Why Obsidian?

Discovering Obsidian in February 2023 transformed my approach to organizing thoughts and knowledge. Inspired by Tiago Forte's "Building A Second Brain" , I chose Obsidian over Notion for its offline functionality, secure storage, and intuitive Obsidian Linking System.

Key Features That Won Me Over

• Local Vault Storage: Works offline, perfect for unreliable internet situations
• iCloud Integration: Seamless backup across my Apple devices
• Linking Your Thinking: Creating connections with double brackets builds a visual knowledge graph
• Personal Security: My data remains in my control, not dependent on third-party servers

Obsidian: My Essential Tool

Obsidian is completely free to use locally, which initially felt strange as I benefited so much from the developers' work. To support this incredible tool, I subscribe to both Obsidian Sync and Publish services. This subscription isn't just about additional features—it's my way of ensuring the platform's continued development and sustainability.

The developers at Obsidian have created something special: a knowledge management system that respects user data ownership while providing powerful linking capabilities.

My Daily Practice

I use Obsidian daily for:

• Weekend reflection and planning
• Work task management
• Meeting notes and project tracking
• Quick information retrieval and sharing (via PDF exports)
• Idea development and brainstorming

This system frees my mind from storage tasks, allowing it to focus on generating new ideas—exactly as Forte suggests.

Unexpected Benefits

Beyond organization, my Obsidian practice has improved my English language skills. As a native Bahasa speaker from Indonesia, daily writing provides consistent practice in articulating complex thoughts.

Personal Growth Catalyst

After a year of consistent use, my Obsidian vault has become a mirror reflecting my evolution. Obsidian is truly my personal growth Catalyst This practice has:

• Enhanced self-awareness
• Clarified my thinking patterns
• Strengthened decision-making
• Documented goals and aspirations

Connect and Explore

Want to learn more about building your own second brain? I recommend watching Nick Milo's "Linking Your Thinking" videos for deeper insights. His approach to creating connected knowledge has been instrumental in how I structure my digital notes.

Feel free to reach out if you'd like to discuss knowledge management systems or share Obsidian tips!