“The real magic of knowledge management isn’t in storing information—it’s in connecting it.”

In Yesterday’s post I outlined smart note taking, and provided a few examples. I spent years archiving information that I found interesting. I used to have a million notes scattered everywhere. To-do lists in one app, project ideas in another, and random book quotes floating in a dusty Google Doc.

The information was there, stagnate, most of it hardly ever looked at again after I filed it away. When I started using Obsidian I found myself doing the same thing. I had to find a new way of reviewing the data, adding my thoughts on the topics that I needed, and deleting the information that was no longer useful. The key to this step is the Obsidian’s ability to link notes, and suddenly, it clicked: It’s not just about what you capture—it’s about what/how you connect the information.

In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to link notes like a pro inside Obsidian, so you can turn a messy pile of thoughts into a powerful, idea-generating machine.

What Are Internal Links in Obsidian?

Internal links are connections between notes in your vault. You create them using double brackets:

[[Your Note Title]]

It’s like instantly teleporting between ideas.

For example, if you’re journaling in your Daily Note and you mention “project X,” just type [[Project X]]—bam! That note is now connected.

It doesn’t even need to exist yet. Obsidian creates a placeholder until you fill it in later.

You can also link to specific headings or blocks inside a note:

[[Project X#Timeline]] → links to a specific section[[Project X^abc123]] → links to a block (handy for precise references)What Are Backlinks?

Here’s where things get juicy.

A backlink shows you where a note is being referenced from—even if you didn’t manually link them.

Say you mention [[Atomic Habits]] in 5 different notes. Open the “Atomic Habits” note and scroll to the backlink pane—you’ll see every note that references it.

Think of it like your brain whispering: “Hey, here’s everything related to this idea.”

It’s how Obsidian creates a network of thought.

Why Linked Thinking Is So Powerful

Traditional folders trap your ideas. But linked thinking? It frees them.

Here’s what I noticed once I started linking notes:

Serendipity: I’d rediscover forgotten notes just by browsing backlinks.Clarity: Projects stopped feeling overwhelming—I could see how everything fit together.Creativity: New ideas popped out of nowhere when I linked old ones together.

You’re not just writing notes. You’re building a thinking tool.

Use Case 1: Project Management

Obsidian isn’t just for writers and researchers—it’s a legit project management tool once you understand linking.

Here’s how I run projects:

[[Project: Launch New Product]]Inside that note:Link to [[Meeting Notes]]Link to tasks like [[To Do: Launch Page Copy]]Embed milestones, specs, even brainstorms

I even use #status/in-progress or #status/done to filter stuff visually.

Then I review backlinks from each task to see where it was mentioned. Everything’s interconnected. No more scattered documents. Later in the series I’ll discuss and provide examples of the workflow around Projects.

Use Case 2: Research and Writing

I’m working on a long-form article? I create a master note:

[[Article: How to Build a Personal Knowledge System]]

Inside, I link to:

[[Quote from Tiago Forte]][[PKM Examples]][[Smart Notes Method]]

When I’m ready to write, I follow the links—it’s like laying down breadcrumbs for my future self.

Obsidian helps you build out your research horizontally, not just vertically. It’s perfect for long-term thinkers.

Use Case 3: Learning and Idea Generation

Let’s say you’re reading a book. Instead of just dumping highlights, start linking:

[[Book: Deep Work]][[Concept: Attention Residue]][[Idea: 3-Hour Work Blocks]]

Now those notes start showing up in backlinks when you revisit productivity, time management, or journaling notes.

It’s like your brain slowly building a custom encyclopedia without trying that hard.

Pro Tips for Linking Like a Legend Use Descriptive Link Names

Instead of [[Note1]], rename it to [[Morning Routine Template]] or [[Why Deep Work Matters]].

Don’t Overthink It

If a link might be useful, make it. Even if the note is empty now—it’ll grow later.

Use Aliases for Clarity

Sometimes you want a cleaner display:

[[Atomic Habits|James Clear’s Book]]

Or define aliases in the frontmatter:

aliases: ["AH", "Atomic Habits by Clear"]

Review Your Backlinks Weekly

Block 10 minutes to scan backlinks and follow the rabbit trails. You’ll often stumble on ideas worth expanding.

Conclusion

Linking notes in Obsidian isn’t just a feature—it’s a superpower.

It turns random thoughts into a growing web of knowledge, projects into living documents, and your vault into an extension of your brain.

Don’t worry about doing it perfectly. Just start connecting the dots.
Over time, the patterns emerge—and that’s where the real magic happens.

 Coming up next: How to Use Daily Notes in Obsidian for Journaling and Planning
Discover how to supercharge your journaling and planning with Daily Notes in Obsidian. Learn how to set up daily entries, structure your thoughts, and build a consistent habit with powerful plugins and templates.

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