Why does capture tools fail?

The most common reason capture tools fails: Choosing a capture tool because it's powerful rather than because it's present. The person who picks Obsidian as their only capture tool and leaves it on their laptop will lose every thought they have away from their desk. Capability is irrelevant if the tool isn't within arm's reach when the thought arrives. Optimize for proximity first, features second.

The fix: Map every context where you regularly think: desk, commute, walking, shower, bed, meetings, gym, cooking. For each one, write down your current capture tool and how many seconds it takes to go from thought to externalized text (or voice). Any context over 10 seconds is a leak. Any context with no tool is a hole. Fix the worst one today — install a widget, place a waterproof notepad, put index cards in your jacket pocket.

The underlying principle is straightforward: You need capture tools available in every context where you think — desk, commute, shower, conversation, bed. A gap in coverage is a gap in your thinking.