Using your keyboard instead of your mouse or trackpad is critical to speed up how you interact with your PKM.
This is not about bragging with your friends or even yourself. It goes much further.
The more you use your keyboard, the better.
I learned this when I started using Microsoft Windows in the 90s.
It seems stupid at the beginning until you find out the answer goes far beyond.
Using your keyboard allows your brain to keep the flow.
If you’re thinking about something, nothing will interrupt this thinking process.
That’s how your fingers become an extension of your mind, and how you can develop a thought to the fullest.
Maybe you think this is just a matter of tech-geeks, super high-performance gurus, and nerds. It’s not.
The more I tell this to “common people”, the more they thank me for making their lives easier.
Naturally interacting with your PKM allows you to use it more frequently because friction disappears.
Frictionless systems guarantee you’ll use them endlessly and more frequently.
Here, I share the 15 Obsidian Hotkeys I use daily.
Some of them are standard. Some others, custom.
Take a look at them and decide which ones resonate with you.
Beware: I use Apple devices.
Cmd+W
Close active pane.
Whenever you start having too many panes opened, or you’re just fed up with a certain one, closing it in a millisecond is something you’d love.
Cmd+P
Open command palette.
This allows you to completely forget about any command if you want to do so.
Accessing the command palette with a hotkey will enable you to look for any command at any time quickly.
Cmd+N
Create a new note.
A new thought came to your mind? Just press Cmd+N and let your ideas flow out.
Cmd+Shift+N
Create a new note in a new pane.
If you want to create a new note quickly but don’t want your current note to disappear, this is your hotkey to keep both sides of the coin intact.
Ctrl+Shift+D
Open today’s daily note.
Your daily note is your entry point for everything along your day.
Use this hotkey to open it quickly.
PS: it’s the same one for Roam Research 😉
Opt+left arrow and Opt+right arrow
Navigate back or forward.
Being able to navigate through all the notes you’ve visited using your keyboard is a dream come true.
Cmd+,
Open settings.
How often do you need to go to your settings to update a plugin, change something or set up a specific feature?
Don’t waste your time and press this hotkey.
Cmd+O
Open quick switcher.
One of the essential features throughout my day.
I can open any of my notes by pressing this hotkey and typing part of their title.
This will allow you to move from one note to another within milliseconds.
You won’t need to navigate, scroll or suffer any friction at all.
Cmd+F
Search current file.
If you want to search for something in your current file, press this hotkey and keep writing the thing you’re looking for.
Cmd+Shift+F
Search in all files.
This hotkey allows you to search in all the files in your vault the term you’re interested in.
Cmd-T
Insert template.
Obsidian’s templates are an essential element.
I use them at every moment throughout my day.
This hotkey, plus keep writing your template’s name, will let you insert the structure you’re demanding right now.
Cmd-E
Toggle edit/preview mode.
Changing from edit to preview in Obsidian is one of the most usual features you’ll do.
This hotkey is a must.
Cmd-K and Cmd-L
Change to dark or light mode.
I still prefer to write long notes using light mode, but I love dark mode talking about the GUI’s experience.
These two hotkeys allow me to see things how I need at any moment.
Takeaways
Don’t underestimate hotkeys.
They allow you to keep your flow running, one of the essential skills to develop as a knowledge worker.
The less you interrupt your flow, the better your ideas will grow.
Photo by Taiki Ishikawa on Unsplash.