Never forget note ideas. A simple system of bulleting in Obsidian and deleting once written
I want to write a note, but I can't think of any ideas.
On the other hand, it's only when I can't write a note that I suddenly think, 'Oh, I want to write about this.'
In my case, that happens when I wake up in the morning.
An article idea suddenly pops into my head. But I can't just start writing a note right then and there.
When I think, 'I'll write it later,' I end up forgetting it by the time I actually have the time.
So, I created a 'note idea notebook' in Obsidian on my smartphone.
All I do is leave a bullet point when an idea comes to mind, and delete it once I've finished writing the article.
Since switching to this simple system, I've become less likely to forget the ideas I've come up with, and my mind feels clearer.
Ideas don't always come when you can write a note
There are days when I try to write a note, but I can't think of anything.
However, right after I wake up in the morning or while I'm doing something else, things I want to write about suddenly come to mind.
Ideas don't appear on our schedule.
Moreover, in that moment, I think, 'It's made such an impression on me that I won't forget it.'
Even so, as time passes, it disappears before I know it.
What I needed wasn't to try harder to think of ideas, but a place to capture the ideas that came to me.
I created just one page for a 'note idea notebook' in Obsidian
What I prepared was a single page for an idea notebook within Obsidian.
When I think of something I want to write an article about, I open Obsidian on my smartphone and add it as a bullet point on that page.
For example, something like this is enough.
Sometimes article ideas come to me in the morning
If I write it in Obsidian, I won't forget it
Deleting ideas once I've finished writing them clears my head
I don't complete titles or think about the structure.
Because it's enough if my future self can look at it and remember what I wanted to write.
If I try to write neatly, the act of leaving notes itself becomes a chore.
Open my phone, add one short phrase, and close it. It's because it's this light that I've kept it up.
When it's time to write a note, open the idea notebook
When I have time to write a note, I first open my Obsidian idea notebook.
There, the things my past self thought, 'I want to write about this,' are lined up.
Since I don't have to think of a theme from scratch, the burden of starting to write has decreased.
I choose one that fits my mood or the time I have available that day and turn it into a note.
What's important is not writing the items in the idea notebook in order from the top, nor is it turning everything into an article.
Sometimes my feelings change when I look at them later. In that case, I don't have to write it.
The idea notebook is not a task list to drive me, but a place to temporarily store ideas.
When finished writing, delete that part
Once I finish writing an article, I delete that item from the idea notebook.
I like this action of 'deleting'.
Since only unfinished ideas remain, I can immediately see what I can write next just by looking at the page.
There is no need to organize completed items or move them to another database.
Write one, delete one.
Every time my idea list gets a little shorter, I feel like I've properly externalized what was in my head.
Of course, for those who want to keep a record or look back on the articles they've published, a different management method might be more suitable.
But what I'm looking for in this page isn't management of my achievements, but rather 'not forgetting'.
That's why I don't need to keep the ideas I've written. This trade-off works for me.
I didn't need to build a complex database
When you try to manage information, you end up wanting to create all sorts of fields like categories, status, priority, and scheduled publication dates.
However, in my case, the more I build up the system, the more the management itself becomes the goal.
All I needed this time were these three things:
When an idea comes to mind, jot it down as a bullet point on my phone
When writing a note, pick one from the idea list
Once finished writing, delete that item
With this, you don't need detailed knowledge of Obsidian or any plugins.
Instead of nurturing an idea list, I'm trying to keep it empty.
It might be a slightly unusual way to use it, but it keeps my mind clearer that way.
I separate its role slightly from my daily notes
I previously wrote about how pouring my thoughts into Obsidian's daily notes helps turn everyday realizations into note ideas.
Daily notes are a place to put into words feelings and discomforts that I'm not sure will become articles yet.
This idea list is a place to ensure I don't forget the specific ideas I've decided I want to write about in a note.
If daily notes are for expanding thoughts, the idea list is for temporarily storing things I want to write.
In my mind, that's how their roles are divided.
However, you don't need to prepare both from the start.
Just creating one page for your idea notebook is enough to start.
Rather than running out of ideas, don't let your inspirations slip away
What I realized after starting this system is that I didn't actually lack ideas.
Ideas were popping up in my daily life, but I just wasn't capturing them until I had the time to write.
To reduce the time spent worrying about 'what to write,' you don't need a system that forces you to generate a lot of ideas.
What I needed was a place to catch those small, fleeting ideas on the spot.
Even without special knowledge or grand experiences, the very process of putting your daily thoughts into words can resonate with someone else.
I've summarized here how I, as an introvert, have continued to share content by using note for organizing my thoughts.
Summary: Write it down when you think of it, and delete it once it's an article
My note idea management is very simple.
When an idea comes to mind, such as in the morning, I open Obsidian on my phone
I jot it down as a short bullet point on my idea notebook page
When I have time to write a note, I pick one from the list
Once I finish writing the article, I delete it from the idea notebook
That's all it takes, but it makes it harder to forget my inspirations and reduces the time I spend worrying from scratch when writing a note.
I believe that being able to continue without hesitation is more important than building a complex system.
If you're struggling with note ideas, try creating one page called 'note Idea Notebook' in Obsidian first.
And the next time you think of something, try leaving just one line.
That one line might just be the beginning of an article your future self will write.
