2:37 Inbox Bankruptcy is so powerful. I don't do it often, but it's nice to be realistic and give yourself the permission to start over. I remember going on a 2 week vacation where I skipped weekly reviews and looking at +800 items in Things 3. I decided to skim them like you would read a page and capturing about 10 projects that were actually important and deleting the rest. It felt like a literal weight off of my shoulders. Now I like to look at inboxes by how actionable is the stuff in them. I just use the task manager inbox for stuff that I actually need to do or stuff that has a deadline. Random ideas are much better handled by Obsidian and articles/videos/podcasts live in Readwise. It's so much easier processing 50-100 items a day.
Hi Hugo! Yeah, totally agree! Sometimes a fresh start is just the thing I need. It seems to be the sort of thing I have to do regularly too-- just like physical things, tasks tend to breed and accumulate as time goes on. -_-
Your videos is the most convenient of all I’ve seen before. Those individual progress lines for every chapter is amazing. I feel that you are really interested in your audience necessities
Hi Andrew! Thanks for that awesome comment! I'm glad you liked those! Yeah, there is actually evidence that adding chapters in general makes people watch less of a video-- but as an avid TH-cam viewer myself, I LOVE having chapters to skip to. So I decided to make a conscious decision to make my videos easier to watch, even if that does mean people watch less of them. :)
I just started with Obsidian and in searching on how to solve some issues I came across your channel. Thank you for explaining things in so many different ways!
Good stuff. I finally have Inbox Zero, with no projects, tasks, milestones, deadlines, or responsibilities. I've built a home recording studio so my notes are about audio production and DSP. Loving it.
Sounds like you have a great life already! Gotta say that the thought of having no Inbox gave me a pang of loss, ironically. I guess some part of me loves having so much to learn! :D
@@nicolevdh You won't ever lose the lifetime learning habit. I used to contract and took 6 months off a year so the transition to a gentleman of leisure was easy.
I think this is a great way to illustrate the difference between PKM and note-taking. PKM is a practice done with the goal to produce new creative output (books, papers, articles, new thinking) and it benefits from some discipline and rigour. Meanwhile, note-taking as just a nerdy pastime probably doesn't need all that. If you're ok with forgetting stuff, shifting things from one inbox to another (because read later services are really just another kind of inbox), and don't really plan to produce anything new with your knowledge, then you probably don't need to care about a lot of the productivity advice that applies to PKM
Another great video. The Obsidian query tools are very powerful but not many people know how to use them. I personally didn't know about the "line" command. In my personal note taking, I've found that as I write more note, and refine my process, I get faster at taking notes, and my notes also start to get smaller, as I begin to focus on only the things I really care about.
I don't blame you! It took me ages to learn about the line keyword as well! In my case, I think I've gotten faster, but I think my notes have actually gotten longer... :D
Never thought this was a problem but it makes sense. I think by adding the word "processed" you add the value "good" is that the case though? I feel the fleeting notes, or notes of low value of are also useful. Maybe the funnel analogy should become and a pyramid instead where you need a good base of fleeting notes in order to reach the top that has a few processed ones! Over time the pyramid becomes larger not thinner and taller.
Absolutely! I used to distinguish between different stages of processing, but I found it got too difficult categorizing them. When is a note even "done". These days, I just make whatever notes I feel like, and then I stop when I don't feel like it anymore. I've found some notes I thought were "low value" at the time to be incredibly useful later on, as well. I think the funnel analogy is only for the amount of notes, not the quality. The quantity is the first big step, I think, but yes, I agree it should be more like a pyramid in terms of quality!
Love the idea of being picky at the top level of the funnel. When working with teams in workshops I tend to limit the number of ideas or other items they are "allowed" to bring back from breakout sessions. Because otherwise it's hard to process the number of items of the whole group in a timely manner. Also this "forces" the breakout groups to already prioritize and make choices at a point in the process when complexity is still manageable. It's funny how hard it is sometimes to transfer things that I share in a teaching environment back to my own world and processes. You teach what you need, they say... Thanks for this very helpful inital thought...
👏👏 thank you for this! And the kind reminders at the end! I usually have to tell myself these things when I realize I'm being counter productive to making my life easier when I'm stressing about staying on top of things 😅 so it's nice to hear it from someone else 🥰
Hey, I'm happy it resonated! I'm right there with you in sometimes stressing about being on top of things to the point of being counterproductive. Good luck to us both in finding the balance a little more often. :)
Hey Nicole, thanks for another very useful video. I don't know if you did something different in this one, but it feels more insightful, as if you connected things in a deeper, clearer way. Can you consider doing a “behind the scenes” video about the process of how you use individual notes to create one piece of content and the insights in it? Keep up the nice work!
Francisco, thank you so much for that comment! Typically I do tutorials, because they're easier, but in this one, I leaned on notes I'd already had, where I had already thought about similarities between methodologies. Thanks for noticing. :) By the way, what you mentioned is exactly my topic at the free conference I'm speaking at this Thursday, if your'e interested: lu.ma/3m1fh781 However I'm sure I'll make a video for my channel too. :)
@@nicolevdh Hi Nicole thanks a lot for your great videos. I am interested in this topics as well but missing the conference you mentioned. Is it possible to share the recording link or any way to access it? Again, thanks!
Another great video, Nicole! I concur that note-taking should be fun :) ... I am looking forward to attending your session at the Linking Your Thinking Conference today!
Just a small tip Nicole. Having a countdown in any way or form is a film technique for creating tension and suspense, something that I can safely assume you were not going for in your video. I know it looks nice and feels fancy to implement, but it might actually have negative effect on the viewers.
I actually quite liked it because it helps estimate the importance of the topic and holds my attention for a little longer. Though I enjoy them more when they're just a small bar at the top of the video. :)
Thanks to you both, for the feedback! I've gotten quite mixed feedback about it, so for now I've kept them in since I really appreciate it videos I watch!
Great video (as always)! When talking about search you mention 'saving a search'. What do you mean by that? Does this refer to saving a workspace (which you are talking just a little about later). I don't use workspaces yet. So, I'd be really interested in some of your best practices you you set up and use workspaces in Obsidian!
I mean.. I feel like people keep trying to be like Niklas Luhmann, the inventor of the Zettelkasten, with their PKMs. Luhmann was a professor, so most of his day was was spent with his notes... even then he was absolutely prolific. Regarding TTRPGs, I agree. It's ok to forget stuff. Because a game feels (and really is) so fleeting it can be easy to get overzealous with the notes... especially if you are playing a high-intelligence character! My next character will probably be a Himbo with a heart of gold so that I don't have to take as many notes. As always thanks for the advice and the insight! :D
Yeah, exactly! It was Luhmann's entire job... and for most of us, that's not the case! It's funny you say that about high-intelligence characters. I never make a character with less than average intelligence for that reason... I can't convincingly roleplay that with the notes I take. What if your "himbo with a heart of gold" is in a party of characters who miss all the quest hooks and forget all the lore??? :D
@@nicolevdh UGH, I know that feeling! I love reviewing my notes after a session to try to put together the clues! My DM is so fun, too, because he's built so much of my backstory into his world. My character is a druid "Elle Woods" type--smart, bubbly, but chronically underestimated and green. There is a lot to manage with her: which animals has she seen? What spells does she know? She's also in charge of the group's loot and since she comes from a wealthy merchant family she tracks every cent, very closely. I am by far the most thorough note-taker in the group, which also means a lot of the "decisions" hinge on me. I think a Himbo-Barbarian (think Kronk from Emperor's New Groove) might be a fun character to play exactly because it would would be challenging for me to roleplay! I feel exactly the same: "What if we miss something??" ;D ((Also, don't mind the response, I thought your videos could also use some more engagement for the algorithm))
@@nicolevdh I meant "fun" too)) I just miswrote. I also like note-taking, now moving from Notion to Obsidian (primarily because of the universal .md format and offline access). So thanks for sharing your experience :)
I just discovered your channel a week ago, and your videos are seriously really good! I love how you lay things out visually and with examples.
Hey, thanks, Jeff! I'm glad you like the visuals because they take a while to do. :) Appreciate the feedback though!
Best lesson of the day: "sometimes we just need to forget and let go."
2:37 Inbox Bankruptcy is so powerful. I don't do it often, but it's nice to be realistic and give yourself the permission to start over. I remember going on a 2 week vacation where I skipped weekly reviews and looking at +800 items in Things 3. I decided to skim them like you would read a page and capturing about 10 projects that were actually important and deleting the rest. It felt like a literal weight off of my shoulders.
Now I like to look at inboxes by how actionable is the stuff in them. I just use the task manager inbox for stuff that I actually need to do or stuff that has a deadline. Random ideas are much better handled by Obsidian and articles/videos/podcasts live in Readwise. It's so much easier processing 50-100 items a day.
Hi Hugo! Yeah, totally agree! Sometimes a fresh start is just the thing I need. It seems to be the sort of thing I have to do regularly too-- just like physical things, tasks tend to breed and accumulate as time goes on. -_-
Your videos is the most convenient of all I’ve seen before. Those individual progress lines for every chapter is amazing. I feel that you are really interested in your audience necessities
Hi Andrew! Thanks for that awesome comment! I'm glad you liked those! Yeah, there is actually evidence that adding chapters in general makes people watch less of a video-- but as an avid TH-cam viewer myself, I LOVE having chapters to skip to. So I decided to make a conscious decision to make my videos easier to watch, even if that does mean people watch less of them. :)
I've just discovered all your videos on Obsidian. Thank you thank you THANK YOU. This has changed how I take and think about note taking.
Thank. you. Especially for saying that sometimes it's okay to just consume content without any higher intent.
Yay! Glad you liked it. I've watched thousands of hours of D&D livestreams and not taken a single note. And I'd do it all over again too! :)
I just started with Obsidian and in searching on how to solve some issues I came across your channel.
Thank you for explaining things in so many different ways!
Good stuff. I finally have Inbox Zero, with no projects, tasks, milestones, deadlines, or responsibilities. I've built a home recording studio so my notes are about audio production and DSP. Loving it.
Sounds like you have a great life already! Gotta say that the thought of having no Inbox gave me a pang of loss, ironically. I guess some part of me loves having so much to learn! :D
@@nicolevdh You won't ever lose the lifetime learning habit. I used to contract and took 6 months off a year so the transition to a gentleman of leisure was easy.
I think this is a great way to illustrate the difference between PKM and note-taking. PKM is a practice done with the goal to produce new creative output (books, papers, articles, new thinking) and it benefits from some discipline and rigour. Meanwhile, note-taking as just a nerdy pastime probably doesn't need all that. If you're ok with forgetting stuff, shifting things from one inbox to another (because read later services are really just another kind of inbox), and don't really plan to produce anything new with your knowledge, then you probably don't need to care about a lot of the productivity advice that applies to PKM
Another great video. The Obsidian query tools are very powerful but not many people know how to use them. I personally didn't know about the "line" command.
In my personal note taking, I've found that as I write more note, and refine my process, I get faster at taking notes, and my notes also start to get smaller, as I begin to focus on only the things I really care about.
I don't blame you! It took me ages to learn about the line keyword as well! In my case, I think I've gotten faster, but I think my notes have actually gotten longer... :D
Such a great channel and unique contribution to the PKM community. Thank you so much for your work Nicole.
Hey, I really appreciate that, Zia! I'm glad to help. :) Thank you for the support!
Awesome channel and extremely helpful for someone who is getting started on Obsidian or more importantly when building your second brain!
Thank you so much! I appreciate the encouragement. :)
Never thought this was a problem but it makes sense. I think by adding the word "processed" you add the value "good" is that the case though? I feel the fleeting notes, or notes of low value of are also useful. Maybe the funnel analogy should become and a pyramid instead where you need a good base of fleeting notes in order to reach the top that has a few processed ones! Over time the pyramid becomes larger not thinner and taller.
Absolutely! I used to distinguish between different stages of processing, but I found it got too difficult categorizing them. When is a note even "done". These days, I just make whatever notes I feel like, and then I stop when I don't feel like it anymore. I've found some notes I thought were "low value" at the time to be incredibly useful later on, as well. I think the funnel analogy is only for the amount of notes, not the quality. The quantity is the first big step, I think, but yes, I agree it should be more like a pyramid in terms of quality!
Notetaking should be fun! I needed this reminder. Thanks Nicole! ❤
Love the idea of being picky at the top level of the funnel. When working with teams in workshops I tend to limit the number of ideas or other items they are "allowed" to bring back from breakout sessions. Because otherwise it's hard to process the number of items of the whole group in a timely manner. Also this "forces" the breakout groups to already prioritize and make choices at a point in the process when complexity is still manageable. It's funny how hard it is sometimes to transfer things that I share in a teaching environment back to my own world and processes. You teach what you need, they say... Thanks for this very helpful inital thought...
Great to meet you on Friday! This is very insightful, thank you
Hi, Lou! Yeah, it was nice seeing you! Happy to connect!
Thanks!
Wow, thank you so much, Jeff! That's very nice of you. :)
👏👏 thank you for this! And the kind reminders at the end! I usually have to tell myself these things when I realize I'm being counter productive to making my life easier when I'm stressing about staying on top of things 😅 so it's nice to hear it from someone else 🥰
Hey, I'm happy it resonated! I'm right there with you in sometimes stressing about being on top of things to the point of being counterproductive. Good luck to us both in finding the balance a little more often. :)
Hey Nicole, thanks for another very useful video. I don't know if you did something different in this one, but it feels more insightful, as if you connected things in a deeper, clearer way.
Can you consider doing a “behind the scenes” video about the process of how you use individual notes to create one piece of content and the insights in it?
Keep up the nice work!
Francisco, thank you so much for that comment! Typically I do tutorials, because they're easier, but in this one, I leaned on notes I'd already had, where I had already thought about similarities between methodologies. Thanks for noticing. :) By the way, what you mentioned is exactly my topic at the free conference I'm speaking at this Thursday, if your'e interested: lu.ma/3m1fh781 However I'm sure I'll make a video for my channel too. :)
@@nicolevdh Hi Nicole thanks a lot for your great videos. I am interested in this topics as well but missing the conference you mentioned.
Is it possible to share the recording link or any way to access it?
Again, thanks!
found my new favourite obsidian youtuber
So sweet of you to say that! I'm glad to help. Thanks, Azzam! :)
Another great video, Nicole! I concur that note-taking should be fun :) ... I am looking forward to attending your session at the Linking Your Thinking Conference today!
Woot! Thanks! hope you liked it. :)
@@nicolevdh Definitely! I learned a lot, as usual :)
Nicole!! Everything you say is GOLD!!
Ha, just tell my husband that. ;) Thanks, though, I'm glad you liked this one!
Just in time data organisation via smart searching makes sense, replaces need to wast time on folder structure. And tags are multidimensional folders.
This is wonderful, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I'm hoping to incorporate your tips into my graduate school workflow! 😊
Yay! I wish I'd know about Obsidian while I was still in formal schooling. Good luck! :)
It’s really interesting about searching and creating note from a query, thank you!
Thanks again, Andrew! Embedded queries are underrated IMO. :)
Thanks for the query tip.
You're welcome! Glad you liked it! Embedding searches is underrated.
Cool tips! Thank you for sharing Nicole!
Thanks, Jorge! :) Glad to share!
Just a small tip Nicole. Having a countdown in any way or form is a film technique for creating tension and suspense, something that I can safely assume you were not going for in your video. I know it looks nice and feels fancy to implement, but it might actually have negative effect on the viewers.
I actually quite liked it because it helps estimate the importance of the topic and holds my attention for a little longer. Though I enjoy them more when they're just a small bar at the top of the video. :)
Thanks to you both, for the feedback! I've gotten quite mixed feedback about it, so for now I've kept them in since I really appreciate it videos I watch!
Great video (as always)!
When talking about search you mention 'saving a search'. What do you mean by that? Does this refer to saving a workspace (which you are talking just a little about later).
I don't use workspaces yet.
So, I'd be really interested in some of your best practices you you set up and use workspaces in Obsidian!
I mean.. I feel like people keep trying to be like Niklas Luhmann, the inventor of the Zettelkasten, with their PKMs. Luhmann was a professor, so most of his day was was spent with his notes... even then he was absolutely prolific.
Regarding TTRPGs, I agree. It's ok to forget stuff. Because a game feels (and really is) so fleeting it can be easy to get overzealous with the notes... especially if you are playing a high-intelligence character! My next character will probably be a Himbo with a heart of gold so that I don't have to take as many notes.
As always thanks for the advice and the insight! :D
Yeah, exactly! It was Luhmann's entire job... and for most of us, that's not the case! It's funny you say that about high-intelligence characters. I never make a character with less than average intelligence for that reason... I can't convincingly roleplay that with the notes I take. What if your "himbo with a heart of gold" is in a party of characters who miss all the quest hooks and forget all the lore??? :D
@@nicolevdh UGH, I know that feeling! I love reviewing my notes after a session to try to put together the clues! My DM is so fun, too, because he's built so much of my backstory into his world.
My character is a druid "Elle Woods" type--smart, bubbly, but chronically underestimated and green. There is a lot to manage with her: which animals has she seen? What spells does she know? She's also in charge of the group's loot and since she comes from a wealthy merchant family she tracks every cent, very closely.
I am by far the most thorough note-taker in the group, which also means a lot of the "decisions" hinge on me.
I think a Himbo-Barbarian (think Kronk from Emperor's New Groove) might be a fun character to play exactly because it would would be challenging for me to roleplay! I feel exactly the same: "What if we miss something??" ;D
((Also, don't mind the response, I thought your videos could also use some more engagement for the algorithm))
fabulous
Thanks again, Jory. :)
"Notetaking should be fine" - the best tip :)
I actually said "fun". :) Thanks, Ruben! I know it's weird, but I love note-taking!
@@nicolevdh I meant "fun" too)) I just miswrote.
I also like note-taking, now moving from Notion to Obsidian (primarily because of the universal .md format and offline access). So thanks for sharing your experience :)
0:42 That meme is gold
Haha, I'm glad SOMEone appreciated it. :D
FUN? What!? What does that new word mean? :D
note taking is supposed to help you not be a part time job!!! 🤯🤯🤯 0:57
Hell yeah Janeway
My favourite captain!
I love the way u talk about the subject it's been 4days since I discovered your channel and I love it 🤎🤎🤎🤎 thank you
That makes me happy. :) Welcome to the channel, and I'm super glad you're enjoying it!