Obsidian: The King of Learning Tools (FULL GUIDE + SETUP)

Summary

The speaker shares their journey of building a personal knowledge network, also known as a Zettelkasten or second brain, using Obsidian. They discuss the initial frustration and perfectionism trap of trying to create the perfect setup by combining multiple methods from various tutorials. Ultimately, they realized the importance of simplicity and focusing on key features. The video provides a step-by-step guide on setting up a Zettelkasten in Obsidian, highlighting its benefits for reading, writing, and learning, and emphasizes the power of connecting ideas and maintaining a flexible, minimalistic note-taking system.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker created a personal knowledge network, or 'second brain', using a system inspired by Zettelkasten, which has been highly valuable for reading, writing, and thinking.
• ⚠️ A warning is given about the 'hidden danger' of information overload when trying to set up a Zettelkasten, where the creator initially got frustrated trying to find the perfect method by watching many videos.
• 🔍 The creator emphasizes the importance of simplicity and minimalism in setting up the Zettelkasten system, advising against the temptation to add too many features or gimmicks that can become distractions.
• 📚 The Zettelkasten system is described as a bottom-up note-taking approach that embeds ideas into a network of knowledge, serving various goals such as learning, reading, and writing.
• 📝 The system encourages slowing down and taking thorough notes, which leads to better retention and deeper understanding of the material.
• 🔗 The Zettelkasten provides instant feedback on learning, allowing the creator to reflect on their understanding and identify areas that need more focus.
• 🤝 The system allows notes to form connections, which is crucial for seeing the bigger picture and achieving a comprehensive understanding of topics.
• 💡 The Zettelkasten helps in storing and mixing ideas, overcoming the limitations of physical notebooks and making it easier to manage and connect ideas digitally.
• ✍️ The system facilitates easier and faster writing by allowing the creator to build upon existing notes, making the writing process more efficient and enabling reuse of research across different projects.
• 🛠️ The speaker provides a step-by-step guide on setting up the Zettelkasten in Obsidian, including creating folders, templates, tags, and indexes, to help others get started without the initial frustration.

Q & A

What is the personal network of knowledge referred to as in the transcript?

The personal network of knowledge is referred to as a 'zettocasten' or a 'second brain' in the transcript.

What potential issue does the speaker warn about when starting to build a zettocaste or second brain?

The speaker warns about the hidden danger of information overload and the trap of trying to create a perfect system by combining different methods, which can lead to frustration and procrastination.

How does the speaker describe their experience with trying to find the perfect setup for their zettocaste?

The speaker describes their experience as initially being obsessed with finding the perfect setup, which led to months of inactivity and feeling bogged down by unnecessary features and gimmicks.

What realization did the speaker have that changed their approach to building their zettocaste?

The speaker realized that the system would never be perfect and that adding new features only served as distractions from the actual work of writing. They decided to focus on the bare essentials and move forward with what they already had.

What are the three main benefits of the zettocaste system as a learning tool, according to the speaker?

The three main benefits are: 1) It forces you to slow down and take thorough notes, enhancing understanding and retention. 2) It provides instant feedback on learning, helping to correct misunderstandings immediately. 3) It allows notes to form connections, enabling a bigger picture understanding and the formation of new insights.

What book had a significant impact on the speaker's approach to note-taking and learning?

The book 'How to Take Smart Notes' by Sonke Ahrens had a significant impact on the speaker's approach to note-taking and learning.

How does the speaker describe the process of writing notes in the zettocaste system?

The speaker describes the process as one that involves writing notes in your own words to enhance understanding, creating links to related notes, and focusing on a single idea per note to keep it clear and versatile.

What advice does the speaker give for effectively using tags in the zettocaste system?

The speaker advises to avoid tags that are too vague or too specific, to create tags that serve your interests, not what others think is common, and to reuse existing tags rather than creating too many new ones.

What is the purpose of the 'rough notes' folder in the speaker's zettocaste system?

The 'rough notes' folder is used for jotting down temporary ideas, reminders, and rough notes that the speaker doesn't want to forget. It serves as a notepad for ongoing thoughts and ideas.

How does the speaker suggest using the 'source material' folder in the zettocaste system?

The 'source material' folder is used to store insights from any consumed content like books, videos, articles, etc. The speaker suggests making different subfolders for different types of source material and using the folder to store active notes that are still being worked on.

What is the role of the 'tags' folder in the speaker's zettocaste system?

The 'tags' folder is used to store all the tags that help in navigating the network of notes. Each tag is an empty note that is linked to other notes, serving as a way to categorize and find related notes easily.

What is the purpose of the 'indexes' folder in the zettocaste system?

The 'indexes' folder is used to create a structured entry point for navigating large networks of notes. It contains notes that have been given a logical structure, making it easier to find and understand the main ideas within a particular topic.

What is the function of the 'template' folder in the speaker's zettocaste system?

The 'template' folder stores the template for main notes. Once set up, it allows for quick and structured note creation by pasting the template onto a new note, providing a consistent format for note-taking.

Why does the speaker recommend keeping notes below 500 words?

The speaker recommends keeping notes below 500 words to maintain focus and conciseness. This prevents the notes from becoming too lengthy and difficult to navigate, ensuring they remain versatile tools for learning and reference.

What is the final folder mentioned in the speaker's zettocaste system, and what does it contain?

The final folder mentioned is where the main notes go. It is sometimes called the zettocaste or Atomic notes folder. It contains every single main note, which are independent and self-explanatory, allowing them to connect freely with other notes.

How does the speaker suggest dealing with the problem of forgetting to tag related notes?

The speaker suggests searching for similar notes using the hyperlink function and then checking the tags of those notes to remind oneself of tags that might be relevant. Additionally, looking at the bottom of an existing tag to see all linked notes can help recall relevant tags.

What is the speaker's advice on formatting notes to make them easier to read?

The speaker advises formatting notes with spaces between lines and at natural break points to avoid large blocks of text. This makes the notes easier to read and less mentally taxing.

How does the speaker describe the process of creating a new note in Obsidian?

The speaker describes the process as opening a menu by pressing a hotkey (e.g., control + O), typing the title of the note in the search bar, and pressing shift + enter to create it. If a similar note exists, it will pop up to help avoid duplicating notes.

What is the purpose of the 'Workhorse' folder in the speaker's zettocaste system?

The 'Workhorse' folder, also known as the main notes folder, is where every single main note is stored. It is the central location for all notes, which are interconnected and form different areas of interest over time.

How does the speaker suggest using the 'status' and 'tag' sections in the notes?

The speaker suggests using the 'status' section to indicate the development stage of the note (e.g., #bab for new notes, #child, #adult) and the 'tag' section to categorize the note effectively. The speaker also recommends using #t quote for notes containing quotes to easily find them later.

What is the speaker's advice on creating and using tags in the zettocaste system?

The speaker advises creating tags that are not too vague or too specific and are related to one's interests. They also suggest reusing existing tags and limiting the number of tags per note to keep the system tidy and focused.

What is the purpose of the 'template' feature in Obsidian, and how is it used?

The 'template' feature in Obsidian is used to provide a basic structure for new notes, making the note-taking process more efficient. It is used by setting up a hotkey (e.g., control + T) that, when pressed, pastes the template content into a new or existing note.

What are the two main types of notes the speaker discusses in the zettocaste system?

The two main types of notes discussed are 'source material notes', which contain insights and quotes from the material being read, and 'main notes', which are independent, self-explanatory notes that can connect freely with other notes.

How does the speaker suggest organizing and linking notes within the zettocaste system?

The speaker suggests using hyperlinks to connect notes that discuss similar ideas and to link back to the source material. This creates a network of interconnected notes that can be easily navigated and expanded upon.

Outlines

00:00

🤯 Overcoming Perfectionism in Building a Personal Knowledge Network

The speaker introduces the concept of a personal knowledge network or 'second brain' using a tool like Obsidian. They share their journey of building this system and the frustration of trying to find the perfect setup. The speaker warns of the 'hidden danger' of information overload from various sources leading to analysis paralysis. They describe their own struggle with trying to combine different methods into a 'Frankenstein's monster' of a setup, which eventually led to a realization that simplicity and focus on core features are essential. The speaker emphasizes the importance of moving forward with a basic setup rather than getting bogged down by the pursuit of the perfect system.

05:00

📚 The Power and Benefits of the Zettelkasten Note-Taking System

The speaker discusses the Zettelkasten note-taking system, which is a bottom-up approach to building knowledge. They highlight three main benefits of this system: it forces you to slow down and digest information more thoroughly, provides instant feedback on your learning, and allows your notes to form connections. The speaker shares their experience with traditional education and how Zettelkasten revolutionized their learning process after reading 'How to Take Smart Notes' by Sonke Ahrens. They explain how this system helps in understanding complex topics by connecting ideas across different subjects.

10:01

🔗 The Importance of Idea Connectivity and Organization in Note-Taking

The speaker delves into the benefits of having a single place for all notes, as opposed to physical notebooks, which can become unmanageable. They discuss the power of connecting ideas within a digital system like Obsidian, which allows for the formation of new insights. The speaker also addresses the potential chaos of an unstructured note system and how to navigate it using tags and hyperlinks. They mention the flexibility of the system for organized individuals who prefer tags and the ability to rediscover forgotten notes through the system's linking capabilities.

15:02

✍️ Streamlining the Writing Process with a Personal Knowledge Network

The speaker explains how the Zettelkasten system can transform the writing process, making it more efficient and enjoyable. They compare two different writing approaches: one where a writer starts with a complete plan and conducts research within that framework, and another where a writer collects ideas broadly and allows the structure to emerge organically. The latter approach, which leverages the Zettelkasten system, is praised for its ability to reuse research and avoid the need to start from scratch for each new project. The speaker also mentions their personal experience writing a book using this method.

20:03

🛠️ Setting Up the Obsidian System for Effective Note-Taking

The speaker provides a step-by-step guide to setting up the Obsidian system for effective note-taking. They discuss the creation of a 'vault' for storing notes, the importance of choosing a location for the vault, and the benefits of storing it on the cloud. The speaker also explains the use of folders for different types of notes, such as 'rough notes' for temporary ideas and 'source material' for insights from various sources. They emphasize the simplicity and low maintenance of the system once set up.

25:04

📝 Writing and Organizing Notes for Maximum Efficiency

The speaker outlines the process of writing and organizing notes within the Obsidian system. They describe creating a template for notes, using tags for effective navigation and organization, and setting up an 'index' for larger topics. The speaker also discusses the importance of writing notes in your own words to enhance understanding and retention. They provide tips on creating effective tags, such as avoiding vagueness and personalizing tags to suit individual interests. The speaker concludes with advice on keeping notes concise, focused on a single idea, and formatted for readability.

30:05

🔍 Enhancing Notes with Hyperlinks and Referencing for Better Recall

The speaker explains the final stages of enhancing notes within the Obsidian system by creating hyperlinks to related notes and referencing the source material. They emphasize the importance of this process for ensuring that notes are interconnected and easily retrievable. The speaker provides tips for avoiding the common problem of forgetting to tag related notes and suggests looking up keywords or checking tags of similar notes to jog one's memory. They conclude by reiterating the value of linking to the source material for easy reference and revisitation of ideas.

Keywords

💡Personal Network

A 'Personal Network' in the context of the video refers to a system for organizing and connecting knowledge, often termed a 'zettocaste' or 'second brain'. It is a personal knowledge management tool that helps in reading, writing, and thinking. The video discusses building such a network using a specific software called Obsidian, which allows for note-taking and linking ideas to create a web of interconnected knowledge.

💡Zettocaste

The term 'Zettocaste' is derived from 'Zettelkasten', a German word meaning 'card box'. In the video, it refers to a digital note-taking system where notes are stored and linked together to form a network of knowledge. The concept is central to the video's theme, as it discusses how to create and utilize a Zettocaste for effective learning and writing.

💡Second Brain

'Second Brain' is a concept where an individual uses a digital tool to offload cognitive tasks such as remembering and organizing information. In the video, the creator discusses building a 'second brain' to enhance learning and writing processes, by using a system that allows for the creation of a vast, interconnected web of notes.

💡Obsidian

Obsidian is the name of the software mentioned in the video that is used to create the personal network or Zettocaste. It is a markdown-based note-taking app that allows users to create, link, and organize notes in a non-linear fashion, which is integral to the video's discussion on building a knowledge network.

💡Perfectionism

In the video, 'Perfectionism' is discussed as a potential pitfall when building a Zettocaste or second brain. The creator warns about the danger of trying to create the 'perfect' system by watching numerous tutorials and incorporating too many features, which can lead to analysis paralysis and hinder the actual process of learning and writing.

💡Note-taking System

The 'Note-taking System' is a methodical approach to recording information, which is a key component of the video's theme. The video describes a specific system for taking smart notes that build upon each other and form a knowledge network, as opposed to traditional linear note-taking methods.

💡Slip Box

A 'Slip Box' is a term introduced in the video, referring to a physical or digital container where notes or 'slips' are stored and can be easily accessed and connected. It is the foundational concept behind the Zettocaste and is used to illustrate the organization of notes in a way that fosters creativity and learning.

💡Learning Tool

'Learning Tool' is a broad term that encompasses any resource or method that aids in the learning process. In the video, the creator positions the Zettocaste as a powerful learning tool, emphasizing its ability to enhance understanding, retention, and application of knowledge through interconnected note-taking.

💡Smart Notes

In the context of the video, 'Smart Notes' refers to a method of note-taking where notes are crafted in a way that they are not just passive records but active components in the learning process. The video discusses how smart notes can be linked and built upon to create a robust knowledge base.

💡Interconnected Knowledge

'Interconnected Knowledge' is a central theme in the video, describing the idea of linking different pieces of information to form a complex web of understanding. The video details how creating connections between notes can lead to deeper insights and a more comprehensive grasp of various subjects.

💡Template

A 'Template' in the video is a pre-defined structure used to create new notes consistently. It is a tool within the Obsidian software that allows users to quickly insert a formatted note layout, streamlining the note-taking process and ensuring a uniform approach to organizing information.

Highlights

Introduction of a personal network of knowledge, also known as a Zettelkasten or second brain.

The Zettelkasten system is a valuable asset for reading, writing, and thinking.

Warning about the hidden danger of information overload when starting to build a Zettelkasten.

The struggle with creating a Zettelkasten due to the multitude of methods presented by different sources.

The realization that a perfect Zettelkasten setup does not exist and the importance of simplicity.

The benefits of a minimalistic setup that focuses on key features to avoid unnecessary complexity.

The experience of using Obsidian for note-taking and the stability of the setup over time.

Three main benefits of the Zettelkasten as a learning tool: slowing down to improve retention, instant feedback on learning, and forming connections between ideas.

The importance of slow reading and thorough note-taking for better understanding and retention.

How the Zettelkasten system provides instant feedback on learning by reflecting on one's own understanding.

The advantage of connecting notes to see the bigger picture and gain a deeper understanding of complex topics.

The issue with physical note-taking and the benefits of digital note storage for easy access and management.

The power of connecting ideas in a digital system to make new insights and avoid the limitations of physical notebooks.

The ease and efficiency of writing with a Zettelkasten, where notes are used as building blocks for larger works.

The process of setting up a Zettelkasten in Obsidian, including creating a vault and organizing folders.

The step-by-step approach to understanding and implementing the Zettelkasten system without being overwhelmed.

The importance of using your own words when taking notes to enhance understanding and retention.

The process of creating a new note in Obsidian, using templates, and the significance of the main notes folder.

The function of tags in the Zettelkasten system for navigation and organization of notes.

The creation of indexes as a solution for navigating a growing knowledge network and providing structure to tags.

Transcripts

almost a year ago I started building

this you can call it a personal network

of knowledge but you might know it as a

zetto Casten or a second brain after

years of searching for the perfect

approach to my learning I think this is

it by far it's been the most valuable

asset for reading for writing and even

for my thinking but before I hype it up

to you and show you how to make your own

there's something I should warn you

about a hidden danger it's one that left

me incredibly frustrated when I first

started to make my own it was a pain in

the ass to get started and I mean that

if you look up how to create a zetoc in

obsidian or how to build your second

brain you'll find probably hundreds of

videos with each person showing their

own method and their own way of doing it

and don't get me wrong some of these

were great like I used them to build my

own and I couldn't be here without them

but the problem is as I kept watching

more and more videos I was digging

myself a trap one that would be harder

and harder to eventually climb out of

when I had to every single YouTuber I

watched had their own method of creating

it one that was slightly different to

the next and if you end up watching 10

or 20 of these

you start to pick out points from every

single one and then it fills you with

this almost toxic sense of perfectionism

for example I'd find some nice features

from one video and then watch another

video and they have something different

that stands out to me like a shiny gem I

take that and then that process repeats

and if you combine all their points from

all these videos you end up with this

mess this Frankenstein's monster of a

setup that tries to be everything but

fails I was deluded in doing that I

thought I could steal from everyone

else's workflow and make the perfect one

but that's not how how it works in fact

all it did was bug me down for months I

didn't really do much writing I was just

obsessed with getting the perfect setup

which doesn't exist anyway but

thankfully I eventually realized that

this system was never going to be

perfect in fact every time I added a new

feature I was only adding a pointless

gimmick that was a distraction from the

true work the writing and without

wasting more time I just gripped my

teeth and moved forward with what I had

already I abandoned all the weird

gimmicks the plugins and all the

features that didn't actually

matter and I focused on on the Bare

Bones and suddenly a weight was just

lifted off my shoulders it felt good

because now I can actually do what I

wanted to do which was to write I didn't

have to worry on finding the perfect

system and optimizing every single step

of the way I do realize now I'm just an

extra voice in the conversation but I

just want to reassure you and say that

this setup is free from there

are no pointless features there are no

gimmicks this setup is simple it's

minimalistic it focuses only on the key

features that actually help you get to

where you want to be and I have the

experience to vouch for this system I've

used obsidian for I think 9 months now

almost every day and since the start

after hundreds of notes it hasn't

changed the setup is exactly the same

and to me that's solid evidence that it

works so if you're feeling intimidated

by the idea of starting your own I get

you I was in that same position but I

hope this setup can free you of some of

that stress and really give you the

building blocks you need to just get

started if you want an immediate walkthr

and how to set it up then please do skip

to that but for this next portion of the

video I want to talk about why should

you do this anyway like what's in it for

you it seems like a lot of effort and it

is but I want to cover three main

benefits that make it so powerful as a

learning tool over the years I've tried

many learning techniques cuz I was sick

and tired of walking away from my books

the same person forgetting all the

important things and failing to reflect

on what was inside it was exhausting and

I felt like all the efforts I put into

the learning was just Vanishing Into

Thin Air and it was all for nothing this

all changed when I read a book called

How to take smart notes by sunin now I

think that's how you pronounce it but do

correct me for German this is the book I

chose to bring on a 3-hour flight and I

thought it would just be a casual

laid-back experience on you know maybe

how you can make your notes a little bit

more effective I was so so wrong by the

time the plane landed the course of my

entire reading from that point would

change forever those 3 hours I was just

captivated by what I was reading cuz

this was revolutionary I had never

thought of note taking and learning

quite like this this book tore down lots

of misconceptions I got from traditional

education and it gave me this fresh and

exciting perspective to reading it was

the idea of a Casten a slip box which is

exactly what we're building today now I

do recommend you check his book out cuz

it is really good but to keep it brief

the zetto Casten is a note taking system

that builds your notes from the bottom

up it let you take the ideas you read

and embed it in this network of

knowledge one that serves you in all

your goals from learning to reading to

writing there's three main ways it's so

so effective and almost unlike any other

note taking system the first reason is

that it forces you to slow down now a

lot of people don't like to hear that

all the hustle grinds set Bros they

don't like the idea of abandoning speed

reading and they might hate me for

saying this but it's true in most cases

speed and reading are not a good mix the

best thing I ever did for my reading was

to slow it right down and take thorough

notes in the process the slowness of the

writing forces you to dwell on the

author's ideas of course it's slower you

do lose speed but to me that's a worthy

sacrifice because all the ideas will

have a lasting impact on your mind it's

like when you eat too much at Christmas

and you sit there all stuffed and

Bloated and you have to really wait and

digest to be able to come to life again

this is kind of the same thing but with

your brain the result is not only a way

better attention of what you read but

you also start to understand things more

deeply because you know some of these

books are chunky and it's not like you

can speed through them and just remember

everything the second power of the zal

Casten is that it gives you instant

feedback on your learning I'm not sure

how it works in the USA but in the UK we

have this thing called a levels and

that's 2 years of study before going to

University and you can pick three or

four subjects for that and I did history

and in history there was a lot of essay

writing we did essays almost every week

now normally you hand in your essay and

you get feedback a week later but let's

say there was a Twist this time every

time I handed this essay in I would

never get any feedback if that pattern

continued for a year or two I would get

to the end of my a levels and my essay

writing would be just as as when I

first started because to get better at

any skill you need two things you need

practice and you need feedback now in

that case I had lots of practice I wrote

every week no problem there but I didn't

get any feedback and if there's no one

there to correct you you're going to end

up making the same stupid mistakes again

and again and again writing notes is the

exact opposite of that situation because

by doing that we get instant feedback by

writing we get an instant reflection of

our own understanding because if we

struggle to put something into words

then that's a sign that we haven't

understood it it's a sign for you to go

back to the book and check your

understanding this is a prime example of

the fame and technique in action which

says that if you teach something in this

case writing you actually learn it

better yourself the third benefit of

this system is that you allow your notes

to form connections most people store

their notes by subject in these clear

subdivided folders now this makes sense

in our head we've been taught to do it

in school but there's actually hidden

danger to it because it has the tendency

to isolate your ideas and that stops you

from seeing the bigger picture you'll

see what I mean with the example and

it's going to sound really weird at

first but bear with me why are reptiles

mostly in hotter areas of the world it's

because they're ectotherms which you

probably know as cold blooded now this

means to effectively hunt and Escape

Predators they have to warm up using the

environment like when a lizard sits on a

rock to absorb the energy of the Sun but

because we're mammals we can produce our

own heat from within but this is

expensive because unlike lizards we have

to eat a lot more to keep ourselves warm

well the hidden strength that we have as

mammals is that we can stay active even

in the cold if you travel North to the

Arctic as a lizard it's going to be so

cold that you can't properly move and

you end up either starving or dying to a

predator but since we produce our own

heat we can stay active and that means

we can avoid predators and also hunt

effectively we can out compete the

reptiles even in the coldest

temperatures our okay that's that but

let's slow down a second why am I giving

you a biology lesson I gave you a simple

explanation of that topic but if you

want to understand it in depth you have

to know things from chemistry from

physics from biology from ecology to

understand the bigger picture you have

to pull ideas from all four of these

subjects and if you fail to understand

something in that chain of reasoning you

might not get the whole thing in that

same example if you have no idea why

muscles slow down when they're cold then

you won't be able to explain that

properly to me but there is hope because

if you understand the physics and the

chemistry and the biology you can

somehow piece everything together into

this clear picture and you can

understand it and you can explain it to

me this is true wisdom this is the end

result of learning the most valuable

thing you can achieve and this system

this zetto Casten is exactly how you'll

get there the second major benefit of

the zto Casten is how it helps you store

and mix ideas before I started taking

notes like this I would write all of the

things I learned in separate notebooks I

love the feeling of pen on paper because

you can be free with it and you can draw

all the diagrams you want it's

satisfying now this was all well and

good but as I was a few notebooks in I

started to realize a problem that was

creeping up on me how the hell am I

going to manage this later am I going to

end up with 100 notebooks like what do I

do then so I made the painful decision

to overhaul everything and prevent This

Disaster it may have hurt in the moment

but I knew that this physical method of

notetaking was going to hurt me in the

future and it had its limits with

obsidian the app we're using today all

of your notes are in the same place

whenever and wherever you need them

instead of of carrying 100 notebooks or

flash cards you have your whole personal

library on your phone or computer and if

you store your note files on the cloud

you can literally travel across half the

world and you'll still be able to find

them even though I love taking notes on

paper this is the obvious best choice

nowadays so the storage of notes is

already perfect but there's an extra

benefit of having everything in one

place it's the power of connecting ideas

to make new ones in this system like we

said before your notes are free from the

restrictions of folders this means you

don't have to go through the annoying

process of open opening 10 different

subfolders to find that exact note you

were looking for in this system they're

all in one Arena they're all free to

mingle and to connect insights from

Socrates Dante and the Bible can connect

with those from maybe Virginia wolf or n

or any other modern author you can think

of every new book video and article you

read can add something valuable to the

conversation something that can form

these exciting connections that you

never saw coming your network of notes

only get stronger with time and you

can't say the same for a system of

folders because the more you add the

more messy and confus it gets this is

the exact opposite and I know what you

might be thinking this looks chaotic it

looks messy it's ugly and I will admit

mine is uglier than most people's online

without a system of tags and hyperlinks

it is a mess and it is hard to navigate

but if you follow some basic rules in

how you construct the notes and organize

it it's actually really easy to then

navigate this Maze and find exactly what

you're looking for and I'm not giving it

enough credit here because sometimes you

write a note and then months down the

line you completely forget it exists but

because of your system of links

you end up rediscovering it by accident

and it's the nicest surprise and here's

the nice part if you're more of an

organized type of person which you know

I am too I like folders this system

still caters to you if you use tags you

can add this extra layer of organization

to your notes and if you want to find

something related to a specific topic

it's still easy and if it sounds

confusing no worries because we're going

to walk through these steps in detail a

bit later on the third major benefit is

easier and faster writing and this is by

far my favorite one it's so exciting to

talk about when I first read about this

idea in how to take smart notes I swear

I almost got goosebumps because at the

time I knew this was big this would

change how I WR forever the best way to

show you this is to compare two

different writers our first writer has

an idea for a book and you know he's got

a rough idea of the structure so all he

has to do now is set out to research

whenever he finds a useful idea he just

takes it and puts it in his planning

draft he then uses subheadings to sort

it out and see what will go where after

many long hours lots of caffeine and

maybe an existential crisis or two he's

finished fin the book that sounds all

good right well yeah maybe for now but

you'll see he's screwing himself over in

the future our second writer also wants

to write a book but he starts without an

idea for the title he doesn't know what

the end product might be instead he just

reads about whatever he's interested in

and on the way he picks up the ideas

that resonate the most with some simple

organization of his notes he begins to

see these areas of Interest form around

certain Topics in the case of obsidian

this can be literal clusters that begin

to form for example the more he reads

about human behavior the bigger the area

of disc discussion gets and before he

knows it he's got the building blocks

for a book with a quick look through the

notes the writer sees how he can order

them in a linear way now all it takes is

some rearranging some editing and of

course a little bit of extra writing but

then suddenly you have a book it was a

relatively quick process because most of

the writing was already done in the form

of the notes way before the idea of the

book even existed the first writer

didn't have this opportunity and he's

also missing out on a second benefit

because the second writer collected his

ideas outside of the book draft he can

reuse these notes as many times as he

wants in all sorts of different projects

in other words none of his research is

stuck within the book draft or his

article or blog or whatever else he

wrote If our first writer wants to do

the same thing and maybe write a second

book well we has to start from scratch

he has to go through a long and painful

process of finding all this research

again it's kind of like how we're taught

to do it in school we start with the

essay title and then do all the research

and once the essay is done we just throw

the research away and this system is

crazy if you think about it it's

inefficient it's slow and if forces you

to repeat all the research you want to

spend your time writing not finding the

same old notes from before with this

system you make your notes work for you

and not the other way around I'm writing

a book now and because it's on a topic I

care about a lot of the research already

exists in my notetaking software and as

I'm writing it up notes I made from

months ago will resurface to help me and

most of these notes I totally forgot

about but because of the links and the

tags it allows me to find them when I

need them if you invest in this system

You're Building yourself a personal

writing assistant one that only gets

stronger with time I hope I've sold the

zetting system well but if you want more

details then do check out the book

because I've only scratched the surface

to be honest so we finally reach the

setup stage and I want to show you how

you can get the ball running without

that usual frustration at the start CU

believe me when I was building this for

the first time I was pissed off at every

corner there was so many things I didn't

understand and it was just frustrating I

want to also show you how I'd write a

note from start to finish using all the

different features there's no gimmicks

there's no pointless complexity and

there's no just simple and

effective note taking the first thing to

do is install obsidian from their

website this is super easy and of course

it's totally free you're then given the

option to name your Vault but what the

hell is a vault anyway this is where all

of your notes are stored and it's the

highest level of organization in this

system when you first make a vault you

have to first name it but also choose

the location of the Vault this is

because a vault is just a folder on your

computer and you can choose exactly

where that folder goes every note you

make an obsidian will become a file in

this folder this is great because not

only does it let you use obsidian

offline but you can also easily copy and

transfer your notes because they're just

files I would recommend storing your

Vault on the cloud somewhere like Google

drive or one drive so obviously it's

backed up and you can access it from any

device mine is in my Google Drive in a

folder called obsidian and you might

notice that when you do this it creates

an extra folder called obsidian this

folder holds all of the system files and

you don't need to worry about it but

it's just good to know where they are

and what I love about this system is

once you choose the location you you

don't really have to worry about it ever

again all of the notetaking happens

within the app itself now before we dive

into the setup with all the folders and

stuff I want to let you know that this

is going to be a step-by-step approach I

may be wrong but I think this is the

easiest way for you to understand things

instead of you know dumping everything

onto you at once this means some things

might be confusing in the moment but

will'll begin to make sense as we

progress through the steps now let's get

into the folders I use six in my system

but you know to reassure you only three

of them are really active in your note

taking the other three kind of sit in

the background most of the time the

folders we're focusing on are the

numbered ones so the two at the bottom

you can ignore them completely they're

just some extra things I use on the side

so let's get into the setup and I'll

explain each as we go this is what you

see when you create a vault I first like

to delete all this crap all the tabs and

that gives us a clean slate to work from

much better next I use this icon on the

top left to create six new folders but

you know to keep things straightforward

let's start with one the first folder I

call rough notes Here I jot down

anything temporary things like ideas I

had maybe reminders

or of course rough notes it's like a

notepad where you write down things you

don't want to forget and anything else

you might need for example here I keep

up a list of ideas that I might want to

research further I also keep a track of

my daily word count for my writing habit

and to be honest I don't use this folder

that much because I prefer to keep all

my rough ideas on paper so whether you

want to use this folder or not is

entirely up to you and your preferences

the second folder is called Source

material here I store the insights from

anything I consume not just books but

also videos articles podcasts even

Twitter threads anything I like to make

different subfolders to store different

types of source material but of course

this is totally optional and you'll

notice that some at the bottom are

unsorted and this is on purpose these

notes are active meaning I'm still

working on them and I haven't finished

the writing but of course once I do

finish I can then neatly tuck them away

where they belong now that's just a

setup but don't worry I will dive into

these notes a bit later on the third

folder stores my tags tags are your best

friend in navigating your network

especially when it gets large you'll

need these if you want to avoid drowning

in your notes later on in this folder I

store all of the tags and this sounds

weird like since when do you store Tags

now you can make tags a traditional way

using a hashtag and that does work but I

prefer a different approach one that I

think is more powerful instead each of

my tags is just an empty note let's say

I'm writing a note about humility and

Leadership now of course one of the tags

is going to be humility which is a topic

I'm interested in to apply the tag to

the note I have to make a link to it to

do this I type the square bracket button

twice and then this brings up a search

function from here I type humility and

then I close it off with two more square

brackets here I've created a link to a

note but the reason it's grayed out is

because it doesn't exist yet once I

click on the link it automatically

creates the note and this is the

humility tag this is simply a note

called humility but we're going to use

it as a tag in this case and I don't

want it to appear in the same folder as

my notes so if you click on the top

right it pulls up a drop- down menu and

you get the option to take this note and

move it to the tags folder so now

whenever you write a new note and you

want to add the humility tag tag to it

all you have to do is use the double

square brackets to then link to this

note you can create as many tags as you

like now I have quite a large list cuz I

love to read about lots of different

subjects the point of this folder is to

keep your system tidy and free from all

this clutter if tagging still sounds

confusing to you then don't worry cuz

we're actually going to revisit it later

the fourth folder stores indexes once

your knowledge Network grows it can

reach a point where it's a bit tricky to

navigate and this is what repels most

people from starting one they see this

horrible ugly spider web looking thing

and think how in the hell am I going to

navigate this it's just too much and

that may be true but luckily we have

indexes they come in and solve this

problem do you remember the tags from

last step well because the tags are just

empty notes we can use them as indexes

too when a tag gets big enough as in

you've connected a lot of notes to it

you can actually turn this tag into an

index an index is almost like the

contents page of a book you take all of

the notes within the tag and give them

some sort of logical structure and this

is super easy because our tags are empty

notes and we can just go inside the note

and start filling out the index let's

take the cility tag again you can see

here I have a few notes linking back to

this tag now because there's only a few

I don't bother making an index there's

no point of it cuz I can see everything

in one place easily but let's say I

choose my learning tag now this is a

much bigger one because it has 51

relevant notes linking back to it so to

turn this tag into an index I add some

subheadings and then under these

subheadings I link all of the notes that

fit that category the idea of the index

is to add a basic level of structure to

your notes so that if you want to visit

the learning topic you have some sort of

entry point for the discussion now I

have a confession I got a bit lazy and I

didn't actually put all of the learning

notes in this index but once yours gets

big enough do have a go at keeping

things neat don't be like me of course

if you're just setting up things now you

don't have to worry about this stage

it's just good to keep in mind for later

on when you do have this problem the

fifth folder is called the template

folder this has one simple job and it

stores the template for your main notes

once we set this up later you can

totally forget about it so don't worry

folder number six is the Workhorse of

this entire system this is where your

main notes go some people call this

folder the zetto Casten or Atomic notes

the name is up to you the point is this

is where every single main note goes in

one folder now it sounds weird to put

every note in one place but remember

from before the lack of folders is what

keeps this system flexible and open to

connection plus as you add to this

folder you will naturally begin to see

different areas of Interest form because

of the links chaos will slowly turn into

a and you'll begin to see patterns in

what you're reading I know it's unlike

most other systems but if you trust the

process it's going to serve you well so

there's each folder covered once you set

them up with or without the optional

ones there's a few important settings we

have to jig around with to make the

process seamless like butter

what butter is not seamless first off we

go to files and links in the settings

here we'll change the default location

for new notes you want to select the one

that says in the folder specified below

then in the drop- down menu select your

main notes folder or whatever else you

called it now my notes are kind of ugly

but if you want some more aesthetically

pleasing ones go to the appearance

section in the settings and you know

have a play around with the themes next

we're going to set up some hotkeys to

make your reading as rapid as possible

we want to save all of our mental energy

for writing not for creating the notes

to do this you want to go to the hotkey

section of the settings search for

template and where it says insert

template add any hotkey convenient for

you mine is control T which works a

charm on Mac this would be command t

next go to the core plugin section in

the settings these are like extra quirks

you can add to obsidian some of these

are built into the app but others are

made by members of the community in the

call plugins you want to turn on the

templates now there are a few others you

can play around with but for now

templates is all we need if you go to

the community plug-in section you'll be

greeted with this huge list of plugins

to try all made by obsidian users you

can Overlook all of these for now you

don't need any of them but in case

you're interested I use two I use one

called better word count to upgrade the

word count feature but also one called

smart random note because sometimes I

like to be able to generate a random

notes but to clarify this is just my

personal preference you don't need them

and maybe after you've got into the flow

of using this system do have an explore

and see if you can upgrade your process

somehow but be careful because the power

of the system is in its Simplicity if

you add endless plugins you might just

over complicate the process and distract

yourself from the real work so just be

wise in what you choose there's a reason

that after 9 months mons of use I only

have two installed do you remember the

templates we messed around with earlier

now you'll see how useful they are in

action in the settings go to the

template section and in the top part

select the folder that you created for

your templates if you now exit the

settings and press contrl t or whichever

hotkey you set up for the template it's

going to bring up this menu it's empty

because we haven't yet created a

template this is called a template

because with the click of a button you

can paste the contents onto empty note

and this gives you some basic structure

to work with it lives in the templates

folder and because of the setting we

changed earlier obsidian knows that this

is the template you can copy my template

for now at the top you can see date and

time in between the squiggly brackets

now I don't actually know the name of

those but the point of them is that once

you create a new note the date and time

will automatically go there below this

is status and tag this is where you add

some important information for

categorizing the note you'll see this in

a bit it's super simple next you have

the title of the note and once you type

in the title again it's automatically

going to be pasted here to make it big

and bold like you see here you simply

put a hashtag followed by space you can

add multiple hashtags to make

subheadings and the more hashtags you

add the smaller the subheading will be

under this you want to leave some blank

space so you can actually have room to

write your notes then at the bottom make

a heading called reference here you're

going to link to the source material but

also any other similar notes from here

the setup is complete so well done I

haven't touched these settings since I

began this system so thankfully from

here it's a low maintenance process now

let me walk you through the fun part how

you can actually write these notes to

create a new note you press crl o now

this will bring up a menu and in the

search bar you can type in the title of

your note and then press shift plus

enter to create it the good thing about

this menu is that it works as a search

bar so if you type in something and you

have a similar note already created it's

going to pop up for example I might want

to create a new note about purpose and

when I type in purpose similar notes

will come up anything with purpose in

the title this helps me avoid writing

the same note twice which does happen

because you might write a note months in

the past and completely forget about it

if I have already written the note I can

simply jump back into it and maybe

elaborate and add something but of

course if the note doesn't exist then

congratulations you made a new one once

you create your new note it's going to

be blank and you want your template to

be pasted on top of it to do that press

contrl T which is the hotkey for your

template and then you'll see the one you

created pop up press that one and within

a second this slaps some structure into

your note and it sets you up for right

writing without hesitation now for the

writing itself you want your notes to be

written in a way that serves you the

easiest way to show you this is to make

a note myself from start to finish

recently I read a book called

Confessions of a cartel Hitman and yeah

it's not the most deep or insightful

book but you know I wanted to change the

pace I also love to study crime from an

anthropology perspective and of course

this guy is a cartel member he had

firsthand experience which I found

interesting I have read this book but

now I'm in the notetaking stage where I

run through the book again from start to

finish and I look for anywhere I took

notes I then give these notes a formal

write up to solidify them to start off

with I make a new note in the source

materials folder I give it the title of

the book and of course if it was an

online Source I would add the link here

too this is a book so there's no need

for that whenever I encounter a note in

the paperback or maybe something I

underlined that was interesting I make

sure to write the page number down and

maybe a relevant quote below this note I

then expand on the topic in my own words

I talk about my thoughts on it maybe

what it reminded me of or even just

explain it to myself your in a way that

I understand now it's so so important to

use your own words here otherwise you

risk falling into passive learning of

course it's easy to just copy the quote

and move on but because this is a quick

process you're not really forced to

think about it so if you want to

remember more and actually understand

what you read it's best to take the time

to flesh it out as you see it this

forces your mind to reflect to think and

to truly dwell on the ideas my first

note here is about how Martin corono the

author felt extreme loyalty to his

fellow gang members even early on when

he was on the streets I have a page

number I have a quote and below it I

expanded on the idea I explained how

loyalty was the backbone of gang life

probably because it feels fulfilling to

be part of this close-knit group I carry

on through the book repeating this

process page number quote elaboration

because I write a lot for each one this

is a timec consuming process but you

know I'm okay with that if it helps the

ideas stick I'm willing to make that

sacrifice of course you don't have to do

the same you can write as little as you

want or as much as you want once I

finish writing all the source material

notes I then create the full notes again

I start at the top and I put a new tab

to the side by pressing CR o I bring up

the search menu I can then type in a new

note and create it I then press contrl T

which shows me the template and of

course I insert that and there you go

there's the full note the notes from The

Source material were in context but

these ones the main notes are not this

means they're independent from The

Source material and they're

self-explanatory because of that one

simple change it almost standardizes

them and it lets them connect to other

notes freely it also gives you a chance

to talk about the bigger picture once

you write the notes in the source

material you can then ask yourself so

what why does this matter what does this

mean so throughout the source note I

might see the same idea pop up again and

again and to me that's something worth

talking about the main note gives me a

chance to take all of that and wrap it

up as a key idea or a key takeaway I

explained this process a little bit more

in a past video so I'll try and remember

to link that here for example this note

I've created says that criminal gangs

are united by a deep sense of loyalty

and belonging now this makes no mention

of Martin Corona the cartel member but

what it does mention is the bigger

picture the thing I want to walk away

with of course you can reference people

or events directly from the book But be

sure to explain it you want to be able

to return to these notes and actually

understand what's going on immediately

let's now go through the notes from top

to bottom the status tag is not that

important and honestly you can do

without it I will use it for two things

first I'll will either write # bab #

child or # adult this sounds weird but

all it means is how develop the note is

if the note is new it's badly written

and maybe unconnected or write # bab

which tells me it's kind of in its young

stage once I write more edit the notes

and connect it to other things I can

upgrade that status to a child and then

adult all this does is help me know

which notes maybe need more attention

and more work again this is a less

important feature so please feel free to

remove it from your template if the note

contains a quote I also like to put #t

quote in this section I love to use

quotes in my writing because I feel like

it's a a Punchy way to get your message

forward so by putting #t quote it just

lets me find them more easily next comes

the tag section now we've already talked

about how to make tags but I must

confess this part can be tricky for

months I looked for advice on how to tag

my notes properly how specific should I

be how many tags should I add should I

do it according to my interests or the

subject I had all these unanswered

questions and I was lost for Direction I

want you to avoid the same Rabbit Hole

so here are some pointers for Effective

tagging ones that I learned the hard way

first try to avoid tags that are too

vague now for example I'm technically

into self-improvement but what does that

even mean it's such a vague idea that

could mean Fitness it could mean Health

it could mean business it could mean

religion it could mean all sorts of

different things if I showed you a note

that said self-improvement you can't

really guess what's inside of course you

don't want it to be too precise either

otherwise you'll end up never using it

again you want it to be somewhere in the

middle when I feel the need to create a

new tag I ask myself a simple question

will I ever use this tag again is there

anything I might come across that will

also have this tag another tip that

saved me so much irritation in tagging

is to keep tag tags related to your

interests rather than what other people

think is a common category the most

obvious tags will be things like Fitness

sociology maths things like that now

those make sense in The Wider world but

this is your system so the tag should

serve you above all for example I have a

tag called dangers to male female

relationships now this sounds quite

weird it's not a category of content you

hear about every day it may be a bit

Niche and precise but it works for me

because it's something I'm interested in

I know for a fact that I'm going to

encounter more ideas that's going to be

relevant to this topic and this means

that the tags are serving my interests

and not necessarily what the rest of the

world is thinking remember this system

is your second brain it doesn't belong

to anyone else and that means the tag

should serve you and you alone in the

early stage of the system you're going

to find yourself creating loads of new

tags but remember after creating one and

moving it to your tag section you can

infinitely reuse it as you progress and

you've covered most of your interests

things will calm down a little for this

note I know I don't have to create many

new tags I've already talked about ideas

similar to this and the tags will

already exist so I apply the Loyalty tag

I apply the meaning tag and this is a

good start but I see something's missing

I haven't accounted for the criminal

side of this tag now I love to read

about cartel history and maybe

criminology in general I know I'm going

to encounter this idea again so it makes

sense to create a new tag for it so

maybe I'll create a new tag called

cartels or criminal life something not

too vague but not too specific another

common problem I have is that sometimes

I forget tags exist and I forget to use

them where they should be used now it's

a real pain in the ass but I found a

work around what I do is I search for

similar notes using the hyperlink

function and then I go into those notes

and see what they have tagged and

sometimes this reminds me of tag that I

forgot about and I can just reuse it in

my new notes the final nugget of tag

advice is to not put too many down you

can add 6 Seven 8 but at that point it

starts to get confusing and messy I aim

to keep it below four and five most of

the time and you can't even go wrong

with just one tag Now we move to the

bulk of the note itself there's not much

to say here it's as simple as discussing

idea in order to better understand it

yourself it's an outlook for reflection

almost because I've already written a

lot in the source material note I tend

to just copy paste it sometimes I then

maybe expand upon it edit the structure

improve upon it and do all these things

to make it as useful as possible for me

or I can start from scratch and use the

source material notes as inspiration

most people write Less in the source

materials and then use this step for the

full write up so really it depends on

what you prefer I just like to write a

lot because as I said it helps slow down

the flow and helps you remember it

better the format of these notes is also

your call I love to write these notes as

mini essays which I talk about in an

earlier video so do check that out but

of course if you feel like a single

sentence is enough to capture the idea

go for it you can use blunt informative

sentences you can use a story to tell

something you can use a personal

experience to make light of what you

read literally anything goes because

remember these are your notes and you

can do whatever you please I'm not going

to be assessing them like a teacher and

neither will anyone else and speaking of

mini essays you're going to see some in

my newsletter so do be sure to subscribe

with the link in the description it's

totally free of course with that said I

do have two small tips that help me keep

my notes focused and free from clutter

first I recommend that you keep these

notes quite short so that you avoid

turning them into this full-blown

article or essay you want to use these

notes as tools for learning or maybe to

write up something you don't really want

the note to be the large writing project

itself this defeats the whole purpose of

the note because it's no longer

versatile I recommend keeping them below

500 Words And as a rule of thumb I try

and write so that everything fits on the

page without having to scroll down it

just keeps things focused and concise

the second tip is so important and it's

to keep each mini essay focused on a

single idea again you want your notes to

be as clear and as flexible as possible

you want to be able to use them in all

sorts of situations whether that's

writing something or maybe just to

refresh your memory if you create a

complicated note that pulls together

many different ideas you end up with

this messy jumble and because it's short

you don't really have the time to flesh

them out it may feel insightful but you

may just be diluting the message and

making it hard to understand what the

note is about now connections are great

don't get me wrong it's great to mix and

match ideas but you should save this

probably for a larger piece of writing

maybe a full-blown essay there you have

the room to expand upon these ideas and

to really flesh them out and give them

the attention they deserve if you want

to expand on a note in obsidian simply

make a new one and then write about the

next idea there and maybe connect it

back using a link it's the same end

result but by doing so you've kept your

notes clear and flexible also here's an

underrated piece of advice format your

notes so that they're easier to read

trust me your future self doesn't want

to revisit these notes and be met with

this big fat ugly block of text text so

try and include spaces between the lines

at natural break points this keeps it

easy to read and it takes less mental

energy and that leads us to the final

stage at last referencing at the bottom

of the notes in the references section I

create hyperlinks to any notes that

discuss similar ideas I also like to

link to the source material that the

idea came from in this case it would be

Confessions of a cartel Hitman the book

in The Source materials folder again

this is easy to do it's the same

function as tagging you press the square

bracket button twice and then search for

any notes that connect and then you just

press enter the same problem happens

with tagging though you might forget

about notes and forget to tag them the

easiest way to get around this is to

look up keywords and because those

keywords probably exist in the title of

the notes you might end up stumbling

upon ones that are relevant to be extra

sure I'm not missing anything I might

even go to the tags of the note and at

the bottom of the tag you see all of the

linked notes and chances are something

in there might be relevant enough to

connect and finally at the bottom I link

to the source material this is just a

handy way to know exactly where the idea

came from and if you ever want to

revisit the source you know where to

find it without tagging The Source note

you might have to end up scaring the

internet to find where it came from and

of course you don't want to be in that

situation I think that's everything

that's a long video so thank you for

watching and the thing is with these

setups is you can't mention everything I

I know for a fact that I've missed some

points here and I've missed some details

and there will be questions so of course

the comments are open my email is open

feel free to shoot me anything that you

don't understand and I'm I'll gladly

explain it because this is hard and it

might take a a few days few weeks few

months to get into the flow of things

but trust me if you persevere through

that you will understand you'll get a

feel for how the app works and overall

it will start to work for you so I

really hope that I've covered everything

well enough to get going but again feel

free to ask questions feel free to check

the comments for any answers you might

have and of course thank you so much for

watching