Obsidian Is TOO Complicated!

If you're coming from feature-rich apps like Notion or Evernote, this moment might feel disappointing. But here's the twist—what looks like Obsidian's biggest weakness might actually be its greatest s

So you've just downloaded Obsidian after hearing everyone rave about it. You open it up, expecting some revolutionary productivity powerhouse, and instead... you get a simple app with the ability to create notes. That's it. No fancy dashboards, no built-in calendars, no built-in project or task management features and no AI. Just text and the promise of back-linking and the map view.

The Great Obsidian Paradox: Simple vs. Complex

After years of using Obsidian and watching countless users struggle with it, I've realized something counterintuitive: Obsidian doesn't have a complexity problem as some might think—it has a simplicity problem.

Let me explain what I mean.

What You Get Out of the Box

When you first install Obsidian, here's your toolkit:

• Create notes and type in them

• Use Markdown formatting for bold, italics, headers

• Link between notes using backlinks

• Organize notes in folders

• Generate daily notes automatically

• Use the simple Canvas feature for visual mind mapping

• Basic templates functionality

That's essentially it. No databases, no Kanban boards, no calendar integration, no collaboration features. Just pure, focused note-taking with the ability to connect ideas.

Why This Feels "Wrong" to New Users

If you're migrating from Notion, you're used to having everything in one place—your tasks, projects, calendars, databases, and notes all living together. Evernote users expect web clipping, document scanning, and robust search across different media types.

When these users open Obsidian, they immediately think: "Where's everything else?"

This leads to the infamous community plugin rabbit hole.

The Plugin Trap: Where Simplicity Dies

Here's where things get interesting (and complicated). Obsidian has a massive ecosystem of community plugins that can transform it into almost anything you want:

• Calendar plugins for scheduling

• Task management systems

• Project tracking boards

• Database functionality

• Advanced formatting tools

• Sharing features

Obsidian also has paid plugins for syncing between multiple devices called Sync and for publishing content to the web called Publish.

The problem with 3rd party plugins though is once you start installing then to recreate your perfect workflow, you're no longer using core Obsidian—you're using a franken-app that happens to run on Obsidian's foundation.

The Security and Complexity Trade-off

Every plugin you install introduces potential issues:

• Data integrity risks

• Security vulnerabilities

• Performance impacts

• Maintenance overhead

• Learning curves for each new feature

Obsidian even warns you about this when you enable community plugins, yet most users click through anyway, desperate to recreate their familiar workflows. And I'm not immune to this behavior I speak of.

Embracing Obsidian's True Nature

Here's what I've learned after years of using Obsidian: the magic happens when you work with its simplicity, not against it.

The Power of Constraint

Obsidian forces you to focus on what really matters in knowledge work:

1. Capturing thoughts quickly without friction

2. Connecting ideas through natural linking

3. Building understanding over time through review and reflection

4. Creating insights by seeing unexpected connections

When you're not distracted by project management features, folder icons, CSS or calendar integrations, you can focus entirely on thinking and writing.

The Compound Effect of Simple Tools

Think about the most productive writers, researchers, and thinkers throughout history. They used simple tools—pen and paper, typewriters, basic word processors. The constraint forced them to focus on the ideas themselves rather than the tool.

Obsidian provides this same focused environment, but with the modern advantages of digital search, backlinks, and visual connections.

When to Use Plugins

I'm not anti-plugin entirely. There are strategic ways to enhance Obsidian without losing its essence:

Good Plugin Usage

• Enhance core functionality:

  • Better search

  • To improved formatting

  • Visual enhancements

  • Export capabilities.

Plugin Red Flags

• Installing plugins to recreate another app entirely

• Adding features you think you "should" use

• Turning Obsidian into a project management suite

• Installing plugins before you've mastered the basics

Making Obsidian Work for You

Start with Vanilla Obsidian

Give yourself at least 2 weeks using only the default features. You might discover that:

• Simple text files are incredibly powerful

• Backlinks naturally organize your knowledge

• Daily notes become a powerful journaling practice

• The Canvas feature handles most visual organization needs

Master Markdown Basics

Learn these essential Markdown shortcuts:

• **bold** and *italic* text

• # Headers for structure

• [[Note linking]] for connections

• - [ ] for simple task lists

Focus on Your Folder Structure

Instead of plugins, invest time in a thoughtful folder organization:

• Keep it simple (3-5 main folders maximum)

• Use consistent naming conventions

• Let natural topics emerge rather than forcing categories

The Bottom Line

Reframe Your Expectations

Obsidian isn't complicated—our expectations are. We've been conditioned to expect all-in-one solutions that promise to solve every productivity problem.

But maybe the real solution is simpler: use focused tools for specific purposes. Let Obsidian excel at what it does best—helping you think, write, and connect ideas. Use other tools for other purposes.

Your Next Steps

If you're new to Obsidian or struggling with complexity:

1. Uninstall all community plugins and start fresh

2. Commit to 2 weeks of vanilla Obsidian usage

3. Focus on daily writing rather than organization systems

4. Let your folder structure emerge organically

5. Only add plugins after you've mastered the basics

Remember: the goal isn't to build the perfect productivity system. It's to capture, develop, and connect your ideas more effectively.

The most productive Obsidian users aren't the ones with the most plugins—they're the ones who've learned to think clearly within simple constraints.

So, what's your experience with Obsidian's simplicity vs. complexity? Have you found yourself in the plugin trap, or have you embraced the minimalist approach? Share your thoughts and let's discuss how to make note-taking tools actually work for thinking rather than against it.