I Finally Stopped Switching Note-Taking Apps
I've been struggling with note-taking apps.
Over the last few years, I've tested so many that I can barely remember them all: Evernote, Workflowy, Roam Research, Logseq, Mem.ai, Standard Notes, Notesnook, Apple Notes, Reflect, Obsidian... and many more.
All of these apps have amazing features, but none of them solved my problems by themselves. They all had limitations because they force you to use the app the way the creators want you to use it. And that's the main issue.
Finally, I understood something important: my problem wasn't about what a note-taking app can do, but rather about what it can't do.
**Every time I found an issue with something I wanted to do, my first thought was: *"Maybe there's another app that can do this better."*** This became a pattern. I was always searching for the perfect app instead of committing to one and making it work for me.
For someone with ADHD like me, this constant search for the "perfect" tool became a distraction from actually using the tool to get things done.
I Finally Found a Solution
Since my biggest issue was constantly switching apps, I had to create a hard rule for myself.
We all know no note-taking app is perfect (even the YouTubers who claim theirs is). So my first step was simple: choose one and stick with it.
I chose Obsidian because:
- It's multiplatform
- It's very private (files are on my filesystem)
- It's easy to use with AI (I know it's strange to say this after mentioning privacy)
- It's very customizable
- It's from a small company with good goals and intentions
After choosing Obsidian, I made a commitment with myself: I can't change my note-taking app for the next 2 months. This hard rule means that when an issue comes up, I have to deal with it instead of jumping to another app.
It's already been 2 weeks, and I'm still going strong using Obsidian. I've even changed my task management from Todoist to Obsidian using the Kanban Board Plugin.
Starting Simple
The last step was to start very simple and small.
For that, I asked Claude AI for help. This tool can read my vault (with my control) and help me create a system and workflow that works specifically for me. This is the first time I'm not copying someone else's system - I'm building one created by me, with the help of AI. Everything now is simple and evolves with my needs.
It's been amazing, and I believe I've finally solved my struggles with note-taking apps. The solution wasn't finding the perfect app - it was committing to one and building a system that works for me.