I've used emacs for ~15 years now and never really get into org-mode, I have a directory of org files that I use for writing and keeping some kind of personal wiki but it's just a bunch of org files. I never successfully build a workflow around it.
I see that I'm missing something but I don't know where to start. Org-roam seems interesting.
Do you have any recommendation for how to use org-mode productively?
You don't necessarily have to build your own workflow around org-mode. If it works fine for you as it is, then that's OK. It is a fine markup format in itself. Finer than some others. Emacs has exceptional support for org-mode of course, which allows for good navigation within a document and things like folding headings and showing an overview.
If you want to go further, you can use things like including other org-mode documents at specific heading levels or even write thesis in it, falling back to latex when needed. There is also a citation format now in org-mode.
Another thing you could explore is org-babel. Try out the ideas of literate programming. A bit of "write once, export to other formats" like HTML make a blog post or similar.
I also use org-mode for some spreadsheet capabilities. Not really huge spreadsheets, but usable. For example I have working hours time tracking in org-mode using a table with formulas (a spreadsheet). Or I have a repository with recipes, where I can let it calculate amounts of ingredients, depending on the number of people who want to eat.
1. Learn org-agenda. And I do mean really learn it. I use a few of alphapapas amazing packages (org-super-agenda and org-ql). Learn the difference between just a TODO, scheduling, deadlining and tags. Don't overdo it on tags. Set up groups in the agenda for different things (STATE or TAGS, or something else)
2. Set up capture templates that fit you so you can instantly note things down in the right place
3. Learn org-attach so that you can have everything in your second brain
4. Do not fret to much about one large file or many small ones - use whatever you want. If you feel you want to change it, just change it. It is just plain text. This applies to everything in org-mode.
5. Learn org-store-link, which makes references to things like emails (even if they are moved/archived after the fact) or git or whatever to keep references.
I spent a lot of time getting this together myself. I empathise. But if I could not use org-agenda and the searches I have in the way I do, I would probably feel not get into org-mode either. Recall is key.
Maybe you don't need an org workflow. "Just a bunch of org files" is a totally fine way to use it. It's what I do too with some custom keybindings and bookmarks. I looked at some of the fancier stuff but they are not for me.
Like yourself, I don't do anything fancy. Just plain org files. However,
I do use org-journal [1], though, so I can ctrl-c ctrl-j to add a new entry, and have it automatically wired up for rotating the file monthly. I use this for adding new items and having speedy access. But that's it. I don't use Agenda or any of that fancy stuff, so don't feel guilty that you're missing out.
Probably going through Rainer König‘s org-mode tutorial series on youtube. I like that it’s all with vanilla org-mode. That way you can dig deeper into anything he’s doing in the org-mode docs or on worg.
I don’t have a very rigid workflow with it. Typically one org file will be a project I’m working on. I use custom “TODO” tags to show the state of items. I also love the table functionality. It basically replaces spreadsheets for me and it lives with the rest of the text.
I see that I'm missing something but I don't know where to start. Org-roam seems interesting.
Do you have any recommendation for how to use org-mode productively?