Why I Switched from Notion to Obsidian for Daily Planning

For over two years, Notion was my go-to digital workspace. I used it for nearly everything: task lists, journals, reading trackers, goal setting, and even meal plans. Its clean interface, modular block system, and huge template library made it feel like the perfect all-in-one productivity solution.

But over time, something began to shift, not in the app itself, but in the way I thought and worked. I realized that despite all its strengths, Notion was starting to get in the way of how I processed ideas. It wasn’t about speed or bugs, it was about mental friction. That’s when I decided to try Obsidian, a markdown-based, local-first note-taking app. And it completely changed the way I approach daily planning.

1. Notion Was Too Structured for Free Thinking

Notion is ideal for managing structured data. I loved creating kanban boards, tables, and linked databases. But when I just wanted to write something quickly, capture an idea, sketch a rough outline, or reflect on my day, I found myself getting distracted by the interface.

Everything in Notion is a “block,” and that often meant clicking, dragging, formatting, or waiting for things to load. Those small delays added up. I started noticing that I was spending more time setting up a system than actually thinking in it.

2. Obsidian Feels Like a Blank Notebook, Not a System

When I opened Obsidian for the first time, I was greeted by a simple blank screen. No blocks, no lag, no distractions, just me and a blinking cursor.

That minimalism made a huge difference. I began writing more freely. My daily journals felt more natural. My to-do lists became simpler. My ideas didn’t need to be boxed into templates or databases. Instead of building dashboards, I was building thoughts.

And because Obsidian is local-first, everything felt faster and more private. I wasn’t depending on internet access or a cloud server to get to my notes.

3. Local Files Mean Real Ownership

With Notion, everything lives in the cloud. That has its benefits, syncing, sharing, collaboration, but it also means I don’t really own my data. If Notion goes down or I lose access, I’m stuck.

Obsidian, on the other hand, stores everything as plain text Markdown files on my own device. I can back them up anywhere, edit them in any text editor, and move them across apps without lock-in. That sense of ownership gave me peace of mind I didn’t realize I was missing.

4. Backlinks Changed the Way I Think

One of Obsidian’s most powerful features is its bidirectional linking system. When I link one note to another, it automatically creates a backlink, showing all other notes that reference it.

This creates a web of connections between my thoughts, what many call a “second brain.” Over time, I started to see unexpected patterns between ideas. Notes I wrote months ago would suddenly relate to something I was working on today. That kind of insight just isn’t possible with a linear note-taking app.

5. I Still Use Notion, but Only When I Need To

I haven’t quit Notion entirely. It’s still the best tool I’ve found for:

• Collaborative work with teams

• Public documents and shared knowledge bases

• Managing large content calendars

But when it comes to personal planning, thinking, and note-taking, Obsidian is now my default. It’s where I write my daily logs, outline new ideas, and reflect on what I’m learning.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been using Notion but find yourself craving a simpler, faster, more organic way to plan and think, I highly recommend trying Obsidian. It doesn’t try to do everything, and that’s exactly why it works so well.

It strips away the noise, giving you a quiet space to think clearly and write freely. And best of all? It’s completely free. Sometimes, the best tool isn’t the one with the most features, but the one that gets out of your way.