How I Use Obsidian As A Creative - Part 2
Tags: productivity, obsidian, learning, walkthrough
Published: 2021-12-06 10:12:51

Welcome to part two of a four-part series where I share with you how I use Obsidian as a creative. 

It's an extensive look at how my Obsidian vault is setup and how I use it to store my thoughts, learnings, and ideas.

Today we're going to talk about the following two directories: inbox and life os.

---

## 00-inbox


![Inbox directory screenshot](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/1hkjovx1wi63k39jyk04.png)

The inbox directory is where all the random uncategorized, unfinished notes live. 

This can include:

- drafts for articles I'm writing (like this one)
- ideas for future articles
- concepts I'd like to learn more about
- whatever random stuff crosses my path throughout the day

If you're familiar with the GTD methodology you'll recognize this as one of [my content inboxes](https://www.mishacreatrix.com/inboxes-to-manage-thoughts-and-ideas). I use it along with my Bullet Journal and Todoist to capture any stray thoughts or ideas that come into my head.

I try to review this directory once a week (during [my weekly review](https://www.mishacreatrix.com/restarting-the-weekly-review-process)) to clear it out and move notes to the right location.

Sometimes I'll add a tag #inbox or #towrite to these notes to further categorize them but I'm not sold on the value of this so I don't always do it. 

For me, it's enough to have all of these items stored in the Inbox directory itself.

---

## 01-life-os

The Life OS directory is where I keep notes relating to 'big picture' items like goals, projects, and weekly reviews.

This is where a lot of templates and other fun tricks start to come into play.

This directory contains the following sub-directories:

- 01-years
- 02-quarters
- 03-goals
- 04-projects
- 05-weeks

### 01-years


![Years Directory Screenshot](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/z7607aov28e6lqvj97vk.png)

The Years directory contains a note for each year. There's not a lot in here yet but as I continue with this process I'll have a lot to show for it over the next number of years.

#### **Naming Format**

The naming format for year notes is: *Y-2021*. Y denotes this is a year note and then the year shows me which year it belongs to.

#### **Years Index**

The first note in this directory is years-index which is an index of all my year notes.

This is generated using the Dataview plugin which queries the metadata/frontmatter of each note like querying a database.

Note: the code/syntax is written in Edit Mode, then when I switch to Preview Mode, I can see a list of all relevant notes.


![Years Index Screenshot](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/nszr2f0wru7aylv58uju.png)



years-index Dataview Syntax:
```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/01-years"
where contains(file.name, "Y")
sort file.name desc
```

#### **Year Note Template**

Each year note itself is generated from my Year Note Template. When I start a new year note, I simply press **CTRL + T**, then select Year Note Template and my note will auto-populate with everything I need.

The first section of the template contains the file name.

I also like to have a yearly theme so I put that right underneath the title.

```
# {{title}}
Theme: 
```

The next 3 sections are lists of my Quarter, Goal, and Project notes. These are all automatically pulled in using the Dataview plugin once again.

**Quarters:**

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/02-quarters"
where contains(file.name, "2021")
sort file.name asc
```

**Goals:**

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/03-goals"
where theYear = 2021
sort file.name asc
```

**Projects:**
```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/04-projects"
where theYear = 2021
sort file.name asc
```

Following this, I have my year end review section. 

These questions have been added over time as I continue to use this template and research other ways of doing yearly reviews. This is what I've settled on for now.

```
## Year End Review

### Review Of The Past Year
-   How did my yearly theme help me this year?
-   What went really well this year?
-   What surprised me?
-   What am I most proud of accomplishing?
-   What challenged me?
-   What am I most grateful for?
-   What have I learned this year?
-   My top 5 favorite things from this year
-   Describe this year in 3 words

### Looking Ahead To Next Year
-   What is my yearly theme and why?
-   What am I most looking forward to next year?
-   What am I feeling apprehensive about?
-   What do I want to do differently?
-   What area of y life to I most want to develop?
-   What do I want to accomplish next year?
-   What challenges am I likely to face?

### Taking Action
-   I will make more time for:
-   I will learn about:
-   I will say NO to:
-   I will say YES to:

```

At the end of each year, I review this note and perform a **yearly review**. 

This might sound really daunting but once you see everything in the quarters, goals, and projects sections, you'll realize there is a lot to work from.

### 02-quarters


![Quarters Directory Screenshot](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/o1sk17pxqvw22mqnsil0.png)

The Quarters directory contains a note for each quarter. 

I try to follow **The 12 Week Year** process as I have found it helps to keep me on track towards my goals and projects. 

You can check out my book notes for that book here: [The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran - Book Notes, Summary, Review](https://www.mishacreatrix.com/12-week-year-brian-moran)

#### **Naming Format**

The naming format for quarter notes is: *Q1-2021*. Q1 for example denotes the quarter (quarter 1) and the year shows me which year it belongs to.

#### **Quarters Index**

The first note in this directory is quarters-index which is an index of all my quarter notes.

This is automatically generated using the Dataview plugin which queries the frontmatter of each note like querying a database.

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/02-quarters"
where contains(file.name, "Q")
sort file.name desc
```

#### **Quarter Note Template**


The first section of the template contains the file name.

Underneath that, I link the quarter to the appropriate year with a backlink. This allows me to easily navigate to the correct year from inside the quarter note.

The next 3 sections are lists of my Goal, Project, and Week notes. These are all automatically pulled in using the Dataview plugin.


**Goals:**

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/03-goals"
where theQuarter = "Q1-2021"
sort file.name asc
```

**Projects:**

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/04-projects"
where theQuarter = "Q1-2021"
sort file.name asc
```

**Weeks:**

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/05-weeks"
where theQuarter = "Q1-2021"
sort file.name desc
```

Following this, I have my quarterly review section that I fill out at the end of each quarter. 

```
## Quarterly Review:

### Review Of Goals
- Look back at the goals I set for the quarter
- What were the themes/buckets associated with these goals?
- Did I achieve my goals?
- If not why not?
- Will any of these goals carry forward into the next quarter?
- If so, what needs to change to ensure success this time around?

### Review Of Projects
- Look back at the projects I undertook in the last quarter
- What were the themes/buckets associated with these projects?
- Were these linked to any of my goals?
- What one thing did I learn from each project?
- What one thing would I change if starting each project again?

### Review Of Weekly Reviews
- Look back at the weekly reviews from the last quarter:
- What were the 3 most important lessons I learned

### Start Stop Continue
- What should I start doing next quarter?
- What should I stop doing next quarter?
- What should I continue doing next quarter?

### Setting New Goals
-   Pick 1-2 new goals to work on for the next quarter
-   Fill them out in the Goals DB
-   Define any related projects that need to be created to accomplish the goal(s)
```


### 03-goals


![Goals Directory Screenshot](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/stjiib0zehdz3nxt9jow.png)


The Goals directory contains a note for each goal I set for myself. These will usually come from my **quarterly and yearly reviews**. 

The process if picking goals during my quarterly + yearly reviews helps to keep me focused and prevents me from trying to do too much at once.

#### **Naming Format**

I use icons at the start of the note to denote the goal's status:

- ⚪ - To Do
- 🟠 - In Progress
- 🟢 - Complete
- 🔴 - Failed

Yes, believe it or not, I fail at some of the goals I set for myself. 

I still like to keep those goals in my Obsidian system to review every once in a while. I definitely try to **learn from my failures** and this is a big part of that process.

As for the actual note name, I try to keep the name of the goal concise and understandable so I know what it is at a glance. 

#### **Goals Index**

The first note in this directory is goals-index which is an index of all my goal notes.

This is generated using the Dataview plugin which queries the frontmatter of each note like querying a database.

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/03-goals"
sort file.name
```

I also keep a list of **potential goals** I might like to work on in the future in this note.

#### **Goal Note Template**

This template starts with the front matter which is used by the Dataview plugin.

I have the year (theYear) and the quarter (theQuarter) which is what most of my Dataview queries look for.


```
 theYear: 2021 
 theQuarter: Q3-2021
```


Next, I have some more note data including the title, status, year, quarter, and project. 

I realize that I'm duplicating the Quarter and the Year but this way I can use backlinks as well as the Dataview functionality.


```
# {{title}}
Status:
Year: [[🔄 Y-2021]]
Quarter: [[🔄 Q3-2021]]
Project:
```

The next section relates to defining the goal itself. What it will entail, and what success looks like.

```
## Goal Background

## Goal Outline
**_Specific_**
**_Measurable_**
**_Achievable_**
**_Relevant_**
**_Time-Bound_**

## Definition Of Success

## 3 Reasons For Failing
What are the top 3 reasons why I might fail at this goal?

## How To Stack The Deck In Your Favor
Based on my reasons for failing, what strategies can I make use of to achieve my goals?

## Action Plan
Include the next actionable task I can do right now to start working towards my goal.
```

The final section is for my **goal review**. 

When I have accomplished (or failed) at a goal, I reflect on what went well and what I could improve on next time.

```
## Goal Review

### Did I Achieve This Goal?

### Why or Why Not?

### What 1 thing would I have done differently?

### What 1 thing did I learn from this experience?
```


### 04-projects

![Projects Directory Screenshot](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ledgueah4eybov1dlczh.png)

The Projects directory contains a note for each project I want to work on. 

These typically stem from the goals I'm currently working on. 

I also create projects that aren't directly tied to my goals but I try not to do this too often to prevent working on too much at once. 

You might be noticing a trend here of trying to prevent overwhelm and only focus on the most important stuff.

#### **Naming Format**

I use icons at the start of the note to denote the project's status:

- ⚪ - To Do
- 🟠 - In Progress
- 🟢 - Complete
- 🔴 - Failed

I then use a key: MXP21001

- *MXP* - Mishacreatrix Project
- *21* - the year (2021)
- *001* - the project number

Following the key I have the name of the project itself: "*blank-page-as-a-creator-ebook*".

Here's what an example note name looks like for a project: **🟢 MXP21011-blank-page-as-a-creator-ebook**

#### **Project Index**

The first note in this directory is project-index which is an index of all my project notes.

This is generated using the Dataview plugin which queries the frontmatter of each note like querying a database.

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/04-projects"
where contains(file.name, "MXP")
sort file.name
```

#### **Project Note Template**

This template starts with the front matter which is used by the Dataview plugin.

I have the year (theYear) and the quarter (theQuarter) which is what most of my Dataview queries look for.

```
 theYear: 2021 
 theQuarter: Q1-2021
```

Next, I have some more note data including the title, status, year, quarter, and goal. 

```
# {{title}}
Status:
Year: [[🔄 Y-2021]]
Quarter: [[🔄 Q1-2021]]
Goal:
```

The next section relates to defining the project itself. What it will entail, my workings and what I learned from the project once it's completed.

```
## Project Background
## Proposed Implementation
## Time Frame
## Notes
## Daily Notes
## What I Learned
## What Could Be Improved Next Time
```

#### **Project Ideas Kanban Board**

I have recently been playing around with the Kanban Board plugin and have found it to be extremely useful. 

So much so that I created a Project Ideas kanban board note.

Any time I think of a potential new project idea, it gets a note on the Kanban board. I currently have each note grouped based on the type of project.

For example: 

- Websites - ideas for websites to build
- Notion Files - ideas for Notion files + templates
- Figma Files - ideas for Figma files + templates
- eBooks, PDFs, Guides
- Needs more research - not yet sure what the implementation will look like so needs more thought.

When it comes to my quarterly and yearly reviews, I look at this board to pick what projects I can work on next.

### 05-weeks

![Weeks Directory Screenshot](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/923xedvkwckruexez4l1.png)

The Weeks directory contains a note for each weekly review I do. 

I do my weekly review on Friday afternoons but quite honestly I've missed the last couple. 

*This article will serve as a reminder for me to get my butt back in gear and do my weekly reviews!*

#### **Naming Format**

The naming format for these types of notes is:

- *W10* - the week number
- *20210319* - the year (2021), month (03), and date (19)

#### **Weeks Index**

The first note in this directory is weeks-index which is an index of all my week notes.

This is generated using the Dataview plugin which queries the frontmatter of each note like querying a database.

```dataview
list
from "01-life-os/05-weeks"
sort file.name desc
```

#### **Week Note Template**

This template starts with the front matter which is used by the Dataview plugin.

I have the year (theYear) and the quarter (theQuarter) which is what most of my Dataview queries look for.

```
 theYear: 2021 
 theQuarter: Q1-2021
```

Next, I have some more note data including the title, year, and quarter. 

```
# {{title}}
Year: [[🔄 Y-2021]]
Quarter: [[🔄 Q1-2021]]
```

Next, I have the main content of the weekly review:

```
## Get Started
-   Clear Desk space
-   Zero Inboxes
-   Review last week's entry
-   Review daily reflections

## Reflections
### What Went Well This Week?

### What Should I Start Doing?

### What Should I Stop Doing?

### What Should I Continue Doing?

## Work Log

## Planning
- Review next week's time blocks
- Add & schedule tasks for the next week

## Shut Down
"I am finished work for today"
```


---

That's it for this part of the series. The next post will be released next Monday. 

In the meantime you can read the original article I wrote over on my website: [A Walkthrough Of My Obsidian Setup](https://www.mishacreatrix.com/obsidian-setup-sep-2021)