apart is its object-oriented design. Unlike traditional note-taking apps, I don’t need to manage isolated documents. You can think of objects as knowledge building blocks with specific properties. This approach eliminates the rigid folder structures of the past and allows for effortless information retrieval. For me, it’s like a second brain that grows with my understanding.
I’m passionate about cooking and want to organize my favorite recipes. In a traditional application, I need a folder called “Recipes” with individual text files for each dish. It does the job but fails to differentiate these recipes from other notes.
In Abilities, I created a ‘Recipe’ object type with the following properties.
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Name (text)
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Cooking (label)
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Ingredients (check box)
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Instructions (text)
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Note (number)
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Source (text)
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Cooking time
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Picture
This object-oriented approach turns my recipe collection into a solid knowledge base. Similarly, I created a Project object with properties like Project Name, Status, Due Date, Tasks, Documents, and Clients.
The My Abilities workspace also has a Book object with the properties Title, Author, Key Concepts, Summary, Quotes, Notes, and Link. I have created several objects for blog posts, videos, social networks and people. By structuring information into objects with defined properties, Capacities helps me create a powerful knowledge base that supports my note-taking style.
Calendar view is ideal for my digital journal
A practical addition
Calendar integration is ideal for creating a seamless digital journal. This eliminates the need for separate logging applications or custom objects. Capacities treats each day on the calendar as a dedicated space for my notes. This means I don’t need to create a separate object for the daily journal entry or juggle between different sections. My daily thoughts, events, and reflections fit naturally into the context of the calendar.
The calendar view automatically organizes my entries in chronological order. This eliminates the need for manual filing or marking based on date. I can easily link events, people, projects or any other object to my daily entries. For example, when I have a meeting with someone, I add a relevant tag, insert a person object, and write meeting notes.
The calendar view allows me to add context to your daily notes by including events, reminders, and scheduled tasks.
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A robust free plan that meets all my needs
Pretty good for the most part
There is no shortage of PKM applications. Some even offer an AI add-on. However, most of them only offer basic text inputs and limited blocks in their free plan and lock most of the important elements behind a paid subscription. This is not the case with abilities.
The free plan offers unlimited spaces, items, and blocks. It also includes syncs across devices (unlike Obsidian), offline support, media downloads up to 100MB per month, full-text search, and much more. These features are more than enough for my workflow. This is a refreshing change from other PKM tools which typically cost around $10 per month.
A PKM system that works for me and not the other way around
Master the basics
With the usual PKM tools like Notion, Obsidian, and Evernote, I often end up spending more time organizing and managing my knowledge base. Sometimes this turns out to be detrimental to the productivity of my workflow. Abilities have a different approach here. I created several objects according to my needs and my PKM system was ready to use. I’ve never had trouble finding a relevant note on my hub.
The ability to save content from WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail and other apps is another handy add-on. This eliminates the need to manually copy and paste information and streamlines my workflow in no time. Combining these features allows me to create a PKM system that truly adapts to my unique workflows and preferences.
My productivity regret (and revelation)
Overall, Capacities has the ability (no pun intended) to change the way I manage information and connect ideas. It’s a dynamic workspace that adapts to the way my mind works. If you’re like me, constantly looking for the perfect digital workspace, I highly recommend giving Capacities a try.
If you’re an existing Notion user and still hesitant to upgrade to Capacities, read our comparison guide.