Write 'This connects to [X] because [Y]' after consuming…
After consuming any piece of information, write one connecting sentence that relates it to existing knowledge using the structure 'This connects to [X] because [Y]'; if you cannot write this sentence within two minutes, classify the content as non-compounding noise regardless of its intrinsic quality.
When This Fires
- After reading an article, watching a video, or consuming any information worth noting
- When deciding whether to add something to your knowledge base
- During any information processing where you want to separate signal from noise
- As a post-consumption habit that improves information diet quality over time
Common Failure Mode
Writing vague connections: "This connects to learning because it's about how people learn." The connection must specify what existing knowledge it links to and why the connection matters. "This connects to my note on spaced repetition because the encoding mechanism described here explains why spacing works for procedural knowledge but not for conceptual understanding" — that's a genuine connection that compounds.
The Protocol
After consuming any piece of information: (1) Within two minutes, write one sentence: "This connects to [specific existing note or concept] because [specific reason the connection matters]." (2) If you can write this sentence → the information compounds. Add it to your knowledge base with the connection link. (3) If you cannot write this sentence within two minutes → the information is non-compounding noise for your current knowledge structure. Note it as interesting but do not invest processing time. Move on.