Chapter 2: Sales and Recommendations for Obsidian Users

For those who enjoy a good deal, don't miss the ongoing sales such as a 3-month trial of Drafts Pro and a 25% discount on TfTHacker’s Canvas Candy. I highly recommend Drafts for easily transferring text into Obsidian, particularly on mobile devices, as it's my go-to subscription app. You can read more about it in my previous writings.

Canvas Candy is perfect for visual thinkers who prefer plain text and Markdown. It works exceptionally well with the Excalidraw plugin, which I found quite beneficial.

Chapter 3: Enhancing Your Read It Later Strategy

When saving articles or links—whether manually or through tools like Readwise or Omnivore (my top choice)—it's crucial to note your reasons for saving them. Simply stating, “It was interesting” might suffice temporarily, but later on, you might forget your original intent.

To avoid this, consider using tags, comments, or a brief note alongside your saved links. One effective method in Obsidian is to include a "why" property in your YAML template to remind your future self of the context.

Chapter 4: Efficient Switching Between Obsidian Vaults

Opinions vary on how many Obsidian vaults are needed for organizing projects. Some users prefer distinct spaces for major endeavors, while others consolidate everything into one vault. Here’s my approach to determining when to create a new vault.

A helpful Medium article by Prakash Joshi Pax shares tips on managing vaults, including how to assign icons and pin them to your taskbar (for Windows users), which likely applies to MacOS as well.

For switching between vaults, I employ two methods: direct links and window switching.

To create a direct link to a file in another vault: 1. Open the file you wish to link to. 2. Navigate to the target file and copy its URL by clicking the three dots in the top right corner and selecting "Copy Obsidian URL." I often use the shortcut Command + Shift + O. 3. Return to the original file and paste the link—usually in the related property section.

For Mac users, if you want to switch vaults using window switching, ensure all desired vaults are open. You can then toggle between them by pressing Command + Back Tick. A shoutout to Angel from the Obsidian Forum for this useful tip!

Chapter 5: The Journey of Paper-Less Budgeting

As I continue my budgeting journey, I've transitioned from YNAB to plain text accounting, then to paper and spreadsheets. It’s a continual evolution!

Recently, I enrolled in The Budget Mom’s Building Blocks of Budgeting course during the Black Friday sales. It seems well-aligned with my current knowledge level, especially since the instructor is a tech-savvy individual who prefers paper methods—an aspect that initially drew me to her content. I’m eager to see how my budgeting approach evolves post-course.

Chapter 6: In Search of the Ideal Pencil

I’ve spent considerable time researching the perfect pencil, especially after discovering the Pencilly website. After several rounds of adding and removing items from my cart, I realized I needed to clarify what I truly want in a writing tool. Interestingly, a traditional wooden pencil may not be the ideal choice for me.

This journey has taught me that no single tool can address all my needs. Currently, I’m enjoying a Staedtler clutch pencil with 2mm lead, complete with an integrated sharpener. I’ve also paired it with an eraser pen that came with ten refill erasers at a reasonable price.

Ellane is dedicated to helping simplicity-driven Apple users plan and learn effectively and independently. Check out her writings on Obsidian and previous editions of the Plain Text, Paper — Less Productivity Digest.

Download productivity resources, including a demo vault for Obsidian Planner, here.