In our search for the perfect note-taking system, we often wander through a maze of complex tools and methods, only to find ourselves more entangled than ever. But what if the best approach is the simplest one? In this post, I’ll share my journey towards simplifying note-taking, and why plain text, with a touch of modern tooling, turned out to be my best ally.
Plain text is timeless. It’s simple, versatile, and enduring. Unlike proprietary formats, plain text doesn’t tie you down to a specific software or platform. This freedom and flexibility are what make it the best format for note-taking. No matter what tool you choose today or tomorrow, your notes remain accessible and transferable.
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When writing this post I discovered this delightful site https://plaintext-productivity.net/. It details a system of using plain text for productivity. Some of the practices I already use, some I will try out later.
The End Goal: Output
The primary purpose of taking notes is to support output – whether it’s writing a paper, preparing a presentation, or simply organizing thoughts. Overly complex systems can become a hindrance rather than a help. The focus should be on the content you’re creating, not on managing the tool you’re using to create it.
Obsidian: A Double-Edged Sword
Obsidian is a popular tool in the note-taking community, known for its powerful linking features. I tried all the bells and whistles, I even set up a Zettelkasten system, a dataview of my books and movies, a kanban, and a calendar with notes. Obsidian is a powerful tool, and I can see why it’s so popular. But in the end, I couldn’t stick to it — it was too much hassle. The main issue is with performance. Being based on Electron, Obsidian is slow, especially with a large number of notes and when syncing with a cloud service. This adds a lot of unnecessary friction to the note-taking process.
After trying it I am now firmly against using Obsidian for anything other than note-taking. It does the jobs awkwardly and dilutes its effectiveness as a note-taking tool.
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And here is a nice post about why you SHOULD use Obsidian which inspired this post.
My Solution: Back to Basics
After experimenting with various systems, I’ve settled on a surprisingly simple setup:
- Markdown Files in a Simple Folder Structure: I use a basic folder structure with markdown files. This approach is clean, easy to navigate, and keeps the focus on writing. The only thing missing from plain markdown is backlinks, wikilinks, and tags. But with a few simple tools, we can add these features without sacrificing simplicity.
- Quartz for Static Site Generation: I use Quartz to generate a static site from my markdown files. I set it up with almost no configuration, and it works like a charm.
- VSCode with Foam Plugin: For writing, VSCode equipped with the Foam plugin is my go-to. It’s lightweight, customizable, and integrates well with Quartz. And I can have all the editing features I need without the bloat of Obsidian.
- Bear for Mobile Note-taking: For mobile note-taking, I use Bear. It’s a simple, lightweight app that syncs with iCloud. It supports markdown and nested tags, which is essential for me. I use it to capture ideas on the go and then transfer them to my desktop system.
I’m still fine-tuning my system. Currently, I mainly use nested tags, which I find more effective than a flat folder structure. They offer a more nuanced way to organize and retrieve information. But folders are still useful for grouping notes by topic. I’m still figuring out the best way to combine the two.
Conclusion
Simplifying my note-taking process has been a liberating experience. By focusing on plain text and leveraging a couple of lightweight tools, I’ve managed to create a system that’s efficient, flexible, and sustainable. Remember, the best system is the one that works for you, and sometimes, simplicity is the key to effectiveness.