In this blog post, I want to explore how I have integrated my journal with my Zettelkasten.
I started journaling and keeping a Zettelkasten in 2021. But there was no interconnection between them. My Zettelkasten has always been in Obsidian, and my journaling habit started on Notion. I started journaling in Obsidian in August 2022 and moved the journals in Notion to Obsidian in 2023. You can read about how I moved across my journals here.
The benefit of the integration is that whenever I have an idea of my own, I can link to the note containing the idea from my journal. So, at any point in the future, I can look at the daily journal entry for that day and see what I was doing when that idea came to me, giving some context to the idea. It could even end up being a story I tell in a future blog post.
Understanding the Zettelkasten method
I’m not going to discuss the Zettelkasten method in too much depth in this post; if you want to learn more, our Introductory guide to Zettelkasten is a good starting point.
A Zettelkasten is a popular framework for a Personal Knowledge Management system (PKM). It is the underlying framework for my system, and it is a good place to start.
The underlying concept has three distinct note types used at particular parts of the Zettelkasten process:
Fleeting notes can be the original highlight of a passage in a book you are reading or the initial scribbling of an idea you captured after it welled up into your consciousness. It is the starting point of the whole process, which is why I consider fleeting notes to be the unsung hero of note-taking.
Fleeting notes taken from some source material, like a highlighted section of the book, will go in a literature note containing information on the source material. It is helpful to reference the source if you ever need to. Even if you don’t need it for references, it can help you review the source material again at some point in the future.
Lastly comes the star of the show: your permanent note. That is the note kept in your Zettelkasten. Each note should be atomic, explaining a single concept, thought, or idea. A permanent note should be written in your own words based on your own understanding of the idea.
A permanent note should link to other related ideas, creating a web of interconnected ideas; this web can lead to the generation of new ideas or perspectives on existing ideas.
The role of the journal in my Personal Knowledge Management system
I hadn’t realised that my journaling system was part of my knowledge management system until I had written the heading, and now it seems so obvious. This is why writing is so essential in your journey of learning and self-exploration.
As has happened in this blog post, the very act of writing has generated a fresh perspective or idea. By journaling, I’m trying to create the environment through the act of writing to trigger a fresh idea or perspective.
The written language is an abstract way of thinking, and our minds have to process what we are writing about into the abstract set of characters we use. That extra piece of processing can sometimes be enough to trigger a fresh idea or give you a fresh perspective on your knowledge.
So, a journal is an ideal place to capture fleeting notes, either from ideas that have just come to you or those that have come to you while you are writing an entry in your journal.
I can then create a permanent note. As my journal is in Obsidian, I can easily link between the permanent note and the journal entry relating to that idea.
A journal is also a good place for self-reflection, especially if your daily journal ties in with periodic reviews over more extended periods, such as week, month, and year. These reflections can help your learning process as you reflect on what went well, what didn’t go so well, and any lessons you have learnt from your own experiences.
Practical tips for integrating your Zettelkasten and Journal
My first tip might sound obvious, but you must use the same application for both your Personal Knowledge Management system and your journal. I use Obsidian, but any application that supports backlinks and either folders or tags should be ok.
Secondly, and most importantly, capture all ideas and thoughts; do not judge them when they come, capture them. You can review them later.
I wish I had started capturing my ideas when I was younger; I dread to think about what ideas I might have had and just letting them evaporate to nothing due to me not capturing them.
Finally, enjoy the experience by creating a joint system; you are learning about yourself and the world about you. By combining the two, you are learning about your place in the world and how you see it fitting together.
You might want to share the insights and experiences that result from your journey, just as I’m doing with mine.
If you haven’t yet combined your Personal Knowledge Management system or journal, why don’t you give it a go?
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Further reading
To help you further, here are other posts I think you will find helpful.
Introductory guide to Zettelkasten
What is a bullet journal
How my bullet journal fits in with my digital systems
The essential guide to managing fleeting notes for productivity and knowledge management