6 amazing Obsidian templates that improved my note-taking

Unlike Notion, Evernote, or OneNote, Obsidian doesn’t offer a built-in templates library. You need to create and configure a specific folder, add notes, and use the Templates plugin to insert them with a single click. The templates below aren’t just pre-formatted pages; they are the blueprints that transformed my notes into a highly efficient and interconnected personal knowledge management system.

I’m excited to share the amazing Obsidian templates, which aren’t just pretty formats but genuine game-changers that have improved my personal note-taking workflow.

Before getting started

Before I go over my templates collection in Obsidian, let’s cover the basics first. I will use the default Templates plugin here. I have created a new folder called Obsidian Templates in my vault and configured it as my default location for all new templates.

For that, you need to head into Settings -> Templates -> Template folder location and select the newly created folder. Now, you can start adding notes as templates in the folder. And whenever you need to reuse them, simply type /insert template in a note, search and pick one from the list, and check it in action.

6 Daily note

Start your day in style

If you use Obsidian as a journal, this one is for you. I have designed this comprehensive daily note template to capture thoughts, track progress, and reflect on the day. It starts with my Today’s Focus header that shows the top three tasks, a daily checklist to keep my habits going strong, a small journal entry to start the day, highlights of the day, reflections, and ends with tomorrow’s plan.

You can even take it further and add a related notes/links section to connect daily thoughts to broader knowledge in the vault. Once this note is ready, I have made it my default note in the Daily Notes plugin.

5 Favorite book template

Track your favorite books

This is another solid Obsidian template in my vault. I have created it for a more reflective capture of beloved reads. It goes beyond a simple book summary. I use it to store essential details like title, author, genre, year published, read date, rating, and the reason why I love it so much.

I have added the lessons I always remember header with relevant details and my favorite quotes that have stuck with me. Optionally, you can add headers like ‘Why This Book Resonates With Me’ with bullet points like Compelling Characters, Unforgettable Plot, Exceptional Writing, Personal Impact, and more.

4 Meeting Notes

Keep track of every small detail

This template provides a structured framework for efficiently capturing and organizing information from any meeting. I have added the Meeting Overview option at the top and included required details, such as Date, Time, Location, Type, and organizer, in bullet points.

There is an Attendees section as well as a Purpose header to write down the objective of the meeting. I have also added an 'Agenda Items and Key Decisions' section to keep track of every small detail during the meeting. Crucially, a robust Action Items table ensures clear assignments of tasks, owners, due dates, and statuses.

3 Recipes

Enjoy tasty dishes

This template provides home cooks and food enthusiasts with a structured yet flexible way to create a personal digital cookbook directly within their note-taking system. You can add the recipe name at the top and enter required details, such as source, cuisine, meal type, preparation time, cooking time, servings, difficulty level, rating, and more.

I have also added a section for ingredients as well as instructions and essential notes at the bottom. This thoughtful design, combined with optional image integration and links to related meals, transforms a simple recipe note into a robust source that improves your cooking journey. You don’t even need a dedicated recipe tracker now.

2 Movie and show reviews

For your favorite streaming hours

This Obsidian movies and shows review template transforms casual viewing into a more thoughtful and organized experience. I can capture essential metadata such as the title, type, director, creator, release year, genre, platform, watched data, rating, status, and relevant tags (so that you can filter it quickly later).

Beyond these quick-reference details, the template provides a dedicated section for My Review and Thoughts and an in-depth analysis of the positives and negatives. You can also add a memorable scenes, moments, and quotes section in the template.

1 Software learning template

Learn about new tools

Being a software author, I write and test dozens of note-taking, self-hosting, project management, daily planner, and calendar tools. Whenever I try out a new tool, I move all my data to it, and test it out for at least seven days.

After that, I use my software learning template to jot down my findings. I insert app name, version, category, documentation, key features, concepts, common workflows, commands, and tricks. Whenever I’m writing about a specific software, I refer to my notes to gain meaningful insights quickly.

Stop taking notes, start making knowledge

Overall, these Obsidian templates have reshaped my approach to note-taking. Of course, I haven’t even scratched the surface. After all, these are just my personal favorites, but you can always take advantage of the robust Markdown support and create useful templates that meet your requirements.

I encourage you to experiment with them, tweak them, and discover how templates can elevate your own Obsidian vault in no time. While you are at it, check out these Obsidian plugins that I really like using.