# Daily note workflow ## 2025 *July 2025* As I am continuing my journey on [[20250517 going more analog|Going more analog]], I have updated my daily note template to be the following: ```md --- created: "{{date}} {{time}}" publish: false tags: [Annals] --- # [[{{date:YYYY}}]]-{{date:MM-DD}} ## Day Planner ## Maintenance ![[Review.base]] ## Updates ![[Daily.base]] ``` I was focusing on my 8 [[Custom Checkboxes]] beforehand, but to be honest I was not hitting those markers often. The same with the summary section. Plus, if I want to really end up using my [[Travelers Journal]] much more, I need to give myself reason to. The `## Day Planner` section is specifically for work, so I can use [Day Planner OG](https://github.com/ebullient/obsidian-day-planner-og) to keep a rolling task list going by time. But what do I do with the rest of the things that I used to have? Simple, I now make unique notes per item and subject. More on that in [[Megavault and vault workflow]]. ## 2024 *October 2024* Starting in September 2023 and continuing through August 2024, I followed a system of daily notes. However, I realized over time that I rarely revisited these notes, and they ended up feeling more like [Kepano’s](https://github.com/kepano/kepano-obsidian/blob/main/Daily/2023-09-12.md) style of daily notes, which just doesn't work for me. After discussing themed notes with one of our Obsidian moderators, Cawlintefford, and yearly notes with Koleir in the `#plugin-dev` [Koleir](https://github.com/madx), I decided to switch to a single "daily" note that accumulates years as each cycle comes around. At worst, when I evaluate this a year from now, I may find I enjoy looking back at what I did in previous years. It also gives me a fun reason to use custom checkboxes. > [!example]- This is an example of a note that has some [[2024]] data filled in. > ![[Daily note workflow-20250726.png]] > [!example]- And here in the callout is the raw markdown for this note. > > ```md > --- > aliases: > - 11-October > created: 2024-10-11 > description: > last: 2024-10-25 > month: "[[October]]" > publish: false > quarter: "[[Q4]]" > tags: > - October > - Q4 > - forever-note > --- > > # 11-October > > *Hyper fixation can be a bitch, because you never know when to give up.* - [[../../About Sigrunixia|Sigrunixia]] > > **On this day** > > ## [[2024]] > > **What's new today?** > - [C] We are starting to discuss where to go for our work trip in 2025. > - [F] Spent way too much time on my [[IMG-11-October-165FD907E076BE2F5E37799E79F64364.js|CustomJS]] scripts and plugins.. trying to seamlessly remove Dataview plugin. > - [I] Moved my shot day forward so took the weekly shot of [[Zepbound]]. > - [P] Answered a question for [[eBullient]]. > > ### Files created > > - [[Lowbrow Saints Tattoo Collective]] > - [[Ikea]] > > ### Updates> > > > ``` The files I create and update are managed via a CustomJS script that identifies instances of `- [[DD-MMMM#YYY]]:` and compiles them into the appropriate section of the page by year. For example, content under `- [[25-October#2025]]:`will automatically transpose to the 2025 section. While I'm still fine-tuning this system and editing the JavaScript, I don't expect to make significant changes. As I continue refining, I'll keep updating this—stay tuned! ## 2023 > [!tldr] The daily note workflow needs to be something that the individual would not only want to use, but need to use. It should ideally address and remove friction from, or solve a problem, that the user has. If it adds complication for the sake of complication, it will not work. Let's start with some exposition. I am not your historic daily journaler, PKMer (Personal Knowledge Management), or TFTer (Tools for Thought). I've not successfully implemented a system for GTD (Getting Things Done), nor have I 5s (Lean Six) my every move and output. Up until recently, everything has been organized in the chaos that is my mind. Every little task, every thing I needed or wanted, all taken care of in my [[Memory Palace]]. Having taken care of everything until now in my head, and having built an excellent work capacity, it has occurred to me that I could be a workaholic. But, as with anything overdone, it usually is a [[distraction from the thing we want to avoid]]. That's for another essay. ### The problem and solution A daily note, or any process implemented, should address a pain point of the user. It should also provide a solution that solves or alleviates the friction of the pain point. If I am a person who typically has it together, do I need a task manager or a list or responsibilities? No. In my case, what I need is three-fold: 1. I ***need*** permission **not to work** or **not to be productive**. 2. I **need** to add non-work things into my day, every day. Things I enjoy, but never give myself permission to do. 3. I **need** to remove choice fatigue. Enter, the creation of a daily note (with a tiny bit of planner), and with a little help from the [dice roller](https://github.com/javalent/dice-roller) plugin, a pseudo-decider. ### The current daily note layout > [!example]- Daily Note Template below the collapse > > ```md > --- > aliases: 2023-09-02 > permalink: dailies/2023-09-02 > publish: false > tags: Events/2023/09/02 > --- > > ## Draconic sights > %% What did you do, see, hear, smell? Where did you go? Tell your future self about it! %% > > ### I made… > %% If you made anything today, post it here! %% > > ## Day planner > > - [ ] I am working today on/at the… > > | `dice-mod: 1d8` | Where to Work Morning | > | ---- | ------------------------------------- | > | 1 | Home - Living Room | > | 2 | Coffee Shop | > | 3 | Community Room | > | 4 | Restaurant | > | 5 | Home - Bedroom | > | 6 | Skylounge | > | 7 | Pool Deck (Summer) Fireplace (Winter) | > | 8 | Outdoors (Summer) Heated Patio (Winter) | > > - [ ] I will spend 20 minutes working on… > > | `dice-mod: 1d6` | Art Type | > | --- | ----------------- | > | 1 | Standard Painting | > | 2 | Colouring | > | 3 | Drawing | > | 4 | Pour Painting | > | 5 | Clay | > | 6 | Mini Painting | > > - [ ] I will do one of the following today: > > | `dice-mod: 1d10` | Reward | > | ---------------- | -------------------------- | > | 1 | Work on Publish Site | > | 2 | Go for a solo podcast walk | > | 3 | Watch a Movie | > | 4 | Play a Game | > | 5 | Write Lit-RPG | > | 6 | Worldbuilding | > | 7 | Go Explore | > | 8 | Read a book | > | 9 | Play TTRPG | > | 10 | Go photograph things | > | 11 | Listen to music and mind drift | > > ### Work > > **Priority**: `Emails > Discounts > Quotes > Purchase Orders > Documentation > Discord` > > - [ ] 09:30 Setup for work > - [ ] 10:00 Follow Priority > - [ ] 11:59 BREAK > - [ ] 12:00 Dog Pee Break > - [ ] 12:15 Quick Chores > - [ ] 12:30 Discounts and Lunch > - [ ] 13:00 Follow Priority > - [ ] 16:00 Dog Pee Break > - [ ] 17:00 Purchase Orders > - [ ] 18:00 Break >``` In the template, you see usage of the following: - A [Templater](https://github.com/SilentVoid13/Templater) function to automate some date creation and frontmatter entries. - A [Day Planner OG](https://github.com/ebullient/obsidian-day-planner-og/tree/0.5.8) configuration of creating a Day Planner Timeline. The times listed are not hard and fast rules. More of ensuring I check those at least sometime during the workday. - A few `dice-mod:` calls to a table. These are the strongest part of the daily note. #### Tables The tables were haphazardly thrown together to include things I wanted to do, but.. just didn't? The extent of that reasoning is beyond the scope of this post. When I create the note each day, the dice-mod calls roll each table once, and write its results to a note. - It rolls where I will be working that day. - It rolls on what medium of art I will be doing. - It rolls on what me-time I will be working on (of which, this post is a part of that result). So far, its working. The normal distraction of answering questions on discord, working on someone else's challenge, or continuing to a form of [[productive procrastination]], has slowed. I'm doing the things, and enjoying it, and not worrying about what I am missing or what responsibility is piling up. I expect over time I will add more tables that decides what I work on for those extra rolls in detail. However, I also want to build sustainable habits and have a chance at getting proficient at the items I am working on. --- *Back to the [[#Daily Note Workflow|top]].*