Obsidian Workflow: A Deeper Life with Vim

This article delves into the author’s Obsidian workflow, a powerful system for knowledge management and personal growth. The author, a dedicated advocate for second brains and a methodical note-taker, shares their insights into how Obsidian, combined with the efficiency of Vim, has significantly enhanced their life.

• The article stresses that the focus is on personal knowledge management (PKM), not just business or specific use cases. This "Deeper Life" approach aims to improve all aspects of life through a structured and organized second brain.
• The author emphasizes that their workflow is based on Plaintext Files with Markdown formatting, optimized for speed and simplicity, particularly when using Vim motions for note creation.
• The article highlights the importance of “Evergreen Notes” - notes that are carefully crafted and intended to remain valuable over time. These notes form the core of the author’s Zettelkasten, a system for linking and interconnecting ideas.

The Evolution of My Note-Taking Journey

The author’s Obsidian workflow didn’t materialize overnight. It's a culmination of years of experimentation and refinement, starting with Microsoft OneNote and gradually evolving to the current system. Key milestones include:

• Moving from scattered notes to a structured OneNote system during studies.
• The transition to Obsidian, driven by the desire for an open file format and powerful capabilities for knowledge management.
• The development of the author’s “Second Brain” – a comprehensive repository of personal knowledge.
• The integration of Vim and its motions, making note-taking incredibly efficient.
• Sharing notes publicly through Quartz, an open-source alternative to Obsidian Publish.

Why Obsidian?

The author chose Obsidian for its open file format, allowing them to retain control over their notes, and for its collaborative features.

• The ability to find knowledge whenever needed is emphasized, facilitated by powerful search capabilities that mirror how the brain works.
• The integration of PARA (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive) method for structuring notes and Zettelkasten principles for interconnectedness.
• Obsidian’s support for Vim motions is a key aspect, enabling seamless navigation and note creation.
• The reliance on Plaintext Files and a "Local First" approach ensures long-term accessibility and flexibility.

Note Creation: Templates for Efficiency

The author's workflow revolves around a core template, “🌳 Permanent Note Template,” that automatically includes metadata, tags, and initial sections for note organization.

• “Origin” captures the inspiration or source of the note, and “References” allow for immediate connections to related notes.
• Tags are hierarchical, reflecting the maturity and purpose of the note:
  • 📬 Fleeting notes
  • 🗃/🌻 Brainstorming and elaboration
  • 🗃/📖 Literature notes
  • 🗃/🌳 Evergreen notes
• The author employs a “📚 Book Template” to efficiently capture insights from books, including a summary section and dedicated space for notes during reading.

Essential Obsidian Plugins

The article highlights the plugins that boost the author’s Obsidian experience, offering insights into how these tools enhance their workflow:

• dataview: Provides database functionality within Markdown, enabling queries for tasks, backlinks, and more.
• excalibrain: Offers visual insights into note connections, highlighting reciprocal links.
• obsidian-admonition: Enhances note appearance with “Admonition (Call-outs),” providing a visually appealing way to add summaries, notes, and insights.
• obsidian-excalidraw-plugin: Enables drawing within Markdown, including the use of Mermaid, a declarative text-based drawing tool.
• obsidian-projects: Offers Notion-like database views for tasks, tables, calendars, and more, seamlessly integrated with Markdown.
• obsidian-vimrc-support: Provides additional Vim shortcuts from the author’s dotfiles.

Sharing Notes Publicly with Quartz

The author leverages Quartz, an open-source tool, to publish their notes publicly on their website.

• A “#publish” hashtag distinguishes notes intended for public sharing.
• Quartz showcases the Obsidian graph and backlinks, creating a “Digital Garden” for exploration. This approach encourages a deeper understanding of interconnected concepts.

The Power of Feedback

Public sharing has yielded valuable feedback, a crucial aspect of the author’s learning journey.

• Feedback fuels the desire to share more and connect with like-minded individuals.
• The “Learn in Public” approach is encouraged as a powerful way to accelerate personal growth.

The Benefits of an Obsidian Second Brain

The author's experience highlights the remarkable benefits of Obsidian and the "Second Brain" approach.

• Increased clarity and peace of mind through organized and accessible information.
• Offline accessibility enables deep work and focused thinking, even without internet access.
• Reduced reliance on Google search as information is readily available in the “Second Brain.”

Conclusion: Embracing a Deeper Life with Obsidian

Obsidian and the “Second Brain” concept have proven to be invaluable for the author, enhancing their life in ways they didn't expect. The system fosters a deeper understanding of the world and provides a powerful tool for growth and exploration.