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by Nanozuki in 2024-08-02

After struggling for several years, I tried to build a note-taking system in Obsidian, and here is my rulebook.

My Obsidian Rulebook

In the last several years, I have been struggling. I meet too much information and constantly worry about missing something important; I want to do something I have done before, but I forget how I achieved that, so I must search and study again; I have a lot of ideas in my mind, but little of these will be done in practice. Too many thoughts flood my mind, making me feel pressure and anxiety.

Someday, I heard that many people benefit from a personal note-taking system. I found one of the most famous books in this domain, Building a Second Brain and its extension, The PARA Method, written by Tiago Forte. After reading, I built a note-taking system following these two books in Obsidian.

After about one month of practice, I wrote this rulebook to myself. This is my thinking and practice in note-taking, not a reading note from these books, and not wanting to rule someone else. But if this can inspire you, I'll be thrilled.

This article follows the order from most important to least: the principles, methods, and implements.

The principles

In short, to make me take action and get things done.

There are libraries, Wikipedia, search engines, and AIs in this modern world. If a note-taking system is made to store and organize knowledge, it has little advantage for me. The most helpful way to take notes should revolve around my aims and actions.

Following this principle, this system captures, organizes, and provides the materials and thoughts around my actions, purpose, responsibility, and interests. Don't spend too much time making the system perfect for organizing, tagging, and linking notes.

There are many metaphors for note-taking systems. For me, it's a studio with a workbench: Capture all needed to store in the studio's warehouse. When I start work, I put everything I need on the workbench; it makes me focus on work. After I worked, I archived things, cleaned the workbench, and prepared for the next.

The methods

Follow the CODE method in Building a Second Brain. Write all notes in my own words.

  • Capture all things that resonate. If I can not ensure the folder to place notes immediately, or I'm not reading, put it in the inbox.
  • Organize notes according to the PARA structure(described later).
  • Distill its essence each time a note is touched by bolding, highlighting, summarizing, and rewriting..
  • Express from notes. Put notes to practice.

I must write and distill all notes in my own words to force myself to think and remember. This will create a shortcut and hook in my brain, speeding up the thought in the future. But I will keep the origin file if I can for possible use.

Expressing is essential to make notes valuable. Expressing is not the end; I should actively seek feedback and take what I learn to note to help future projects.

Organize notes

Use the PARA method to organize notes into four folders:

  • Projects: Short-term, end-able, goal-defined projects.
  • Areas: Long-term responsibility. I especially named sub-areas "domains."
  • Resources: Topics or interests may be valuable for the future.
  • Archives: Inactive items for now. Completed project, inactive responsibility.

Don't consider putting a note in a perfect, persistent place; make the notes flow:

  • When the system starts, archive all existing notes to a archive-<date> folder in Archives.
  • When a new project, area, or resource begins, create a folder in Projects, Areas, or Resources and add or link all needed notes.
  • When a project, area, or resource is completed, canceled, or inactive, reorganize helpful notes to Projects, Areas, or Resources and archive the remaining notes.
  • If a project is too complex, divide it into several projects and reorganize the parts that can't be executed now.
  • If new executable work is incubated from Areas and Resources, create a new project and move or link needed notes.
  • If notes become helpful again, move out from the Archives.

Maintain

Notes usually change over time, but periodic maintenance is still necessary. According to the principle, don't take too much time.

  • Daily: clear the inbox (in all apps), move notes to Projects, Areas, or Resources, or delete them. Write today's journals.
  • Weekly: Review all projects. Check the completed and creatable.
  • Monthly: Review all Areas and Resources. Check the ended and creatable.

The Implement

I implemented the system mainly in Obsidian, but doing everything in Obsidian is impossible. I use the same method in other platforms and applications, such as cloud drivers and web clippers.

Obsidian has many functions: folders, tags, and links. Since notes are frequently moved using the PARA method, I finally implemented my note-taking system using folders. By the way, I was relaxed while traveling through the file tree.

Practically, I made these folders in Obsidian:

.
├── 1 Projects/
├── 2 Areas/
├── 3 Resources/
├── 4 Archives/
├── assets/
├── journals/
└── stage/

I put a number prefix to make the PARA folders in order. And there are three secondary folders: "journals" for daily journals, assets for attachments and files, and "stage" for inbox.

That's all! I have been running this system for about one month. After the initial friction and bumps in the road, I'm currently happy with it. I'm feeling less stress and anxiety and getting more done.