Following on from the preparation and content of week 1, I copied Ramses’ structure and used the principles of a personal learning project to create my own learning log for this sprint. I will share and update this on the forum in the spirit of learning together!
My goal: Learn Logseq queries while managing my notes and planning for buying our first home.
I have been using Logseq to take notes on mortgages, house buying advice, and places to live but have found it difficult to keep things together, create effective to-do lists and compare information.
I have already experimented with some simple queries and looked at the Logseq documentation but I don’t fully understand the extent and the power of queries yet.
What I want to build with simple queries
Dynamic index of notes on different topics related to the house buying process.
What I want to build with advanced queries
I will update this once I learn more about simple and advanced queries, but a visual timeline of tasks associated with the house buying process with links to relevant notes would be useful.
Learn Plan
What is my target performance level?
What is good enough: To have an effective system of notetaking that allows for simple and advanced queries.
My end goal: To create a dynamic overview/index of the house buying process that reminds me of the most important considerations as well as the tasks left to do.
Copy examples of simple queries to get the same results.
Review other people’s learning logs to understand if there are other areas that I need to learn about and whether there are better ways to phrase my goal and target performance levels (refine based on new understanding of what you can do with queries).
What are my potential barriers to practice?
Working full-time.
Not planning time to learn and practice.
UK heatwave impacting on mood and energy levels.
How much time am I going to spend learning and practicing deliberately each week?
At least 30 minutes on weekdays when I am working full-time and at least one hour each day during the weekend.
How long will my project take?
Until July 31st, 2022.
When am I going to study or practice each day?
On weekdays: half an hour after dinner, and before doing my regular exercises. Note: Longer on Wednesdays to catch up on the recorded lesson.
On weekends: 30 minutes in the morning after our walk to learn, 30 minutes in the afternoon after our walk to practice.
Great start to your learn log. Also good that you start with a single project to apply what you learn, instead of trying to create an all-encompassing system. I recommend you keep an eye out for people on this forum that use Logseq for project management; I know there are a few.
Hm, I can’t find a setting that could limit this. You’re now at trust level 1, which should let you post as many as you like. Please send me a DM in case you keep running into the issue.
I have now received a notification that I was upgraded to trust level 1 because I have been engaging on the forum. So I will try adding the links back in. I guess I was limited when I first posted as I only created my account today!
{{youtube-timestamp(136)}} when starting a new project, create a new page called project/nameofproject.
This will generate a new page for your specific project, but nested under project.
This is called namespaces.
{{youtube-timestamp(509)}} example of notes on meetings in the journal
{{youtube-timestamp(716)}} example of how the project namespace shows the links to nested projects under hierarchy
{{youtube-timestamp(775)}} example of how notes for a particular team member are recorded, showing their involvement in multiple meetings and projects as well as their tasks
Notes and practice on how to use simple queries (using the Logseq documentation as starting point)
Practice blocks
Hey I am tagged [[tag1]] and #tag2
Meh, I am only tagged [[tag2]]
Yay I am tagged #tag1
Start a query in Logseq by typing /query
Use an operator
the operator is written within parentheses
the parameters are written between brackets
There are three types of operators
and
Query for multiple conditions that must all be true
Example that looks for information that has both tag1 and tag2
{{query (and [[tag1]] [[tag2]])}}
or
Query for multiple conditions where at least one of them must be true
Example that looks for information that has tag1 or tag2
{{query (or [[tag1]] [[tag2]])}}
not
You want to exclude a certain characteristic from your results
Example that includes tag1 but not tag2
{{query (and[[tag1]] not [[tag2]])}}
Practice queries
And operator
{{query((and [[tag1]] [[tag2]]))}}
Or operator
{{query((or [[tag1]] [[tag2]]))}}
Not operator
{{query((and[[tag1]] (not [[tag2]])))}}
Use a filter
Applies mostly to blocks.
Some only apply to pages
There are six block filters
the filter is written within parantheses
the parameters are written behind the filter without the need of brackets
between
Only queries blocks on the journal pages
Four specific time indications that can be used
Today
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Now
You can specify days or weeks using + or - with the number written behind and d for days or w for weeks
Example of a query that filters notes from the past three weeks
{{query (between -3w today)}}
property
Queries block properties only
Not to be confused with page-property
You can query only the property or the property with its value
Example of querying the value book I copied the example from the Logseq documentation
full-text query
Can only be used on the desktop app for now.
Searches for the word that you put in as a parameter.
Example of searching for WikiHouse in my notes
{{query WikiHouse}}
task
Searches for all todo
Can be used to search tasks for now or later
Parameters correspond to your Logseq settings on the exact words using in your preferred workflow
Example of querying planned tasks
{{query todo later}}
priority
Refers to querying the value of the priority level of your tasks
sort-by
You can use this filter in combination with other filters to sort the queried results
There are two different formats to include as parameters
created-at or updated-at
descending or ascending
You need to use it in combination with an operator
The sort-by filter is written within parentheses within the operator parentheses
The format is written behind the sort-by filter within the same parantheses
Requires you to have enabled the block timestamps within Logseq
Example of querying all notes on WikiHouse sorted by when I created the notes in ascending order
Keep a learn log about what you are working on, things you are reading.
How to create a feedback loop if you don’t know much yet about a topic?
Follow someone else’s tutorial to build up your skills and use that as your baseline.
Short, intensive learning projects have a higher chance of success but you need to be realistic about how much time you can spend on them (which is determined by your personal schedule).
Your notes should be: short, simple and personal.
Example of notetaking with a template in question and answer format:
Nest notes under one central page for example “log”
Import template with structure:
Title: write what it is about
Question written out fully and tagged for questions (so it can be turned into a flashcard later)
Answer written out fully and first line tagged for answers (examples and more information nested under the first note summarising the answer).
Writing notes in question and answer format helps with learning because you first try to come up with the answer. So even when you fail, you still learn.
Use spaced repetition for learning.
It helps with processing information more deeply and not leaving learning up to chance.
When you review your notes, you should link it to something you already know to help learning.
It helps with internalising information.
Use flashcards for learning.
Writing good flash card questions:
Choose only useful questions
Ask only one question per flashcard
Treat it as a skill that needs to be reviewed and refined
Deconstructing the meta skill of learning how to learn
There are different mediums for learning.
Twitter can be used to quickly and effectively revisit and share your notes, and meet like minded people.
Through emails and memos you can describe your problem, analyse it for possible solutions, and gather feedback.
When you blog it helps to reflect on what you have learned.
Writing guides helps with becoming intimately familiar with a topic.
When you take a course you dive deep into a topic in such a way that it becomes a part of you.
However, you need to limit the medium you learn from and find one that works best for you.
For example, podcasts are great if you find information on a specific topic, but they are more difficult to learn from directly. Books and articles can reduce hours of researching but you need to learn which ones are worth reading.
Hi @jenn great overview, thanks! Do you know if it’s possible to search for scheduled or deadline dates using simple queries? Perhaps these dates are exposed as pseudo-properties of the block?