This is a simple note in its use, but I just wanted to clarify to myself when to use tasknotes tasks and when to just write notes.
01-14-2026 Update
On further thoughts, having a whole note dedicated to a (usually) simple task is rather overkill. Not only that, but I find that I loose the “chain of thought” for when I want to conduct task work in a linear manner. I still want to use tasknotes for long term “collections” of tasks, things like a full peptide purchase plan require a step by step plan with brainstorming within. That is a great fit for a tasknote, as it is not “wrapping” around another note without adding any further context.
The Move to short Term Focus
I have struggled with the idea of using a Homepage, but now I feel like I have a proper use for it. Instead of filling it with BS anime girls everywhere and bases for books im clearly not reading, I want to use it purely as a “scratchpad” for ideas I am having right now. This allows me to not only keep track of moment by moment linear taskflows, but also to collect and control what Tasknotes I am working on.
12-17-2025 Update
I’ve been thinking about the potential use of task notes in a deeper sense. This is still just an idea for now, but I’ve been thinking about allowing tasks to mature into actual notes through a process. I like the idea of accumulating information in the notes content of a task, and now that it has a better interface for interacting with said content, I think it makes more sense to allow for notes to mature into tasks. This also makes sense when you consider the composition of templates in the repository. We have designed the system so as to allow for multiple different notes classes to coexist, for example, a website and a product. I think this is possible with tasks where you can see that a task started as a task, but also that it has class of note and then it matured. Just an idea for now, but we will further consider.
But Maybe Not…
However, I dont want tasknote content to be shaped like this, so the only application of tasknote maturation I can think of is for journaling in a append-style form of editing. For notes like Hodkin Huxley Model which HAVE an associated tasknote task ( abstract modeling notes comp neuro ), I dont see it as working well as by “maturing” the task note I have to delete all the thought processing that was recorded in that note. TaskNotes SHOULD have content regarding the process of thinking, but many notes go through “cleaning up” which I dont want for tasknotes. In addition, tasknotes cant really be used as normal notes due to their linking functinoality ( see how the hodkin huxley task is rended ), so in actuality it may not be best to “mature” these notes.
I think the perfect middle ground would be to allow tasknotes to take on rich content and have a lot of information contained in them, but not as final notes due to linking/rendering differences. We want tasknotes to be a “whiteboard” of writing, a beautifull mess of thought that doesnt need garden tending in the same way other notes do.
This was a test of both On Transcribing Audio Recordings but also some ideas for Note updates as links to daily notes
Use
Use tasknotes for fleeting tasks that do NOT have a permanent place in your vault. For example, going to a meeting that you schedule on the calendar, that would be a good time to actually use the tasknote to write, etc. Content that is IN the tasknote is scratchpaper for the thoughts you have while working on that task.
Tasks in general should also be about engaging time outside of obsidian. You can schedule to write stuff IN obsidian if you like, but that is kind of what the todo tag is for, and plus when using todo tags it is a little easier to sort.
Ideally, for these concepts which you are writing about, you should use tasknotes to create a task to look INTO a certain field ( before you have a note ). A good example is my task for “math fields to look into”. It isnt a list of notes i am working on, it is a list of stuff I could make notes on.
Don’t Use
For anything that you will revisit after finishing the task. If you really need to, do this by adding a project to the note, and even then you should use sparingly.
Dont use for tasks that you have schedule you want to complete, but you have done so in a “fleeting” way. This is essentially what half my Computational Neuroscience notes are like, if I added these all to the tasknotes board I would be overwhelmed. Let todo tags handle that.
It should instead be for stuff you have started and need to finish, and more specifically need to block out in your schedule to finish.
One Last Thing
DONT use this for those random ocd urges when you have to write an idea down. JUST MAKE A NOTE!!! that is the whole purpose of the atomic obsidian method, just write the idea down wherever in your vault, and let it be discovered and grow naturally by links.
And as for uncreated notes, if you are worried about them and thinking you need a task for it… just create them, leave them empty if need be.