When I first started using Obsidian, a note-taking app based on the principles of the Zettelkasten method, I adopted the popular practice of creating daily notes. Each day, I would create a new note with the date as the title and jot down any thoughts, ideas, or insights I had throughout the day. It seemed like a logical way to organize my notes and keep track of my progress.

When I first started using Obsidian, a note-taking app based on the principles of the Zettelkasten method, I adopted the popular practice of creating daily notes. Each day, I would create a new note with the date as the title and jot down any thoughts, ideas, or insights I had throughout the day. It seemed like a logical way to organize my notes and keep track of my progress.

However, over time, I began to realize that the daily notes system was not as effective as I had initially thought. While it was helpful to have a chronological record of my thoughts, I found that it made it difficult to locate specific information when I needed it. When I searched for something in Obsidian, the file names of the daily notes were the most prominent part of the search results. When browsing through links or folders, I was constantly confronted with file names that didn't provide much context.

This led me to question the usefulness of daily notes and consider an alternative approach. I started experimenting with themed logs, where I would group related information together based on its purpose or topic, rather than the date it was written. This shift in organization made a significant difference in my note-taking workflow.

By creating themed logs, I was able to focus on specific areas of interest and easily retrieve the information I needed. For example, I created a "Productivity" log where I would collect tips, strategies, and insights related to improving my productivity. Instead of searching through a long list of daily notes, I could simply navigate to the "Productivity" log and find all the relevant information in one place.

This method also reduced context switching, which is the cognitive load that comes from constantly shifting between different tasks or topics. With themed logs, I could stay focused on a particular theme or topic without getting distracted by unrelated information. This allowed me to dive deeper into a subject and make more meaningful connections between ideas.

Furthermore, themed logs provided a more intuitive way to organize my notes. Instead of relying on file names or dates, I could use descriptive titles that accurately reflected the content of the log. This made it easier to navigate my note-taking app and visually understand the relationships between different themes or topics.

Incorporating themed logs into my note-taking practice also made me realize the value of imitation and innovation in the creative process. Just as David Perell suggests in his article "Imitate, then Innovate," I found that imitating the organizational structure of themed logs helped me discover my own unique style of note-taking. By studying how others organized their notes and adapting their strategies to fit my needs, I was able to create a system that worked best for me.

Imitation and innovation are not opposing forces but rather operate in tandem. By imitating the organizational methods of others, whether it be through themed logs or other techniques, we can learn from their experiences and build upon their ideas. This is true not only in note-taking but in all creative pursuits.

So, how can we apply these insights to our own creative endeavors? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace imitation: Don't be afraid to imitate the work of others, whether it's in note-taking, writing, art, or any other creative field. By studying and reverse-engineering the work of those we admire, we can gain valuable insights and develop our own unique style.

2. Diversify your inputs: Escape the never-ending now by broadening your sources of inspiration. Read more about history and less about the present. By exploring different industries, disciplines, and time periods, you can expand your creative palette and discover new ideas that can inform your own work.

3. Focus on quality, not just originality: While originality is important, it should not be the sole focus of our creative endeavors. Instead, prioritize quality, beauty, and clear communication. Understand the problem you're trying to solve deeply, and the solution will become apparent.

In conclusion, the practice of imitating others and incorporating their ideas into our own work can be a powerful tool for creativity and innovation. By adopting themed logs as a more effective way to organize our notes, we can enhance our focus, improve information retrieval, and make meaningful connections between ideas. So, whether you're a writer, artist, or entrepreneur, don't be afraid to imitate, then innovate.