A gentle, neurodivergent-friendly productivity system for Obsidian that helps you navigate cognitive friction, create actionable tasks, and build sustainable workflows with compassion and clarity.
- Gentle Interface: Record moments of cognitive friction with compassionate language
- Pre-defined Categories: 10 common cognitive friction types (execution gaps, social drain, decision paralysis, etc.)
- Intensity Tracking: Rate the intensity of each friction moment (1-10 scale)
- Energy Awareness: Optional energy level tracking for better self-understanding
- First Physical Action: Identify the next tangible, doable step
- Step-by-Step Guidance: Four-step process to transform friction into actionable tasks
- Ideal Vision: Envision the perfect completion state
- Non-Negotiable Core: Identify the essential, must-complete component
- Timeboxing: Set focused work periods with adjustable durations (5-120 minutes)
- 2Do-Inspired Design: Clean, gentle color scheme based on the popular task manager
- Auto-generated Reports: Weekly summaries of friction patterns and task completion
- Pattern Analysis: Visualize your most common friction types
- Progress Tracking: Monitor task completion rates and energy trends
- Export Options: JSON and CSV export for personal analysis
- Neurodivergent-Friendly: Low-stimulus interface with calming colors
- Toggleable Language: Switch between professional and gentle phrasing
- Status Bar Integration: Quick access from Obsidian's status bar
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+F (Friction) / Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+D (Dimensional Reduction)
- Open Obsidian Settings โ Community Plugins
- Search for "Cognition Compass"
- Click Install, then Enable
- Record Your First Friction: Click the status bar icon or use
Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+F - Describe the moment: What's happening? How intense is it?
- Choose your path: Just record it, or immediately transform it into action
- From any friction record, click "Start Dimensional Reduction"
- Follow the 4-step wizard:
- Vision: What would perfect look like?
- Core: What absolutely must get done?
- Action: What's the first physical step?
- Parameters: Set timebox and energy estimate
The plugin automatically creates and organizes your data:
Your Vault/
โโโ Cognition Compass/
โ โโโ Frictions/ # All cognitive friction records
โ โโโ Tasks/ # Dimensional reduction tasks
โ โโโ Reports/ # Weekly reports and exports
- Cognitive Friction Logging: Enable/disable friction recording
- Friction Categories: Customize or extend the 10 default categories
- Gentle Language: Toggle between professional and compassionate wording
- Status Bar: Show/hide quick-access button
- Default Timebox: Set preferred focus duration (5-120 minutes)
- Energy Rating: Enable/disable energy level tracking
- Auto-create Tasks: Automatically generate tasks from frictions
- 2Do Color Scheme: Use the gentle, coordinated color palette
- Success Notifications: Toggle completion alerts
- Folder Paths: Customize where files are saved
- Weekly Auto-reports: Enable automatic Sunday reports
- Export Format: Choose JSON or CSV for data exports
- Reminders: Set up periodic friction check-ins
- Notice when you're experiencing cognitive friction
- Name it using the provided categories
- Navigate by recording it or transforming it
Cognitive Friction
โ
Ideal Vision (What would perfect look like?)
โ
Non-Negotiable Core (What MUST get done?)
โ
First Physical Action (Where, with what, doing what?)
โ
Timeboxed Execution (Set timer, do the thing)
Every friction record includes optional next steps:
- Rest: Close the note and take a break
- Small Win: Do one tiny thing and call it complete
- Pattern Analysis: Come back later to identify trends
- Future Note: Leave a kind message for your future self
The plugin comes with 10 common cognitive friction types:
- ๆง่กๆญๅฑ (Execution Gaps)
- ็คพไบค่่ฝ (Social Drain)
- ๅณ็ญ็ซ็ช (Decision Paralysis)
- ๆๅฎ่ฟ่ฝฝ (Sensory Overload)
- ๅๅๅพช็ฏ (Rumination Cycles)
- ๆณจๆๅ็ข็ (Attention Fragmentation)
- ้ขๆ็ฆ่ (Anticipatory Anxiety)
- ่ดฃไปป้ป่ฟ (Responsibility Adhesion)
- ๅฎ็พไธปไน้ปๆป (Perfectionist Block)
- ๅญๅจๆง็ฉๆ (Existential Dizziness)
You can customize these in settings to match your experience.
- Low Demand: Every step is optional, every prompt is gentle
- No Shame: Language is non-judgmental and compassionate
- Flexible: Use as much or as little as serves you today
- Calm Colors: Thoughtfully chosen palette that's easy on the eyes
- Clear Hierarchy: Visual organization that reduces cognitive load
- Progressive Disclosure: Information appears as you need it
- Energy-Aware: Track and honor your energy levels
- Pattern-Oriented: Identify what works, not just what's wrong
- Growth-Focused: Each friction is data, not failure
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+F |
Record cognitive friction |
Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+D |
Start dimensional reduction wizard |
Click Status Bar |
Quick record friction |
Shift+Click Status Bar |
Start new task wizard |
Right-click Status Bar |
Advanced menu |
Enable in settings to get insights about:
- High-frequency times: When friction most often occurs
- Energy correlations: How energy levels affect different tasks
- Category patterns: Which types of friction are most common
Add your own tags to both frictions and tasks for personalized organization.
Export all your data for personal analysis in JSON or CSV format.
- Documentation: This README and in-plugin tooltips
- Issues: Report bugs on GitHub
- Suggestions: Feature requests welcome!
The plugin is built with:
- Obsidian API: Full integration with Obsidian's ecosystem
- Modular Architecture: Easy to extend and customize
- Clean Code: Well-documented and organized
- Initial release with core friction logging
- Dimensional reduction wizard
- Weekly reporting system
- 2Do-inspired design
- Full Obsidian integration
Cognition Compass was created for neurodivergent individuals and anyone who experiences cognitive friction in their daily work. It's designed to be a gentle companion rather than a demanding taskmasterโhelping you understand your patterns, reduce overwhelm, and take compassionate action.
Remember: Every friction recorded is data, not failure. Every task created is an experiment, not an obligation. Every moment of pause is wisdom, not waste.
Plugin ID: cognition-compass
Author: duoremifa
Minimum Obsidian Version: 0.15.0
Tested on: Obsidian 1.4+
Tags: productivity, neurodiversity, mental-health, task-management, mindfulness
May your compass always point toward compassion, clarity, and sustainable growth. ๐ฟ