AutomatingEmojis.md

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Creating an ADHD-Friendly Obsidian Vault with Emoji Kitchen

This guide builds on our previous recommendations for using Emoji Kitchen combinations in Obsidian, but adds powerful automation to make the system more sustainable. Since maintaining complex systems can be challenging for ADHD brains, automation is key to reducing friction and keeping your system working for you.

Understanding the Emoji Kitchen API

After researching how the websites like emojikitchen.dev work, I've discovered that all Emoji Kitchen combinations are stored as PNG images on Google's servers. They follow a predictable URL pattern:

https://www.gstatic.com/android/keyboard/emojikitchen/[DATE]/[EMOJI1_CODE]/[EMOJI1_CODE]_[EMOJI2_CODE].png

For example:

https://www.gstatic.com/android/keyboard/emojikitchen/20230301/u1f606/u1f606_u1f606.png

This means we can programmatically download these images without needing to manually save them from a website.

The Emoji Kitchen Downloader

I've created a Python script that automates the process of downloading Emoji Kitchen combinations and organizing them for your Obsidian vault. This script:

1. Downloads emoji combinations for different categories (emotions, tasks, journal entries, etc.)
2. Organizes them into appropriate folders
3. Generates a reference markdown file with all available combinations
4. Creates Obsidian templates that incorporate these combinations

How to Use the Script

1. Save the script: Save the provided Python script as emoji_kitchen_downloader.py

2. Install dependencies:

   pip install requests tqdm

3. Download a specific emoji combination:

   python emoji_kitchen_downloader.py --emoji1 "😊" --emoji2 "☀️" --output "./emoji_kitchen"

4. Download a category of combinations:

   python emoji_kitchen_downloader.py --category emotions --output "./emoji_kitchen"

5. Download all predefined categories and generate templates:

   python emoji_kitchen_downloader.py --all --output "./emoji_kitchen" --generate-templates

Categories Included

The script includes the following predefined categories of emoji combinations:

1. Emotions: For tracking different emotions and their intensities

   • Happiness spectrum (mild, moderate, intense)
   • Sadness spectrum
   • Anxiety spectrum
   • Anger spectrum
   • Focus/concentration states
   • Energy levels

2. Transition Journey: For tracking aspects of gender transition

   • Hormonal effects
   • Physical changes
   • Emotional milestones
   • Gender euphoria
   • Side effects

3. Journal: For enhancing daily notes and journaling

   • Time of day indicators
   • Weather connections
   • Entry types (reflections, ideas, observations)
   • Special moments
   • Productivity indicators

4. Tasks: For task management

   • Priority levels
   • Task status
   • Task categories
   • Effort levels
   • Impact indicators

5. Digital Garden: For organizing your knowledge base

   • Content types
   • Content status (seedling to evergreen)
   • Connection indicators
   • Media types
   • Project stages

Integrating with Your Obsidian Vault

After running the script, you'll have:

1. A structured folder of emoji combinations
2. A reference markdown file to browse all combinations
3. Template files ready to use in Obsidian

Setting Up Templates

1. Copy the templates folder from the script's output to your Obsidian templates folder
2. Install the Templater plugin if you haven't already
3. Configure Templater to use these templates

Daily Usage Workflow

1. Starting the day:

   • Create a new daily note using the daily note template
   • Use the mood check-in section to record your emotional state
   • Set up your task list for the day using visual priority indicators

2. Throughout the day:

   • Add observations using the observation template
   • Update task status with visual indicators
   • Track changes in mood or energy using the visual scale

3. End of day:

   • Reflect on the day using the journal template
   • Check off completed tasks
   • Record highlights with visual markers

Advanced Automation with Python

For even more automation, you could schedule the script to run periodically to check for new emoji combinations as Google adds them. You could also extend the script to:

1. Create custom categories: Add your own categories of emoji combinations based on your specific needs

2. Generate a standalone app: Wrap the script in a simple GUI for easier use

3. Add to startup: Configure the script to run when you start your computer to check for updates

4. Create a Dataview dashboard: Generate a dataview script that shows your mood and energy trends over time using the emoji combinations

Example Implementation for Mood Tracking

Let's look at how this system can transform your mood tracking experience compared to Apple Health:

Traditional Mood Tracking (Apple Health)

• Open the Health app
• Navigate to the Mood section
• Select a mood from a limited set of options
• Add context in a text field

ADHD-Friendly Mood Tracking (Obsidian + Emoji Kitchen)

1. Click the "Mood Check-in" button on your homepage
2. Visually select from a range of emotionally resonant emoji combinations:
   • 😊+☀️ for mild happiness with a warm, sunny feeling
   • 😊+🌟 for a more energetic, bright happiness
   • 😊+🎉 for an excited, celebratory happiness
3. Select transition-related feelings with unique visual indicators:
   • 🦋+💫 for a feeling of transformation
   • 🦋+💖 for gender euphoria
4. Visually indicate what's having the biggest impact on your mood with attention-grabbing combinations:
   • 💊+🔥 for medication side effects
   • 🌧️+❤️ for a relationship issue during a difficult time

This approach provides:

• Stronger visual anchors that are more memorable
• More nuanced expression of emotions
• Reduced cognitive load by replacing text with visuals
• A system that maintains novelty and engagement

Customizing for Your Specific Needs

The beauty of this system is its flexibility. You can adapt it to your specific needs by:

1. Adding new categories: Create new combinations for specific domains you track
2. Adjusting visual mappings: Change which combinations represent which concepts
3. Creating themed variations: Develop seasonal or themed variations to maintain novelty
4. Adding structure: Create more structured templates for specific use cases

Maintaining System Longevity

One challenge with ADHD is that systems often lose their effectiveness over time as novelty wears off. Here are strategies to maintain engagement:

1. Regular rotation: Change your emoji combinations every few months
2. Seasonal themes: Use different themed combinations for different seasons
3. Achievement unlocks: "Unlock" new combinations as you complete goals
4. Review and revise: Schedule quarterly reviews to adjust your system

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter issues with the system:

1. Missing combinations: Not all emoji combinations exist in Emoji Kitchen. Try alternative combinations or use the ones that are available.
2. Broken links in Obsidian: Make sure the file paths match exactly with your folder structure.
3. Overwhelm: Start with just 1-2 categories and expand as you become comfortable.
4. Staleness: If the system starts feeling stale, run the script again with new combinations.

Final Thoughts

This approach transforms your Obsidian vault into a visually rich, ADHD-friendly environment that works with your brain rather than against it. The visual nature of emoji combinations provides strong anchors for memory and focus, while the automation reduces the friction that often causes systems to fail.

Remember that the perfect system is the one you'll actually use. Start small, build gradually, and let your system evolve with you. The combination of visual elements and automation creates a sustainable approach that can grow and adapt along with your needs.

Would you like me to expand on any particular aspect of this system or provide more detailed instructions for implementation?