Summary
This guide demonstrates how to establish a Zettelkasten note-taking system within Obsidian, emphasizing practical application. It covers the foundational principles of creating atomic, interconnected notes, the benefits of a linked knowledge management approach for idea generation and learning, and offers actionable steps for setting up and utilizing the system effectively. The core idea is to build a network of thoughts that fosters creativity and deeper understanding by facilitating serendipitous connections between different pieces of information.
See also Interview with Obsidian enthusiast 2026.
Idea of Zettelkasten
We want to augment the connections inside our digital mind. Idea to augment our personal knowledge management. The goal is to shift away from taking notes for sake of taking notes and instead connect to our existing knowledge for forge and build on it. (source: reasonabledeviations.com)
My Takeaways
I personally find this system too complex for my workflow. It hinges upon the idea of “fleeting notes” to map out the brain, which is intriguing but requires a lot of manual input. The goal in my personal setup is to minimize friction, so I might need to revisit this later if my mindset changes.
![[attachments/CleanShot 2026-02-01 at 07.55.11@2x.png]]
Problem 2.3: Expected Value Let X be a random variable with PMF p(x) = 1/4 for x ∈ {1,2,3,4}. Find E[X].
Solution
E[X] = Σ x·p(x) = (1+2+3+4)/4 = 2.5