The LANA method to build an Obsidian structure.

At this point, it is my second nature to get annoyed by my Obsidian structure and feel the desire to try to change it. But this time I might have found something. I tested and played with a new structure and I even enjoyed using it in the end. This might be a successful experiment.

the issue

I felt the urge to change my Obsidian structure and test a new one because my notes just got chaotic and messy. This is what my Obsidian graph looks like:

I think it is supposed to look like that because everywhere I look, other graphs look similar to mine. This is why for a long time I thought that it is fine. My graph and notes should look chaotic and messy. I thought, someday, something special will emerge from it. But I’m not sure if it will. Taking notes just got annoying.

There are random connections everywhere. Without thinking carefully, I try to force new insights and notes into my structure. It just became too much effort to think in this mess. A lot of notes from different sources with basically the same ideas just formulated differently are floating around.

This chaotic mess of notes leads to more and more content consumption and taking notes without any real purpose.

I think I fell into this issue because of my Obsidian structure.

the typical structure

The typical structure that is purposed by the Zettelkasten method includes two folders: a folder for literature notes and a folder for notes you created.

And this simple structure was great at the beginning. The Zettelkasten method taught me the importance of taking notes and connecting them. Before that, reading books, watching lectures, and listening to podcasts were just dull. It was just consuming content and maybe capturing insights at random places.

But I guess I over-did the part of taking notes and creating connections. The connections just resulted in a mess in which it is difficult to think clearly. And, I started to consume and consume content with only one goal in mind; just connecting insights to my Obsidian structure, instead of trying to learn something.

L.A.N.A. method

Now I know what I’m after: Meaningful content and meaningful connections. This led me to design the LANA method

Literature is a folder in which you create and store your literature notes. But it doesn’t have to be a literature note for every piece of material you read, listen to, or watch. If they all have the same purpose and try to answer the same question, you can also create a literature note collection — a literature note with multiple materials in it.

Areas are folders dedicated to certain curiosities and interests of yours. I for example have created the areas/folders: learning, philosophy, emotions, and writing. These are the four main areas I’m interested in and read about.

Notes are the typical notes you know. But instead of dumping them all into one notes folder, they are instead placed into the specific area (areas folder) that is most relevant. Inside the area, the note should be connected meaningfully to the rest of the notes. This also means restructuring, reorganizing, and rewriting notes if necessary. Don’t try to be a collector forcing notes into the area. Think about the network of content you already have and find a logical and meaningful place for new notes. I like to use the graph view filtered for the specific area to think inside my network of content.

Archive is the place for your old notes. I didn’t want to migrate all my notes into the new structure. I also didn’t want to start from scratch and delete them all. I put all my previous notes inside an archive folder. The idea is that if I need something or remember a note I might have, I will go into the archive, pull it out from there, and move it to a specific area.

A simple structure of the LANA method might look like this:

And the process inside LANA would be for example to pick a resource or multiple resources you want to study. Then you create a literature note for it and save it in the literature folder (L). If you want, you can first create some messy notes inside the literature note or you can jump right into creating your atomic notes. But before creating your atomic notes, think about the area (A) they should belong to. Which questions do you want to answer in that area? How might new insights be connected to what you already have in that area? Then create your notes (N). If you encounter expired notes or notes that are not relevant anymore due to some restructuring inside the area, move these notes into the archive folder (A).

This structure hopefully helps me grow my understanding and notes naturally instead of randomly. My graphs look much cleaner now and hopefully, it stays this way.

LANA should make my learning and note-taking process more intentional and purposeful because of dedicated areas and curiosities.