A system is a set of things working together to create a useful mechanism. This is a very broad term, but in the context of personal success and productivity, systems are the infrastructure you can build to make things easier, and are the main focus of the JSM.
The hardest part about using systems is remembering they exist. Scheduled reminders are the first instinct to solve this, but it’s easy to get into the habit of skimming over them once you’ve seen them enough times. A more reliable strategy is to inject systems into existing, conscious processes you go through. If you have a to-do list, add the systems as tasks. If you can attach them to repeatable events like brushing teeth, making dinner etc, this also works well.
Once a set of systems have been created, problems are no longer the fault of the person - they are the fault of the systems. This shift in responsibility is quite refreshing.
When systems have completed their task, they don’t have to be deleted. It’s likely that they will be useful again in the future, for recovering or for sharing with others, so some can instead be banked in a separate location.
Systems fall into several categories, with the major ones being processes, trackers, tools and knowledge. They are born through notes, and follow a lifecycle to become fully mature.