In this piece, I’ll share key takeaways from ten articles I authored in 2022, along with my top five Obsidian resources sourced from the internet.

Throughout the year, I published a total of 106 articles, with 75 of them mentioning Obsidian—it's safe to say I’m quite a fan!

My focus for 2022 revolved around minimizing my reliance on Obsidian plugins, leading to a significant reduction in their use.

Three Major Highlights

• The launch of the Plain Text, Paper-Less Productivity Digest in May was a personal achievement; I managed to release an issue weekly without missing a beat! Episode 33 is set to publish on January 2, and earlier editions are now freely accessible.
• I introduced two sample Obsidian vaults: one for daily/weekly/monthly planning and another featuring a free Markdown KJV Bible (available here).
• I began utilizing iA Writer to manage my Markdown files on mobile devices and Mac, allowing me to write and publish directly to Medium.

Recurring Themes

Here’s a selection of quotes from ten of my favorite articles this past year. By "favorite," I mean those that resonate with me, rather than those with the highest readership. There are many noteworthy pieces in the PTPL archive that also align with these themes.

Connecting Analog and Digital Realms

1. Implementing Johnny Decimal in Obsidian

   I liken my approach to Johnny Decimal to ironing; I don’t iron clothes merely because they’re wrinkly, but to prepare outfits I’ll wear that day, avoiding the discomfort of looking disheveled. If you prefer to number everything from the outset, that's fine! Just remember, a collection of unnumbered files or unironed clothes is perfectly acceptable, provided they’re organized within their respective categories.

2. Two Habits for Protecting Your Writing

   Using Obsidian’s folding text plugin can sometimes result in losing text segments, particularly on iOS devices.

3. Transforming Excess Notebooks Instead of Discarding

   This article holds personal significance for me. While it doesn’t focus solely on Obsidian, it applies to digital notes and paper alike. The essence of containers is to contain. Properly organized items shouldn’t overflow or spill out but should remain well-defined within their designated spaces.

Templates and Strategies

4. A Simplified, Plugin-Free Method for Task Management in Obsidian

   I encourage you to simplify your journey towards your goals. Starting small allows complexities to emerge gradually.

5. Creating a Life Summary Page in Obsidian

   While Obsidian is impressive, it’s just one of many tools available. It’s vital to reflect on your identity through the experiences you've had.

6. Effortlessly Merging Daily and Weekly Notes in Obsidian, Without Dataview

   (This includes a free demo vault download.) Learn to toggle between daily and weekly notes seamlessly, maintaining the advantages of both without extra effort.

Integrating Your Obsidian Vault with Other Tools

7. Discover the Mac App That Uniquely Connects Knowledge

   This article illustrates how to not only modify but also interconnect your digital ecosystem, especially if you prefer working within plain text documents.

8. An Exit Strategy for Your Notes App

   Would the sudden disappearance of your notes app leave you feeling incomplete?

9. 17 Obsidian Features I’ve Embraced for My Autonomous, Plain Text World

   (This includes the PKM analogy of the washing machine.) Just because your notes reside in local apps like Obsidian doesn’t exempt you from the risks of a closed environment. When a unique feature becomes integral to your workflow, you may sacrifice some digital autonomy.

10. Tutorial: Adding Text to Obsidian Without Opening the App

    I utilize Shortcuts for hands-free text input and Drafts for typing. My search for efficient methods arose from Obsidian's sluggishness on my iPhone, but I find Drafts on my Mac incredibly beneficial.

Five Obsidian Treasures from Across the Web

1. Creating Your Own Web Clipper in Obsidian by Gareth Stretton

   This guide provides detailed instructions and visuals for developing a web clipper that sends selected web content straight to your Obsidian vault.

2. Why I Use Both DevonThink and Obsidian by Simon Theakston

   While these tools overlap in functionality, I leverage DevonThink for file management and Obsidian solely for my thoughts and ideas.

3. Planning My Day with Obsidian — Elizabeth Tai (YouTube)

   In 2022, I sought software to build my own "wiki," ultimately discovering Obsidian, which I now utilize as a robust task management system.

4. Obsidian Canvas Keyboard Shortcuts by oldtowneast

5. Templater Tips from Nicole van der Hoeven

   Templater can prompt you for frontmatter values when applying templates, making it easier to manage your templates efficiently.

A Heartfelt Thank You

I genuinely appreciate your time and attention to my work. This past year has been a learning journey enriched by many remarkable individuals, with Eleanor Konik and her Obsidian Roundup standing out as a significant influence.

As I look toward 2023, my goal is to further streamline my note-taking and task management systems while remaining open to any necessary complexities that arise.

I hope to share this rewarding journey towards efficient, paper-less (though not entirely devoid of paper) productivity with you!