I really enjoy using obsidian.md, espcially since it let's do many things fast. Here are some of the top shortcuts I like to use, some standard, but a bunch of them custom.
I'm using 2 plugins to enable those: Shortcuts Extender, and Code Editor Shortcuts.
Standard and really useful shortcutsStandard and really useful shortcuts
- Use
tabto indent the item in the list more, useshift+tabto un-indent. - Use
cmd+Ito make the text italics - Use
cmd+Bto make the text bold - Use
cmd+Kto add a link or make existing text into a link - Use
cmd+,to open Settings (works in any app on MacOS) - Use
cmd+shift+8to create a bullet list (if you use it on existing text it makes it bulleted)
Obsidian Custom Keyboard ShortcutsObsidian Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
cmd+P- Open Command Pallete to issue any command (matched with VSCode)cmd+shift+P- Open Quick Picker to pick files (matched with VSCode)cmd+return- toggle a checkbox (this used to be default, but now needs custom)cmd+R- Navigate Back (to previous document)cmd+shift+B- Toggle left sidebarcmd+shift+H- Toggle right sidebarcmd+shift+M- Move current file to another foldercmd+shift+R- Reveal the current file in the browser on the leftcmd+shift+9- Create a checkbox listcmd+shift+T- Insert template (either Templater or default)cmd+shift+N- Split view to the rightcmd+D- Select word occurence with multiline editing cursor (usingCode Editor Shortcuts)cmd+shift+UP- Move line up (usingCode Editor Shortcuts)cmd+shift+DOWN- Move line down (usingCode Editor Shortcuts)cmd+shift+D- Duplicate the current line (usingCode Editor Shortcuts)option+cmd+1- Heading 1 (usingShortcuts Extender)option+cmd+2- Heading 2 (usingShortcuts Extender)option+cmd+3- Heading 3 (usingShortcuts Extender)cmd+shift+F- Omnisearch (needsOmnisearchplugin)cmd+W- Close active pane
CombosCombos
cmd+shift+B+H- hide both sidebars (using above shortcuts)- hold
cmd, hitD, hitK, hitV- highlight just written word, linkify it and paste URL from clipboard
I'd love to start migrating all my notes to Obsidian. I could see myself OBSESSED by the idea of a "second brain". Then to ctrl+F through it. Or feed an onprem AI with it to talk to myself lol.
But I can't do it, I would waste my whole life writing and journaling my whole brain into it. I also read the exact same sentiment here on SN before, so I'm probably not the only one.
I have a 2nd brain with Obsidian, loving it! You start learning so much...
Having a journal with the calendar plugin, then I use the PARA Method to organize (Journal ends up as a folder inside of 2 Areas folder). The graph view I hardly use though.
1 Projects
2 Areas
3 Resources
4 Archive
My 2 sats: I would say ignore the second brain stuff. Just take whatever notes you need to take and you don't need to care about structure or whatever.
Obsidian is just a great tool to edit markdown files, the UI looks good and it has a great set of shortcuts to make that effective.
For example I don't think I have ever used the Graph visualization of your notes that they sell everywhere...
Nice, was just about to start using Obsidian again, any other good plugins you use?
Yeah, there's couple I like
Interesting, can this be an alternative to notion?
Used Obsidian a lot, really cool stuff.
Notion is project management / productivity overall while Obsidian is oriented around note taking with Markdown, kinda like an own personal Wiki.
Well, I also use Notion like my own personal wiki haha
Will give Obsidian a shot