Daily notes are the practice I keep coming back to. Not as a productivity hack, but as a way to capture what’s actually happening day-to-day, track the open threads, and reflect on the parts I’d otherwise forget. Most of my best decisions, in hindsight, were teed up by something I’d written in a daily note weeks earlier.
Here’s why I think daily notes are essential, why I’ve chosen Obsidian as my tool of choice, and how my fantasy-inspired daily note template keeps me motivated and (mostly) organized. The whole template lives in chandlertee/obsidian-starter if you’d rather grab it and skip straight to the walkthrough.
Why take daily notes?#
As someone who thrives on creating order out of chaos (I’m a software engineer, after all), daily notes serve a few critical purposes:
1. Personal knowledge management#
Daily notes are a low-key brain dump where I can offload thoughts, ideas, and lessons. They’re my way of wrangling the mimic’s stash of random knowledge in my head.
2. Staying grounded#
Gratitude, inspiration, and mindfulness are part of my daily note template for a reason. They help me stay connected to the bigger picture.
3. Intention and goal setting#
Each day is a chance to move forward on my quests, whether they’re small tasks or major life goals. Writing down my objectives keeps me focused on what matters.
4. Memory and reminders#
Let’s face it, I’m human (or at least a very intelligent NPC), and I forget things. My notes are my trusty NPC scribe, helping me recall important details.
5. Reflection and retrospection#
Every adventurer needs time to sit by the campfire and reflect. Daily notes help me learn from my wins, analyze my mistakes, and level up for the next day.
Why I chose Obsidian#
When I started looking for a note-taking tool years ago, I had a few requirements:
- Markdown-Friendly: As a software engineer, I live in markdown already. Why reinvent the wheel?
- Text Files: I wanted my notes to remain portable and future-proof, not locked in some proprietary format.
- Customizable: I like tinkering, and Obsidian’s core and community plugins gave me infinite ways to level up. Check this README for more on the community plugins I’ve installed.
- Cross-Device Sync: Storing notes in a cloud drive lets me seamlessly access them from my laptop, tablet, or phone.
- Static Site Integration: With markdown notes, I can easily publish reflections on my Jekyll-powered blog. Meta, right?
Obsidian checked all these boxes and then some. It’s the Bag of Holding of note-taking tools: versatile, compact, and full of surprises. I’ve been using Obsidian daily for several years now, and I decided it was time to update my Daily Note Template to keep the process feeling fresh.
My daily note template: a walkthrough#
My Daily Note Template consists of three main sections:
- **Campfire Prep ** This is where I get ready for the day. The morning ritual that sets the tone.
- **Field Notes ** This is my space for jotting down random thoughts, meeting notes, or anything that pops up during the day. It’s my adventurer’s sketchbook.
- **Long Rest ** Evenings are for reflecting on the day and preparing for tomorrow. This section helps me level up.
Why the Fantasy Theme?#
Because why not make mundane tasks feel epic? The fantasy theme keeps me engaged and reminds me that every day is part of a larger adventure. Plus, who doesn’t want to feel like a hero slaying to-dos and collecting XP?
Campfire prep#
Inspiration#
I use the community plugin Templater to pull in a random quote each day. It’s like starting with a bard’s song to inspire the adventurer in me.
Blessings#
Gratitude keeps me grounded. Writing down what I’m thankful for helps me see the treasure in my daily life.
This Week’s Quests#
Using the community plugin Dataview, I pull tasks from my weekly note to ensure I’m aligned with the bigger picture. It’s like checking the party’s quest log.
Today’s Encounters#
Here I list the day’s actionable tasks: the work that needs to happen today. It’s a to-do list, scoped to one day.
Allies#
Who or what can support me today? This could be teammates, tools, or even a good cup of coffee. Allies are vital for any quest.
Traps#
What potential distractions or pitfalls do I need to avoid? Identifying these upfront helps me stay vigilant.
## Campfire Prep 🔥
#### Inspiration 📜
<% tp.web.daily_quote() %>
#### Blessings 🌟
**What am I grateful for today?**
- <% tp.file.cursor() %>
#### This Week's Quests
```dataview
task
from "Journal/Weekly/<% tp.date.now("YYYY-[W]ww", 0, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %>"
```
#### Today's Encounters 🏹
**What can I do today to advance this week's Quests?**
- [ ]
#### Allies 🛡️
**Who or what can help me today?**
-
#### Traps 👹
**What obstacles or distractions should I watch out for?**
- Field notes#
## Field Notes 📝
- Long rest#
Wisdom#
What did I learn today? This is where I catalog the new lore or skills I’ve unlocked.
Boons#
What gave me energy or supported me today? A great conversation? Exercise? I document my power-ups.
Loot#
What were my wins? Big or small, these are the treasures I’ve earned.
Monsters#
What were the toughest challenges I faced? How did I handle them? This section reminds me that even failures are part of the journey.
Growth#
What can I improve tomorrow? This is my chance to reflect and set a course for better adventures ahead.
## Long Rest 🌙
#### Wisdom 📚
**What did I learn today?**
-
#### Boons ⚡
**What gave me energy or helped me?**
-
#### Loot 🏆
**What were my wins today?**
-
#### Monsters 🐉
**What were the toughest challenges I faced? How did I handle them?**
-
#### Growth 🌱
**What can I improve tomorrow?**
- Template plugin integrations#
Links to Related Daily and Weekly Notes#
At the top of the template, I include code for the Templater community plugin to add the filename as the title of the note # <% tp.file.title %>. This is the default behavior for Obsidian, but I have turned off the default behavior as I prefer to not have the title in every note (especially when using Obsidian to write posts for a Jekyll static website, a subject for a different day).
I also include code for the Templater community plugin to link to the previous and next day’s note, as well as the weekly note. In short, <% tp.date.now("YYYY-[W]ww", 0, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %> takes the daily note filename tp.file.title (third parameter), which is in this date format YYYY-MM-DD (fourth parameter), adds the offset in days 0 (second parameter), and will convert the resulting date into the desired format YYYY-[W]ww (first parameter). This allows me to easily click the links to switch between the weekly and other daily notes using Obsidian’s internal linking.
# <% tp.file.title %>
**Prev Day:** **[[<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", -1, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %>]]**
**Next Day:** **[[<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", +1, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %>]]**
**Week:** **[[<% tp.date.now("YYYY-[W]ww", 0, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %>]]** Notes Created Today#
I use a community plugin Dataview to query and list all my notes created during this specific day.
## Notes Created Today
```dataview
list
where file.cday = date("<% tp.file.title %>") and file.name != "<% tp.file.title %>"
sort file.ctime desc
```Closing notes#
Daily notes aren’t only about productivity. They’re a way to stay intentional, reflect on what’s actually changing, and notice the patterns you’d miss in a faster-moving system. If you’ve been looking for a note-taking habit that survives more than a month, this is the one that’s worked for me.
Additional resources#
- chandlertee/obsidian-starter — the vault with my templates, cheatsheets, and plugin config
- Full Daily Note Template — the exact template from this post
- Getting started with Obsidian Dataview — how the task and note queries in this template actually work
- Trust movement: setting goals for an action-oriented year — the weekly and yearly layer above daily notes
- Obsidian, Templater, and Dataview — the tools the template runs on
