Multi-Layer Planning with Obsidian, Why and What

As we embark upon 2024, this is a perfect time to highlight how I have set up my multi-layer planning in Obsidian. This article and video are also the first where I’m launching them early in the I Wanna Be Me When I Grow Up Community and then I’ll follow up by putting them on Medium about a week later. I’m really excited to begin building out content in the Obsidian Hub area of my community and I hope you’ll join for free to get the articles and videos. I’m planning a course on Obsidian later this year there that will also be for sale. Join for free now and always get my Obsidian articles and videos earlier than anywhere else.

What is Multi-Layer Planning

Multi-layer planning is a process of looking at the various components of your life through the lens of different time periods. For me, most often, the time periods are Yearly, Quarterly, Monthly, Weekly, and Daily. I look at my life as a whole in this way but I also have a paper calendar for instance where things that my house mate needs to know get written. Also, my calendar — Fantastical is my calendar app of choice at the moment — is where all appointments get set up and managed. I record my agenda weekly in a digital note on my iPad as well as on daily notes in Obsidian though as I plan what tasks and activities I will do on each day.

While some of this may feel redundant, it helps me stay on top of things and keep an eye on both the forest and the trees at the same time. This is definitely a “take what you need and leave the rest kind of situation”. My process is my process and it works for me. It may or may not work for you but you may find some things that do work for you.

Who inspired me

I take some of these things from R.J. Nestor who is a great friend and productivity guru. You should definitely check out R.J.’s new book that is coming out in 2024. I also watched videos from Jess Corrin. She is experimenting in 2024 with cyclic planning cycles (every 4 weeks aligned to week start rather than month start). I’m intrigued by this but not going to go all the way there yet. I also listened to a recent episode of The Focused podcast featuring Mike Schmitz and…