Obsidian Note‑Taking Tutorial: Start Here & Connect Ideas
The Pain Point (Opening)
You’ve probably tried a dozen note‑taking apps, only to end up with scattered files, broken links, or a subscription you can’t cancel. The biggest frustration? Spending hours organizing notes instead of actually learning. You feel the knowledge is there, but the connections between ideas are missing, making it hard to recall or apply what you’ve captured.
What You’ll Get From This
By the end of this post you’ll walk away with:
- A complete Obsidian setup guide – from downloading to creating your first vault.
- Step‑by‑step instructions for linking notes so ideas automatically connect.
- Tips on keeping your notes future‑proof with plain‑text Markdown.
- A quick workflow to turn any video tutorial into a living knowledge graph.
The Solution (Main Content)
1️⃣ Install Obsidian and Create a Vault
- Download Obsidian (free) from the official site.
- Open the app and choose Create new vault → give it a name (e.g.,
ID‑nest). - Select a folder on your desktop or any location you prefer.
2️⃣ Start a New Note & Build Connections
- Click the New note button; name it
Welcome. - Use double brackets
[[]]to create a link to a new note (e.g.,[[Investment]]). - Press Ctrl/Cmd‑click on the link to open the newly created note instantly.
3️⃣ Organize Topics with Nodes
- In the graph view, right‑click a note and select Create new node to add a concept like
Stock. - Link related notes (
[[Stock]]) to weave a web of ideas.
4️⃣ Keep Your Knowledge Future‑Proof
- All Obsidian notes are plain‑text Markdown files.
- You can sync them with any cloud service (Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.) without vendor lock‑in.
- If Obsidian ever disappears, your notes remain readable and portable.
5️⃣ Leverage the Power of Connections
- The more you link, the easier it is for your brain to retrieve related concepts.
- Use the graph view to spot gaps in your knowledge and add missing notes.
Watch the Full Video
For the complete step‑by‑step walkthrough, watch the full video below:
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👋 About Me
Hi, I’m Shuvangkar Das — a power systems researcher with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, currently working as a Research Scientist. I work at the intersection of power electronics, inverter‑based DERs (IBRs), and AI to help build smarter, greener, and more stable electric grids.
My work spans large‑scale EMT simulations, firmware development, reinforcement learning, and hardware prototyping. Beyond engineering, I’m also a YouTuber and content creator — sharing hands‑on insights on productivity, research, and knowledge management. My goal is simple: to make complex ideas more accessible and actionable for everyone.
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