# Create Your Life Summary Page in Obsidian: A Guide
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Chapter 1: The Importance of Life Summaries
Capturing the essence of everyday life can be a transformative practice. Whether you prefer a digital app or a traditional notebook, starting today to document your experiences can enrich your understanding of yourself.
It is widely recognized that anyone, regardless of how mundane their life may seem, can gain insights by chronicling both highs and lows. Whether your entries are made daily, weekly, or monthly, the act of writing ensures that precious memories aren't lost to time.
Why not take a moment to capture the extraordinary aspects of your seemingly ordinary life? Below are three effective methods to compile your life summary entries in Obsidian. While the first method is straightforward, I find the second and third methods offer more flexibility and functionality.
Section 1.1: Method 1 — Using Tags
You can start by making notes on a daily or weekly log page, tagging each entry with something like #2022-Life-Summary. By clicking on this tag, you can easily access all relevant entries sorted by their respective log files.
Additionally, you can create an annual summary page that retrieves each tagged entry via a query:
tag: 2022-Life-Summary
This technique is quick and simple but lacks flexibility, making it my least preferred option.
Section 1.2: Method 2 — Utilizing the DataView Plugin
With this method, you can begin each entry using a designated field name, such as summary:: followed by a brief text description. You are free to add as many entries as you wish anywhere in your weekly or daily notes, and they will automatically populate a list on your summary page. If you're maintaining a weekly log, consider prefacing each entry with the date.
For tracking locations, you could use a separate field called locations::. To display these summary entries on a different page, use the following query:
TABLE summary AS Summary, locations AS Locations FROM "Your Folder Name/Subfolder"
SORT file.name
This approach works effectively and is particularly advantageous for jotting down thoughts whenever inspiration strikes, rather than confining them to a single location.
Subsection 1.2.1: Method 3 — Implementing Transclusion
I find this method to be the most adaptable, even though it requires placing your summary at the top of each page instead of dispersing it throughout your weekly logs. This layout is quite beneficial for quickly reviewing my weekly notes.
I’ve designed a Life Summary page as follows:
# 2022 Weekly Summaries Quarter 1 ----------------------
###### W01
![[2022-W01#^w01s]]###### W02
![[2022-W02#^w02s]]###### W03
![[2022-W03#^w03s]]###### W04
![[2022-W04#^w04s]]
If you're unfamiliar with transclusion in Obsidian, here's a brief explanation: the exclamation mark indicates that Obsidian should display the referenced text from the linked page instead of merely providing a link. The file name corresponds to the log for that specific week, while the # symbol directs Obsidian to find particular text within that file. The ^ symbol specifies the exact location to reference.
Summary
Using transclusion is effective for displaying detailed notes, as long as the referenced content is structured correctly.
Chapter 2: Insights from Documenting Your Journey
This video, titled "Obsidian Book Notes System and Template," provides valuable insights into structuring your notes effectively.
In the next video, "Obsidian Tutorial: Taking Notes From Books," you will learn how to enhance your note-taking process.
Embrace the Journey of Documentation
As you embark on this journey of self-discovery through journaling, remember that Obsidian is merely a tool; the essence lies in your reflections on where you’ve been.
Even if you only jot down a single word each day, imagine how fascinating it would be to revisit those entries later. This simple practice can illuminate your unique perspective on life.
So, whether you choose a simple notebook or a sophisticated app, today is the perfect time to start documenting your life. You never know—your words might one day resonate with others in ways you can't yet imagine.
For more insights on using Obsidian effectively, check out my other writings on the subject.
Click below to explore my series on plain text and paperless productivity:
Plain Text. Paper, Less.
Delving into productivity through a future-focused, plain text approach, while appreciating the value of essential paper documentation.