# Simplifying Time Tracking with Toggl and Obsidian If you're anything like me, you’ve probably spent far too much time overthinking the best way to structure your workflow. It's a common problem and we are all constantly juggling tasks, projects, and deadlines. On top of that, I am often guilty of building overly complex solutions to stay on top of it all. But a recent “aha!” moment reminded me that sometimes the simplest path is the best one. Today, I want to walk you through how I use **Toggl** and **Obsidian** to streamline time tracking and make project management more intuitive and rewarding. ## Building a Productivity System with Obsidian In Obsidian, I initially built what I thought was a brilliant solution—a beautifully laid-out table to track my doctoral work. It could view tasks chronologically, filter activities, and reflect on how I’ve spent my time. All of this data came straight from my **daily notes**, which I tagged with `#DBA diary`. Want to add a new task? Just jot it down in your daily note—say, “making video”—and like magic, it appears in the table. But here’s the catch: it was total overkill. It took me more than a day to develop, involved a fair bit of scripting, and became more complex than necessary. While it worked, it wasn’t the most efficient path. Then I realized that there was a much simpler solution staring me right in the face. It’s this seamless integration I will describe below that makes Obsidian so powerful for personal knowledge management and academic workflows. ## Introducing Toggl: Your New Time-Tracking Friend I have used Toggl to keep track of my time for quite some time now. It's free, easy to use and also has an Obsidian plugin available. Yes, it's another Obsidian match made in heaven. While scripting and advanced automation are a fun way to experience frustration, stress and hair pulling, simple solutions are often the best. What sets Toggl apart is how well it pairs with Obsidian. You can track time manually or start a timer, and then visualize your logged hours in rich, colorful charts inside Obsidian. It's a surprisingly elegant solution. It even has a Pomodoro mode which I find excellent for long writing sessions. To implement the workflow, it will be easiest to view the video at the foot of this article to see the steps. Getting started is simple: 1. **Create a free account** at [toggl.com](https://toggl.com) 2. **Find your API token** in your profile settings 3. **Install the Toggl plugin** from within Obsidian’s third-party plugin library 4. **Enter your API token** in the plugin settings, and you’re ready to go! ## Syncing Toggl and Obsidian The plugin setup is straightforward, and the integration is surprisingly flexible. Toggl’s embedded reporting syntax (similar to Obsidian’s DataView) allows you to create smart summaries, such as: - Total time spent this week - Time logs filtered by project - Custom timelines (e.g. monthly reports or meeting-to-meeting records) In my setup, I use a basic script to pull logs from a particular project (like my doctoral research) and display it in a sorted, descending table right inside my Obsidian vault. The result? A real-time snapshot of where my energy is going—and where I might need to refocus. ## Maximizing Project Management What I love most is the ability to **track multiple projects**. Whether it’s breaking your semester into key chunks, planning between supervisor check-ins, or balancing different subject areas, you can tailor your Toggl reporting inside Obsidian for just about any scenario. I’ve recently started adding more detail to each entry—beyond just _“research”_ or _“lit review”_. Now I’m capturing specific activities, which will help with future reflections, reporting, and staying accountable. ## Are You Ready to Simplify Your Workflow? If you're overwhelmed by spreadsheets or bogged down by over-engineered setups, this combination of **Obsidian and Toggl** could be the lightweight solution you’ve been looking for. It’s minimal, flexible, and powerful—without the need to be a coding wizard. The video provides a full walkthrough of the workflow and you can also learn a lot from the documentation available for the plugin. ## Conclusion At the end of the day, the best productivity system is the one that works for youi. Always remember that the P in PKM is personal and not the most complex or technical. My journey from overcomplicated tables to a simple, elegant Toggl-Obsidian integration reminded me of that in the most practical way. Whether you're managing a PhD, juggling multiple projects, or just trying to make sense of your day, this setup offers clarity without the chaos. Give it a try, adapt it to your needs, and don’t be afraid to simplify. Sometimes, less really is more. Of course, if you have any comments or questions don't hesitate to ask. <div class="video-container"> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pYOduxU7HBc?si=DdSxJTpYQ1cD6gNL" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div>