# Journals plugin for Obsidian
The Journals plugin is a comprehensive journaling solution for [[Obsidian]] that enables you to create, organize, and navigate structured journal entries across multiple timeframes. It serves as a replacement for the [[Daily notes core plugin for Obsidian]] and the now-abandoned [[Periodic notes plugin for Obsidian]].
## Key Features
- **Multiple journal types**: Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, custom periods, and auto-numbered index journals
- **Multiple simultaneous journals**: Run several journals in parallel with different configurations
- **Built-in calendar view**: Navigate entries by date
- **Timeline view**: Customizable display of entries over time
- **Note decorations**: Visual markers on notes based on content, dates, or status
- **Navigation blocks**: Quick access between entries
- **Journal Shelves**: Group related journals together
- **Custom commands**: Create context-aware navigation shortcuts
- **Templating**: Variable system for dynamic content in templates
- **Automatic frontmatter**: Metadata added to notes automatically
## Configuration
- **Shelf management**: Group and organize journals
- **Calendar settings**: Week start day, highlighting, button modes
- **Per-journal settings**: Naming templates, storage paths, auto-creation on startup
- **Decoration system**: Conditional visual markers with multiple styling options
## Journals vs Periodic Notes
The [[Periodic notes plugin for Obsidian]] is no longer actively maintained. Journals offers a superset of its features: multiple simultaneous journals, built-in calendar, timeline view, decorations, shelves, and custom commands. It's the natural successor for anyone relying on periodic notes in Obsidian.
## References
- GitHub: https://github.com/srg-kostyrko/obsidian-journal
## Related
- [[Periodic notes plugin for Obsidian]]
- [[Daily notes core plugin for Obsidian]]
- [[Calendar plugin for Obsidian]]
- [[Journaling]]
- [[Periodic reviews]]
- [[Obsidian]]