Obsidian Note Taking Tutorial for Beginners - Start HERE (w/ example)

Obsidian note taking for Beginners! Start here for the ultimate Obsidian tutorial starting from zero. We'll cover an easy Obsidian set up that will get you going in 20 minutes.

Obsidian note taking is a game changer with connected notes. If you don't have a knowledge management system yet, try out Obsidian with this tutorial!

I'll show you an example of how you can start using Obsidian and give you the details on the functions, style, lists, views, and plug ins! Let's get started!

✏️Smart Note-Taking✏️

⚡️Frameworks & Mental Models⚡️

⏱ TIME STAMPS ⏱
0:00 Obsidian intro
00:37 Obsidian set up
02:00 Practical Example with Thinking Fast & Slow
06:26 Step by Step - 1/ Functions10:51 Step by Step - 2/ Style
12:05 Step by Step - 3/ Lists
13:02 Step by Step - 4/ Views
14:26 Step by Step - 5/ Plug-ins
18:31 Graph view

#obsidian #knowledgemanagementsystem #notetaking
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[kugelfunk]

Just a side note: I love the fast-forwarding. Not only are you respectful of people's time, you're the only one I've seen do it this way with the chipmonk voice, even though it's so obvious.

[PJZ]

Just a random person stopping by to say thanks for making this. You’ve gotten me really excited about Obsidian and I appreciate you laying everything out so clearly.

[impendingbloom]

technical observation --> (no offense, constructive criticism) The sound effects in your video presentation are so so much louder than your voice. If we turn up the volume to hear your voice clearly then when a sound effect (swoosh sound) comes in it's so loud it's startling

[kratoswrox]

This is so confusing. You jump from one place to another. Trying to follow you but there is no sequence. Thanks.

[kyleareich]

Hi Vicky, I just recently learned about Obsidian and decided to take the plunge. After jumping into it, I immediately got overwhelmed/lost. Your videos have been AMAZING for the whole thing. I've tried other sources, but you have a real skill for offering the critical bits in a very clear and concise manner that both helps me: learn what I wanted to; and also saves me time compared to other resources. Thanks for your work!

[VickyZhaoBEEAMP]

Are you setting up your second brain? Let me know if you're starting with Obsidian!
* Shortcut for making checkbox changed to: Ctrl L or ⌘ L

[ebertmahon]

An excellent explanation on getting started with Obsidian. I purchased two other courses on Obsidian but I got more straight forward instruction that I could apply right away from your video that would have taken me more time to learn from the courses I bought. I echo what Sotov said about your video being the goto for starting with Obsidian. New subscriber to your channel and newsletter. :)

[anver]

I've been trying to figure Obsidian for the last few days and your first video is the first one that actually helps! I almost gave up because it seemed so complicated before!

Side note for anyone else following along, the hotkey for checkboxes has been changed to ctrl/cmd + L

[SUPERSTUDIO]

THANK YOU so much for making Obsidian so easily understandable and less scary for beginners like me who want to delve into it. You are by far the best video tutorial out there!

[Sotov]

After watching 10 videos with step by step guide, your video is the only one i would recommend to someone. Great content! Thank you very much)

[umimop]

I've tried watching several otherwise really good tutorials, but none of them explained, what the vault even is and what you should or shouldn't do to it. And as someone, who knows for fact each note-taking app has major hidden stones (sometimes it's backup/restore/sync, sometimes notes structure, sometimes location etc), I simply couldn't go on without. Messing up this core thing in question can cost you a lot of time, headache and potentially some important notes, that may end up being lost or corrupted. So I'm really grateful, I finally found someone, who is approaching Obsidian from that angle, instead of starting on all of the possibilities and features. Now I can proceed at ease.

[byShawnPark]

Shortcut to create a checkbox is now CMD + L

[ceafva]

Watch dozens of videos and have been working with Obsidian for 2 months now applying what I learned. For some reason I can't get out of the folders thinking. I down loaded all my Kindle books read highlights into Obsidian which is my understanding of fleeting notes. I now realize after watch your previous video, it is not. They are literature notes. Now I want to write my ideas and thoughts but do I do this in literature notes or permanent notes. Especially confused if the highlighted reading notes are already in literature notes.

What you are showing here is one idea per note. Ive been creating writing ideas and notes in my paper filing system for years on nonfiction writing as well as teaching nonfiction writing. Most of these are fleeting notes turned literature notes on paper.

I started with Obsidian with plans I can get these paper notes into O and then turn them into deliveryable content. Been trying to work on this but have placed all the notes under the subject. I.e., outling has it's folder, 1st draft another, self-publishing another.

I'm just so confused and have been blocked on how to proceed next for weeks.

Do I need to take one idea on outlining and add it to a single note and then another note double bracketed to a micro subject like outing so I can create my outline eBook?

So hard to explain, my brain fees fried. I took a week off to see if I could relax. I know everyone has their system. I am a spacial thinker I believe (your description in previous video). Maybe note. Oh wow. I've been praying daily for help and just plugging forward.

[davidcue]

When you created another note using ' russels conjugation', what keys did you press? I'm highlighting but not getting the same as you, it just creates new untitled note

[munroanderson]

Right, you need to explain the steps your taking. Eg how did you create that second note?

[danielforde-pogson]

I'm sure this is useful, but I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about...back to the search bar. But thanks!!

[LiamLuxAndersson]

Thanks so much Vicky, learnt a hell of a lot from this video. Appreciate your clear communication and taking us on your journey into obsidian.

[patricktunkl]

@3:52 - "So, I can create another note" - but HOW??

[parfittelcano]

What keyboard shortcut did you use to add that link 3:56?

[raquelangelacoles]

This was a very organized & straight forward video. Thanks!