Exploring Productivity: The Analog To-Do List and More Insights
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Chapter 1: The Necessity of Separation in Productivity
This week, I ponder the question: should the processes of capturing and curating information exist apart from content creation? Influential voices like Matt Giaro and Chuck Frey have shared their perspectives. Giaro advocates for this separation, while Frey regards his Obsidian workspace as a sacred area for writing. I'm taking some time to think about these viewpoints before forming my own opinion.
Section 1.1: Learning from the Physical Zettelkasten
Herbert Lui transitioned from using physical index cards for his Zettelkasten to a digital platform, Notion. While I prefer to maintain control over my own data and won’t follow suit, I appreciate the rationale behind his approach. Lui writes a new note almost daily without worrying about its significance, allowing clarity to emerge organically over time. By utilizing the limitations of physical cards, he minimizes distractions and keeps notes concise. He dedicates just enough effort to the structure of his Zettelkasten to allow forgotten notes to resurface when needed. Ultimately, he values the ability to export his notes over the specific tool he uses, emphasizing that portability is crucial. He also incorporates a regular review system to link new notes with existing ones, believing that the optimal Zettelkasten method is the one that suits your needs best.
Subsection 1.1.1: Adventures in Plain Text
This week, I decided to remove the Bible from my Obsidian vault to troubleshoot some issues I was experiencing with the iOS application synced through iCloud. Unsurprisingly, the presence of an additional 45,000 files significantly impacted performance!
In contrast, iA Writer handled this volume effortlessly, likely due to its simplicity. For now, I’m willing to forgo my plain text Bible and see if it’s worth sacrificing access to the mobile app.
The choice is clear:
- Bible + iA Writer on iOS
- No Bible + Obsidian on iOS
Ideally, I would love to have access to all forms of wisdom literature in my vault, including works by Shakespeare and Stoic philosophers. Perhaps I need to adjust my perspective? My goal is to be able to link information seamlessly across different platforms. Until that dream becomes a reality, I’ll make strategic decisions with the resources I have available.
Section 1.2: The Appeal of the Analog To-Do List Holder
The Analog to-do list holder may appear simple, yet it has gained surprising popularity. You might find yourself questioning why such a basic item could be so enticing, especially when it’s essentially a piece of paper for jotting down tasks. Personally, I rely on my Paper Saver notebook for daily tasks, but I wouldn’t mind using the sleek, wooden Analog if it were a gift. I also appreciate the value of saving money, as I often choose home-cooked meals over spending at fast-food joints.
A video review of the Analog was presented by Chase Reeves, who combines analog methods with Obsidian. He provides insightful commentary, though he does have a penchant for colorful language, so viewer discretion is advised for the latter part of the video.
The Plain Text, Paper-Less Productivity Digest focuses on enhancing productivity with a future-oriented, plain text perspective, while also valuing the necessary use of paper. Previous episodes can be found in my PTPL List.
For more insights into my thoughts on Obsidian, click here.
If you're interested in boosting your productivity, download some free resources, including a demo vault for Obsidian, here.
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