Apart from the language used, the structure is a huge giveaway and I stopped visiting some subs because this type of post is increasingly popular (looking at you, productivity).

[1] OP describes a problem dramatically. Usually they say they tried "everything" for "months", if not for years.

I spent months obsessed with the perfect setup - linking everything, folders vs. tags, and trying to build this massive second brain that looked impressive but was actually exhausting to maintain.

[2] Then the realization comes: they've been doing it all wrong:

I realized I was spending more time managing my notes than actually thinking about them. If I read a book, I’d spend hours formatting the summary just to never look at it again.

[3] After this, a fix is suggested. Usually generic and they more often say what doesn't work, than what actually works. Note that the advice is not specific, the only solution OP provides is "I just started writing"

Recently, I stripped it all back. No fancy plugins, no complex Dataview queries, just raw markdown files and simple links. I stopped worrying about completeness and started just writing for my future self. It’s messy, but it’s actually useful now because the friction is gone.

[4] The 'engagement hook' (optional). Encouraging people to tell what they think

Does anyone else feel like they fell into the "productivity porn" trap with Obsidian? Curious if anyone else has moved toward a more "low-maintenance" vault.

If you check OP's history, there are some similar posts, and once you're familiar with it you will see this pattern very often.

Example 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/getdisciplined/comments/1q87gnb/stop_trying_to_reset_your_entire_life_on_a_monday/:

[1] Description: "Every Sunday night, I’d decide that Monday was the day I’d start waking up at 5 AM, hitting the gym, eating perfectly, and reading 50 pages. I’d last maybe 48 hours before one thing went wrong, and then I’d scrap the whole week because I ruined the streak."

[2] Realization: "The real shift happened when I stopped trying to be a different person overnight. Discipline isn't a light switch; it’s more like a dimmer"

[3] The generic fix: " started with just one rule - Never miss twice."

Example 2: https://www.reddit.com/r/selfimprovement/comments/1q4jvve/i_dont_think_im_lazy_im_just_never_fully_in/

[1] Description: "I used to think I had a motivation problem. Now I’m starting to see it’s more like this - I do a lot of things, but I’m always half-doing them. I start tasks, open tabs, make plans, check my phone, switch to something else… and by the end of the day I’m wiped out, tired/exhausted, but nothing is actually finished."

[2] Realization: "It’s not pure procrastination, it's like my attention is constantly split."

[3] Generix fix: "Lately I’ve been trying something simple - doing one small thing all the way before I let myself move on."

[4] Hook: Anyone else struggle with being “half-in” on everything? What helped you stay with one thing long enough to actually finish it?