--- title: Obsidian as a “second brain”: a system of notes url: https://blog.krasovskiy.team/en/obsidian-as-a-second-brain-a-system-of-notes/ date: 2026-07-14 lang: en source: blog.krasovskiy.team --- # Obsidian as a “second brain”: a system of notes Obsidian has transformed my notes from a chaotic pile of files into a living system—in half a year, I've collected 1,200+ interconnected records, and now I find the information I need in 10 seconds instead of half an hour searching through Google Drive. It's not just a note-taking app, but a tool that teaches you to think in networks: each idea becomes a node, and the connections between them are new discoveries that you won't see in ordinary notebooks. ## What is the "second brain" and why is it needed The "second brain" is a system that stores, structures and connects your knowledge so that you can quickly find the information you need and generate new ideas. Imagine that your brain is a processor and your notes are an external memory: instead of keeping everything in your head, you download the data to a secure storage. Methodologies such as **PARA** (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) or **Zettelkasten** help organize this process. PARA breaks information down by context: active projects, areas of responsibility (eg "health"), reference materials, and archives. [Zettelkasten, in turn, builds a network](https://blog.krasovskiy.team/en/a-guide-to-the-zettelkasten-smart-note-system/) of atomic notes, each containing a single idea and links to related entries—like cards in a filing cabinet, but with flexible connections. Why is it necessary? Research by _Microsoft_ showed that the average worker spends **23 minutes** searching for one document. The notes system reduces this time to seconds. For example, if you're learning a new technology, instead of flipping through dozens of browser tabs, you open a note with key concepts, code examples, and source links all in one place. And thanks to the connections between notes (as in Zettelkasten), you find non-obvious connections between ideas: say, how a marketing concept resonates with a philosophical theory. It's not just an archive - it's a thinking tool that increases productivity by **20-30%**, according to _Tiago Forte_, the author of the PARA methodology. ### The main advantages of using the "second brain" "Second brain" in Obsidian is not just a repository of notes, but a tool that really frees up the head. The first thing you feel after a month of use: information stops being lost. Instead of spending hours looking for the desired file or remembering where you read about this or that method, it is enough to enter a few keywords in the search — and the system will return the result in seconds. For example, once I needed a synopsis of a lecture on neuroscience that I listened to six months ago. Without a system, this would mean digging through dozens of folders or lost chats. With Obsidian - 15 seconds and a note in front of your eyes. The main thing is that the system works only when you "feed" it regularly. But if you put in the time at the start (for example, spending a week to transfer all the scattered records to Obsidian), the result will exceed expectations: less stress, more clarity, and the time that used to be spent searching for information can now be spent on creativity. ## Why Obsidian to create a "second brain" Obsidian stands out from other note-taking tools with one simple but critical advantage: your data is stored locally in plain text Markdown files. No cloud syncs, subscriptions, or risk of losing access due to service policy changes—just a folder on your computer that you're 100% in control of. This is especially valuable for those who work with sensitive information or simply do not want to depend on third-party servers. For example, if you keep research notes or personal journals, local storage means that no one but you will have access to them. Flexibility of settings is another trump card of Obsidian. You can change almost everything, from the color scheme and fonts to the folder structure and the way notes are displayed. Do you want citations to be italicized and links to other files to be highlighted? No problem. Need Zotero integration for academic sources or automated note-taking from emails? Plugins will be found. Currently, there are more than 1000 of them, and this number is growing every day. For example, the _Dataview_ plugin allows you to create dynamic tables from notes by tags or dates, as if you were working with a database, and _Excalidraw_ turns your notes into interactive diagrams. But the most powerful feature is the visualization of connections between notes. Obsidian automatically builds a graph where each note is a node and the links between them are lines. By clicking on a node, you can see how it is related to other ideas, projects, or resources. It's not just convenient—it changes the way you think. For example, you write a note about a new book, add a link to an article criticizing the topic, and then see that both are related to your project on educational methods. Suddenly, it turns out that ideas that seemed separate form a coherent picture. This is how Obsidian becomes not just a storage, but a real "second brain". ### Comparison of Obsidian with other tools Obsidian stands out against Notion, Evernote, and OneNote thanks to local data storage — notes are stored on your device, not in the cloud, which guarantees privacy and independence from the Internet. Unlike Notion, where everything depends on the company's servers, or Evernote with its limitations of the free plan (only 60 MB per month), Obsidian works with simple text files in Markdown format that can be synchronized via any cloud service (Google Drive, Dropbox) or even Git. The speed of operation is another advantage: the program opens even thousands of notes instantly, while Notion or OneNote can "hang" on large databases due to online rendering. Obsidian also supports plugins (more than 1,500) that expand functionality without losing speed: for example, _Dataview_ allows you to make SQL-like queries to notes, and _Excalidraw_ allows you to draw diagrams directly in the document. In Notion, similar functions are implemented through bulky databases, and in Evernote they simply do not exist. For those who work with large amounts of information, Obsidian is like a sports car next to a family station wagon: faster, lighter and without unnecessary burdens. ## How to organize the notes system in Obsidian Obsidian works best when the notes are not just dead weight, but interacting with each other. Start with structure: Folders aren't required, but they're handy for grouping notes into larger categories (eg `📚 Books`, `🔬 Projects`, `🧠 Ideas`). Do not overdo it - 3-5 folders are enough so as not to get lost in the hierarchy. Keep the rest of the notes in the root or use tags for flexible filtering. For example, the tag `#philosophy` will combine notes from different folders, and searching for `tag:#philosophy` will show all related entries. ![notes system](https://blog.krasovskiy.team/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/obsidian-iak-druhyi-mozok-systema-notatok-inline1.jpg) Linking between notes is the heart of Obsidian. Create them with double square brackets (`[[note name]]`) or with the _Backlinks_ plugin, which automatically shows where the note is mentioned. For example, if you write about "the theory of relativity", linking to `[[Einstein]]` or `[[quantum physics]]` will turn your entries into a knowledge network. To quickly fill in notes, use templates: the _Templates_ plugin allows you to add a blank with fields for date, source or keywords in one click. For example, a template for a book might contain sections `Quotes`, `Own Thoughts`, and `Links to Other Notes`. The main thing is not to turn the structure into an end in itself. Start simple: a few folders, basic tags, a few links. Over time, the system will tell you what needs to be changed. For example, if you often search for notes by date, add the `#2026-05` tag or use the _Dataview_ plugin for automatic filtering. Experiment — and you'll find your rhythm. ### Organization methods: PARA and Zettelkasten At Obsidian, the two most popular methods of organizing notes, PARA and Zettelkasten, solve different tasks. PARA (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives) is a project and life management system. It divides information into four categories: **Projects** (tasks with deadlines, such as "Write an article by 15.10"), **Areas** (permanent areas of responsibility, such as "Health" or "Work"), **Resources** (reference materials, such as book outlines or course links), and **Archives** (completed or out-of-date notes). Example: the note "Training plan for the month" will go to "Areas" and "Checklist to launch the website" will go to "Projects". PARA is ideal for those who want to quickly find what they need among hundreds of notes without wasting time on complex tags. Zettelkasten ("box of cards" in German) is a technique for deep analysis and idea generation. Each note here is an atomic thought with a unique identifier (eg "20231015-1234") that links to other notes via internal links. The rules are simple: one idea - one card, links create a network of knowledge, and keywords (tags) help to find connections. Example: A note on "cognitive biases" can refer to the cards "Dunning-Kruger effect" and "confirmation bias", creating a web of knowledge. Zettelkasten requires discipline (researchers recommend spending 20-30 minutes a day on link building), but the result is a system that generates new ideas on its own. In Obsidian, this is implemented through plugins such as "Zettelkasten Prefixer" or "Dataview". ## Useful plugins to extend the functionality of Obsidian Obsidian is a powerful tool in its own right, but plugins turn it into a real notes harvester. Here are the most useful of them, which really save time and expand the capabilities of the system. These plugins don't just add functionality, they change the way you work with information. Dataview and Templater automate routines, Calendar and Kanban structure workflows, and Excalidraw makes notes visual. The main thing is not to get carried away: 3-5 plugins at the beginning are enough not to overload the system. Install, experiment, remove what doesn't stick — and you'll find your perfect set. ## Tips for effectively using Obsidian as a "second brain" In order for Obsidian to become a real "second brain", you need to not just accumulate notes - you need to actively use them. Start with regularity: Set aside 10-15 minutes each day to update your records. For example, after a meeting or reading an article, immediately add key ideas, tags (#meeting/projectX) and links to related notes — so the information doesn't get lost in the chaos. Use two-way links: If you're writing about "marketing strategy," add [[sales tactics]] or [[competitor analysis]] to make it easy to find context later. Revision once a month: go through notes with the tag #revision, remove old ones, update links and add new links. It's like cleaning out a closet — without it, even the most convenient system will turn into a trash can. ![personal knowledge](https://blog.krasovskiy.team/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/obsidian-iak-druhyi-mozok-systema-notatok-inline2.jpg) ## Conclusion: how to start building your "second brain" today Starting to build your "second brain" with Obsidian is easier than it seems. Download the program from [official site](https://obsidian.md) - it is free for personal use, works on Windows, macOS and Linux. After installation, create the first folder for notes (for example, "Start") and add 3-5 files to it: a list of ideas, a quote from a book, a link to a useful resource. Don't get overwhelmed - the main thing is to get a feel for how Markdown works (eg `# Heading`, `**bold**`, `- list`). The next step is to learn the basic functions: hotkeys (`Ctrl/Cmd + N` - new note), search (`Ctrl/Cmd + O`), and the connection graph (opened via the sidebar). After a week of daily use, you will notice how the notes begin to "connect" with each other - this is the essence of the "second brain". Don't expect a perfect system: start with chaos, and order will emerge by itself.