I Gave Up On Notion — Why I Take Notes in Obsidian

Notion is eating your notes.

As I sit here, contemplating the potential loss of my Notion workspace or Evernote profile, or Roam Research profile, I can't help but feel a sense of panic.

What would happen if I suddenly lost access to all the valuable information accumulated over time?

As a content creator, I’ve found myself producing a significant amount of content on a regular basis.

My output has grown exponentially from research problems and solutions to writing blogs and creating YouTube videos.

This shift made me realize the value of the knowledge I was producing and the need to protect it.

It got me thinking: do I truly own my data? What would happen if I lost access to my Notion workspace or any other online platform I rely on?

These questions led me to take action and find a solution to safeguard my work.

Today, I want to share a story that made me rethink how I manage my data and the importance of genuinely owning the knowledge we produce.

So, let's dive in!

The Awakening.

When I began writing passion, I needed to think more about where I stored my work. I had an elaborate setup in Notion that served as my task manager, project manager, and note-taking tool.

But as time went on, the volume of my notes reached a critical mass, and I realized the actual value of what I was creating.

These notes weren't just random jottings; they were pieces of knowledge that could be useful to others and potentially published in the future. The same applied to my videos and blog posts.

This newfound awareness made me uncomfortable with my data residing solely online.

What if the platform experienced a catastrophic failure or my account was hacked and my data deleted?

I strongly desired to take ownership of my knowledge and ensure its safety.

Finding a Solution.

Once I recognized the risks, I set out to find a solution that met two critical criteria.

• Firstly, I wanted to access my data online and offline, minimizing the risk of data loss.
• Secondly, I sought a non-proprietary format that would liberate me from being tied to a specific platform.

After some research and experimentation, I discovered a combination that fulfilled both requirements.

Embracing markdown and Obsidian.

While I still use Notion for specific tasks and organizing my resonance calendar, I started writing my notes in markdown, an open format that suited my needs.

To access and manage these notes, I turned to Obsidian, an application that allows me to create a knowledge graph by linking different notes.

This approach aligns perfectly with my research process, which often involving delving into interconnected topics.

Obsidian's flexible nature also means that I'm not bound to a single application; I can access my notes in various ways, such as using Zettlr or accessing them via the terminal on my Linux machine. Markdown's versatility and portability have given me a sense of control over my data and protection against loss.

Taking Redundancy and Accessibility Seriously.

To ensure multi-platform access, I store my notes in Dropbox. This approach allows me to access my data across all my devices seamlessly.

It's important to note that I'm not advocating for Obsidian or any specific tool in this blog post. The primary focus here is for you to reflect on the notes you produce and evaluate how secure your data truly is.

Applications come and go, but your knowledge remains.

Decoupling critical information from a specific platform is worth considering, as the potential loss of that data far outweighs the convenience of certain functionalities.

Evaluating Trade-offs.

In my workflow, I've identified areas where I'm comfortable using platforms like Notion.

For instance, my resonance calendar is well-suited to Notion's capabilities, and I take periodic backups to mitigate the risk of data loss. Similarly, my task manager is another area where I can transition to a new platform if needed.

However, there are specific aspects, such as the notes where I jot down my ideas, research experiments, findings, and content drafts, where losing access would cause significant setbacks.

Protecting these crucial components became my priority.

Reflecting on Your Content.

Please take a step back and reevaluate the content you produce. Ask yourself if storing it solely on a platform like Notion is worthwhile.

For some, periodic backups might be sufficient. However, some aspects of your work might benefit from being moved to an open-access platform that allows offline access.

It's crucial to consider the potential risks and weigh them against the comfort of specific functionalities.

Join the Conversation.

This blog post has encouraged you to reflect on the safety of your data and the platforms you rely on.

If Obsidian or a similar solution interests you, let me know in the comments, and I’ll consider creating a walkthrough of how I structure my notes.

If you have alternative solutions that have worked for you, please share them.