Copyright XDA Developers
Obsidian has always been one of those apps that I keep going back to, and every time I use it, it feels like it keeps expanding. First, it's just plain text, then I started using the Graph view, then I started exploring the Canvas. I use it for everything from journaling and novel drafts to storing my research and linking information. This is all good and well, but it’s still the default setup, and I’ve realized there’s even more to Obsidian once you start using plugins. They can take Obsidian from a regular notes app to more of an interactive “thinking environment”. Over time, some of them have become quite integrated into my workflow, and I can’t really imagine using Obsidian without them anymore. Copilot Retrieving, summarizing, and expanding my own notes The Obsidian Copilot plugin is my most-used one. I’ve written before about how it could potentially replace NotebookLM because it uses a similar framework. It integrates directly into your vault and lets you ask questions, summarize pages, get fresh perspectives, or even generate new content, but using your existing notes and context. It understands the structure of my notes and references them intelligently. I use it all the time to get breakdowns or quick key points from my documents. Where it really shines for me is with my creative writing drafts. It surfaces blind spots and loopholes that I otherwise would have missed, and also helps me put a new spin on existing storylines. It’s also a great plugin for students who use Obsidian for academic work and research, and anyone who wants a quick way to pull information from old or scattered notes. All I have to do is select my Obsidian documents to reference, put in my prompt, and it gives me something useful and concrete the vast majority of the time. Tasks It’s like having a task manager inside Obsidian Obsidian is not a dedicated task manager, but you can extend its use to managing tasks, projects, and to-do lists. One way is by simply using the Markdown syntax - [ ], which creates toggleable checklists. But Obsidian has a Tasks plugin that gives you a lot more to work with beyond the checklist function. If you’re installing the plugin, I recommend configuring it first, such as adding a global #task filter, and also setting a hotkey if you plan on using it regularly (mine is Ctrl + T). I love this little interface window for its simplicity. It lets me set a task description, select a priority, and I can get very detailed with the recurring, due, scheduled, and start dates. It also has Before and After conditions, which let me customize the view of my task lists in chronological order, so I don’t have to sift through random entries that don’t flow well. I can also complete or cancel tasks. The biggest benefit of Tasks is that I don’t have to jump between apps. Say I want to write 1,000 words for my novel today; all I have to do is hit my hotkey to create a task right in the draft page, and Tasks will log it. But I also like to keep a central dashboard for my tasks to get an immediate overview of everything. Status Bar Pomodoro Timer To remember to take adequate breaks Since I often write my drafts directly in Obsidian, I sometimes lose track of time and end up hyper-focusing without taking a break. The Status Bar Pomodoro Timer fixes that by sitting quietly at the bottom of the app, and notifying me when 25 minutes have passed. I can customize the time and notification settings, plus it logs my completed pomodoros so I can review my time spent. It’s such a simple but surprisingly effective little tool, and it’s a great way to remind myself to switch gears. There are a couple of other Pomodoro plugins that might be worth checking out if this one doesn't suit you. Convert URL to Preview (iFrame) I can "browse" the web within my notes If you add a lot of external links to your Obsidian pages, you’re going to want to install this plugin too. I reference a lot of articles and papers in my notes, but I don’t always appreciate it when I click on a link and it directs me to a browser - it snaps me out of focus. Convert URL to Preview pretty much solves this issue. By highlighting my link and hitting the hotkey (mine is Alt + I), it brings up a little web page window within Obsidian. I can scroll through it and even click links to visit new pages. The only downside is that there are no navigation buttons, so I can’t go back after clicking a new link. Overall, this has been a great way to maintain my focus and avoid constantly switching apps just to read an article. More than just a notes app Obsidian on its own is already one of the most flexible and powerful note-takers out there, but these plugins make it more personalized to my workflow. Copilot gives me an intelligent research partner, Tasks keeps me organized, Pomodoro reminds me to take breaks, and iFrame gives me quick web access without needing to leave the app. Once you get used to having these in your workspace, it’s hard to go back.
