Summary of "Don't Start Using Obsidian in 2026 Without THIS Setup"
Summary of “Don’t Start Using Obsidian in 2026 Without THIS Setup”
This video by Nick Milo presents a comprehensive guide and tutorial on setting up a powerful Obsidian note-taking system centered around a single pivotal note called the Home Base. This Home Base acts as the central hub or “home” for managing ideas, projects, daily notes, and more, effectively creating a digital “idea verse” that enhances thinking, memory, and productivity.
Key Technological Concepts & Features
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Home Base Note A master note that links to various key areas of the user’s Obsidian vault, enabling quick navigation and organization.
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ACE Framework A structured folder system within Obsidian comprising:
- Atlas (things to know)
- Efforts (things to do/projects)
- Calendar (daily notes and time-based entries)
- Plus a Plus folder for new captures and Extras for overflow.
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Project Prioritization & Management
- Projects are categorized into active, simmering, and sleeping states.
- Users can rank projects numerically to prioritize them.
- Projects can be easily moved between categories using drag/drop or commands.
- Higher-level grouping via Areas of Effort to organize related projects.
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Workspaces
- Custom dashboard views that surface projects, efforts, and areas in a single pane.
- Dynamic switching between dashboards for different modes (e.g., producer mode).
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Quick Add Commands
- Keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Command+S for adding projects, Command+N for new ideas, Command+D for daily notes).
- Quick add windows streamline capturing new notes or projects.
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Note Templates Use of templates (e.g., quotes template) to standardize note structure.
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Recent Notes Base View A sidebar pane showing recently added notes for quick access and rediscovery, reducing the need to keep many tabs open.
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Daily Notes with “On This Day” Feature Embeds a view showing notes created on the same calendar day in previous years, helping resurface past ideas and memories to enrich present thinking.
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Calendar and Monthly Views
- Calendar dashboard shows all time-based notes.
- Monthly grouping of notes with contextual metadata and links.
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Mobile Usability
- The Home Base setup and ACE framework work seamlessly on mobile.
- Users can prioritize projects, add ideas, apply templates, and browse daily notes from their phone.
- Mobile interface includes swipe gestures and quick search for efficient navigation.
Analysis & Benefits
- The system externalizes and organizes thoughts to aid memory and prioritization.
- The Home Base acts as a mental anchor, reducing overwhelm and improving focus.
- The use of ranks and categories allows dynamic bandwidth management for projects.
- Embedded dashboards and workspaces provide rich context and quick decision-making tools.
- The “On This Day” feature is unique in Obsidian, inspired by journaling apps, fostering reflection and continuity.
- Mobile support ensures productivity and idea capture anytime, anywhere.
- The system is scalable, from casual users with a few projects to power users with many ideas.
Reviews & Guides
- The video serves as a tutorial on setting up and using the Home Base note and ACE framework.
- Demonstrates workflows for project prioritization, idea capture, daily journaling, and rediscovery.
- Shows both desktop and mobile interfaces in action.
- Encourages viewers to explore the Ideaverse Pro system, a pre-built Obsidian vault including these features, available via links.
- Suggests further learning through a linked video on advanced dashboards combining ACE with idea development methods.
Main Speaker/Source
- Nick Milo — an Obsidian expert and creator of the Ideaverse system, who has helped thousands set up their digital idea management workflows.
Category
Technology