Guide: Setting Up the “Journals” Plugin in Obsidian

A quick guide on setting up the journaling functionality within Obsidian.

This step-by-step guide will help you set up the “Journals” plugin in Obsidian for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly journaling. Follow these steps to organize your journal structure and templates effectively.

0. Create the Proper Folder Structure

Start by creating the folder structure in your Obsidian vault. This will help keep your journal entries organized.

Folder Structure Example:

• Journal/01 Daily

• Journal/02 Weekly

• Journal/03 Monthly

• Journal/04 Quarterly

• Journal/05 Yearly

1. Install and Activate the “Journal” Community Plugin

1. Go to Settings > Community Plugins.

2. Click Browse, search for “Journals,” and click Install.

3. After installation, click Enable to activate the plugin.

2. Add Journal Shelf to Options

1. In Options, click Add Journal Shelf.

2. Name it “Journal” for easy reference.

3. Set Up the “Journal Daily” Template

1. Create a new journal and name it “Journal Daily”.

2. Ensure that it is added to the “Journal” shelf.

3. Fill in the following fields:

• Note Name Template: {{date}}

• Default Date Format: YYYY-MM-DD

• Folder: Journal/01 Daily/{{date:YYYY}}/{{date:MM}}

4. Set Up the “Journal Weekly” Template

1. Create a new journal and name it “Journal Weekly”.

2. Ensure that it is added to the “Journal” shelf.

3. Fill in the following fields:

• Note Name Template: {{date}}

• Default Date Format: yyyy-[W]ww

• Folder: Journal/02 Weekly/{{date:YYYY}}/{{date:MM}}

5. Set Up the “Journal Monthly” Template

1. Create a new journal and name it “Journal Monthly”.

2. Ensure that it is added to the “Journal” shelf.

3. Fill in the following fields:

• Note Name Template: {{date}}

• Default Date Format: YYYY-MM

• Folder: Journal/03 Monthly/{{date:YYYY}}

6. Set Up the “Journal Quarterly” Template

1. Create a new journal and name it “Journal Quarterly”.

2. Ensure that it is added to the “Journal” shelf.

3. Fill in the following fields:

• Note Name Template: {{date}}

• Default Date Format: YYYY-[Q]Q

• Folder: Journal/04 Quarterly/{{date:YYYY}}

7. Set Up the “Journal Yearly” Template

1. Create a new journal and name it “Journal Yearly”.

2. Ensure that it is added to the “Journal” shelf.

3. Fill in the following fields:

• Note Name Template: {{date}}

• Default Date Format: YYYY

• Folder: Journal/05 Yearly

Tada — you’re done

By following these steps, you will have a fully structured and organized journaling system in Obsidian with daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly journal templates.

For Templates

You can follow along with this video to write out the daily → Yearly templates I use:

OR

Buy the Demo Vault with everything already set-up and ready to go:

• https://buymeacoffee.com/deeconstruct/e/134678

• https://www.constructbydee.com/services

Struggling with anything Obsidian/Knowledge Management? — Get in Touch!

I share PKM tips and tutorials on my YouTube channel and offer consulting, demo vaults, and courses to kickstart your PKM journey.

• YouTube: ConstructByDee

• Website: ConstructByDee.com