Capture and Refile: input before organization

Capture optimizes interruption; Refile restores structure. Their connecting practice is a regular inbox review.

~/org/
├── inbox.org      quick unprocessed capture
├── projects.org   outcomes and next actions
├── notes.org      durable reference
└── journal.org    chronological record

Capture separates fast recording from later classification:

thought → capture → inbox.org → review → refile → project, note, or task

Bind org-capture globally, then add a few templates. Each entry has a key, description, capture type, target, and template. %? leaves point for editing; %U inserts an inactive timestamp; %i includes the active region; %a stores an annotation link. Clipboard capture can expose sensitive data; use it deliberately.

Finish with C-c C-c or abort with C-c C-k. Avoid twenty templates. A template earns its place when it captures distinct metadata or targets a genuinely different review process.

Refile moves a heading with C-c C-w. Full outline-path completion disambiguates repeated headings. During review, clarify the captured item, make it actionable if necessary, refile it, or delete it. Capture without review merely creates a trusted pile of forgotten text.

Summary. Capture optimizes interruption; Refile restores structure. Their connecting practice is a regular inbox review.