Effortlessly Merge Daily and Weekly Notes in Obsidian
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Note Management
When I designed my weekly log template in Obsidian, I believed I had completely moved on from daily notes. However, I soon realized that these focused, versatile journals had a stronger influence on me than I anticipated. Not only was it challenging to part ways with them, but I also found myself reluctant to do so!
To address this, I developed a method that allows me to toggle between daily and weekly notes effortlessly, preserving the benefits of both without the added hassle. In this guide, I will demonstrate how you can take notes daily while maintaining a weekly log simultaneously, all without extra effort.
Video Description: In this video, learn how to automate your periodic notes in Obsidian, including daily, weekly, and monthly reviews and planning.
Getting Started
I've previously shared my reasons for enjoying the flexibility between weekly and daily formats. Today, I will outline how I've configured my templates in Obsidian to automatically display daily notes within my weekly log and vice versa. You can either download my demo vault or follow the steps below to create your own setup from scratch.
If you're new to Obsidian, it's essential to review their help documentation before diving in. Nicole van der Hoeven’s videos are also excellent resources for getting familiar with the platform.
Prerequisites: To follow along, ensure you understand how to install plugins and navigate their settings, as well as block references.
Step 1: Create Your Templates
Whether you’re starting from scratch or adapting my vault, the first step is to create a folder named TEMPLATES within your vault and populate it with your Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly templates.
For clarity, I always label folders in uppercase letters, making it easy to distinguish between folders and files, especially when icons are hidden.
For the following code to function, your daily notes must adhere to the YYYY-MM-DD ddd format (e.g., 2022-08-25 Thu), while weekly notes should follow the YYYY-[W]ww format (e.g., 2022-W34). You can configure these settings in the Periodic Notes template options.
To display the weekly notes section on your daily page, insert this code at the end of your daily template:
![[{{date:gggg}}-W{{date:ww}}#{{date:ddd D}}]]
To display the daily notes section on your weekly page, use this code for each day of your weekly template, adjusting the days accordingly: {{monday:ddd D}} ==============================
- ###
![[{{monday:gggg-MM-DD ddd}}#Daily]]
Step 2: Configure the Necessary Plugins
- For the Periodic Notes plugin, input the paths for each of your templates in the designated settings section.
- With the Obsidian ColumnsCalendar, select your week’s starting day (my templates use Sunday), and enable the Show Weeks option.
Step 3: Experiment Until It Works!
If anything seems amiss, switch to Source Mode (accessible under the three dots in the upper right corner) and carefully examine what you see.
I recommend troubleshooting templates by altering one element at a time and observing how it affects the generated file. Careful scrutiny can yield valuable insights.
If you continue to face difficulties after experimenting and reviewing my demo vault, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll gladly assist you.
Chapter 2: Defining Your Writing Objectives
Now that you can freely input text into a unified daily or weekly note, it's time to take a step back and consider the bigger picture. Reflect on these questions:
- Why do you write?
- Why choose digital tools over paper?
- What do you expect from your writing tools?
- What goals are these tools helping you achieve?
Systems like this can be enjoyable to create and satisfying to use, but they should serve a purpose rather than be an end in themselves. I hope these instructions assist you in reaching your objectives, but if they don't, consider simplifying your approach. That can be a rewarding journey as well.
Video Description: Discover the ultimate daily-to-weekly note structure that you'll ever need. (Check out minute 02:10 for a detailed overview.)