The topic of I stopped using separate tools for writing, planning, and organizing – Obsidian does… is currently the subject of lively debate — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
My digital toolkit used to consist a range of specialized apps – one for capturing thoughts, another for project planning, and a third for long-form writing. I was convinced that it was the peak of productivity, but in reality, I was spending more time managing my tools than actually doing work.
That changed when I stopped treating Obsidian as just another folder for my notes and started treating it as my central command. I finally managed to build a system that’s lean, lightweight, and thinks the way I do.
For a long time, I had convinced myself that I was being organized by using the best tool for every specific task, but the reality was a mess of disconnected silos.
Every time I had a new idea, I had to stop and think about using a relevant tool for jotting it down. If it were a task, it went to my To-Do app. If it was a long-form thought, it went to my writing app. If it were a random resource, it would go to a bookmarking tool.
I was tired of context switching, and it was affecting my focus before I even started working.
Due to these different apps, finding a thought, note, project detail, or task was confusing. I would remember writing down a brilliant insight about a project, but I couldn’t remember where. I would go through Google Docs, Apple Notes, and even a Trello board and waste several minutes on such a simple task.
I realized I was spending more time managing my productivity system than actually being productive. I was color-coding labels in one app, setting up databases in another, and trying to force syncs between tools that were never meant to work together.
I mostly treated Obsidian as nothing more than a glorified Markdown editor. I liked the clean interface and the fact that my files lived locally on my hard drive, but I used it strictly for archived knowledge (a place where notes went to live after the real work was done elsewhere).
I would plan my week in a dedicated calendar app, manage my projects in a database tool, and then eventually copy a summary into Obsidian.
The real breakthrough came when I realized that Obsidian is as simple or as complex as you want it to be.
The beauty of my all-in-one approach is that when my workflow changes, Obsidian changes with me. If I’m starting a big writing project, I can turn my sidebar into a focused drafting space. If I’m in ‘planning mode’ for a new launch, I can pull up a Canvas board.
Overall, I stopped seeing Obsidian as a digital filing cabinet and started seeing it as a command center.
Let’s start with my writing workflow. I used to bounce between Google Docs for collaborating and a distraction-free editor for drafting. Now, every blog post, email, and script starts in Obsidian. Because it uses Markdown, I’m not fighting with formatting or jumping through menus.
I can have my research notes open in a split pane on the left and a draft on the right. When I’m done, the note is already linked to the project it belongs to.
I ditched my dedicated planner for a combination of Daily Notes and Checklists. Every morning, I open my daily page, and it’s my dashboard. I see what I need to do, who I need to call, and any ideas I had the night before.
By keeping my tasks inside the same app where I do my writing, I actually complete the tasks instead of just looking at them in a separate tab.
Sometimes, a linear list of notes isn’t enough. When I’m planning a big project or mapping out a complex article, I use Obsidian Canvas. It’s an infinite whiteboard where I can drag in my notes, images, and PDF highlights and connect them with arrows.
When it comes to managing personal projects, I rely on the Kanban plugin. It’s a neat third-party plugin where I can create different columns and add relevant task cards with details. Check out my dedicated post to learn more about using the Kanban plugin.
I organize everything by context. I use tags like #process or #active and backlinks to create ‘Map of Content’ pages. Now, my Obsidian vault feels like a personal Wikipedia with daily notes, tasks, meeting info, project details, and more.
If I need to find a recipe or a book highlight, I’m not digging through nested folders; I’m just following the links or using the graph view.
Moving my entire workflow into Obsidian was all about removing the friction between my thoughts and my work. I stopped managing tools and started managing ideas. If you are currently dealing with dozens of browser tabs and specialized apps, my advice is simple: start small with Obsidian.
You don’t need a complex system of plugins and folders on day one. Just pick one process, move it over, and make sure everything lives in one place.
Why it matters
News like this often changes audience expectations and competitors’ plans.
When one player makes a move, others usually react — it is worth reading the event in context.
What to look out for next
The full picture will become clear in time, but the headline already shows the dynamics of the industry.
Further statements and user reactions will add to the story.