Tuesday, June 3, 2025

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The Great Obsidian Exodus: Why This Dev Ditched His 'Second Brain' After Two Years of Struggle

The Great Obsidian Exodus

The Great Obsidian Exodus

Why People Drop Obsidian as a "Second Brain"

OverComplex and Maintenance Tiredness

Users often find that the excitement of having a "second brain" results in a system that becomes unnecessarily complex. Constant tweaks to plugins, themes, and layouts turn into busywork instead of productive work. (reddit.com)

Poor Recall of Information

Even after creating and organizing tons of notes, users often revisit them infrequently. The return on investment doesn’t always feel justified, casting doubt on the utility of the system. (simonsays.so)

Out of Sync with Workflow Preferences

Obsidian’s flexibility can be overwhelming. Without a predetermined structure, users must build their own—often misaligned with how they naturally work. The result? Confusion and reduced usefulness. (sudoscience.blog, reddit.com)

Plugin & Update Annoyances

Frequent plugin updates and compatibility issues can erode trust in the tool. Changes in plugin behavior or settings may cost hours of effort, creating frustration. (sudoscience.blog)

Other Approaches and their Solutions

  • The simpler, the better: Stick to documenting only topics of true interest to build a sustainable system. (kristianfreeman.com)
  • Back to basics with pen and paper: Analog note-taking is distraction-free and intuitive.
  • Explore other tools: Tools like Logseq or Notion may better align with some users’ thinking. (reddit.com)

Conclusion

Leaving Obsidian behind as a "second brain" highlights a broader truth: productivity tools are only as effective as they align with how you naturally work. While Obsidian remains powerful, it’s not the best fit for everyone. For many, simplification or trying alternative tools can provide a clearer path to organized thinking and better productivity. (reddit.com)

If you’d like help exploring alternative tools or systems for personal knowledge management, let me know your style and preferences and I’ll make suggestions for you.

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