Obsidian Organization — Is Zettelkasten Method worth?

Throughout my life, I’ve lived in very nuanced environments, developing a tendency to always seek well-organized spaces to avoid mistakes.

Organization, in itself, should be considered a form of art; each person executes it in a way adapted to themselves, some more visibly pleasing than others. It’s worth noting that being organized doesn’t necessarily imply being beautiful.

I believe it’s been approximately a year since I started using a program called Obsidian, an application focused on organizing thoughts, notes, and knowledge, similar to others like Notion.

But Obsidian has something special. In addition to its “cleaner” interface and being more open to modding, it was designed to serve the Zettelkasten Method. Until then, I had no idea about the existence of this study, but I applied it in practice without even knowing.

In fact, I adapted the Zettelkasten Method to my own needs, thus creating my own art. The idea of writing three types of notes to reach the final note didn’t seem efficient to me for learning and retaining knowledge — which is my main goal when using Obsidian.

In my VueJS studies, apart from having a folder that houses important articles from the language’s documentation, I created two other essential folders: Literature and Structured.

In the Structured folder, I organize the main topics, while in Literature, the subtopics are kept. Let’s take Life Cycle Hooks as an example — there are 8 hooks in the Options API. My notes about Life Cycle Hooks will be inside Structured, but the 8 hooks will be separated within Literature, all properly linked.

Furthermore, for better retention, I also write another summary of each topic in a physical notebook.

This approach provides a clear and structured view of knowledge, facilitating navigation and understanding. It’s a practical example of how Obsidian’s flexibility allows for customized adaptations to meet specific learning needs.

Don’t be fooled: Obsidian goes far beyond organization. One of its notable uses is daily notes, diligently filled EVERY DAY. Without any hassle, I use the same template, and the daily note is created automatically. I configured Obsidian to start with the computer, making it the first thing I see in the day. This practice has proven valuable, providing a consistent and efficient routine.

In summary, Obsidian proves to be an incredible tool, capable of transcending mere organization. From the detailed structuring of specific knowledge to the simplification of daily logging, this platform becomes an essential ally in the pursuit of efficiency and productivity.

By adapting Obsidian to your own needs and creating your own art of organization, you not only increase productivity but also transform daily routines into an intuitive and harmonious process. It’s worth exploring the various facets of this tool, shaping it according to your unique style, and thus, enhancing your daily achievements.