I admit, I was quite late to Notion. I had heard about Notion but didn’t think much of it. One day, I saw a post on social media with an awesome-looking interface and decided it was finally time to pop my Notion cherry.
Now, on the second year anniversary of using Notion – I can wholeheartedly say my productivity has skyrocketed with it. Whilst it’s not a perfect tool, it does feature in a big way with my daily life and creative workflow.
In this post, I will go into detail about how I use Notion as a planner and how it can help you improve your productivity.
Want to master productivity? Then keep reading!
Why Use Notion for Productivity?
Notion is a powerful productivity tool that offers a wide range of features to help you stay organized and focused. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using Notion:
- Customizable – Notion is highly customizable, allowing you to create a workspace that fits your unique needs. You can use it for note-taking, project management, task tracking, and more.
- Flexible – Notion is incredibly flexible and can be used for a variety of tasks. You can create databases, and calendars, and even build your own website using Notion.
- Collaborative – Notion makes it easy to collaborate with others on projects. You can share pages and databases with team members, assign tasks, and leave comments.
- Simple – Notion has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use. You can add and organize content quickly and easily, without getting bogged down in complex menus or settings.
I think this flexibility is the best feature of Notion. It allows you to tailor the tool to your specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re a student, freelancer, or working professional, Notion can add to your productivity toolkit.
Getting Started With Notion
If you’re new to Notion, it’s essentially a productivity tool. It allows you to customize and organize a workspace that fits into your work and personal life. It offers a variety of functions like note-taking, task management, databases, calendars, and project management tools.
You can create a Notion account here (affiliate link).
Overview Of Notion’s Interface
When you first fire up Notion, you’re presented with a user-friendly interface. Here’s an overview of the Notion interface:
- Workspace – The workspace is the top-level container for all your pages and databases. You can create multiple workspaces to organize different areas of your life, such as work and personal projects.
- Pages – Pages are the building blocks of Notion. They can contain different types of content, such as text, images, tables, and multimedia. Pages can be organized into a hierarchical structure, with parent and child pages.
- Databases – Databases are collections of related information that can be organized and filtered in various ways. Notion’s databases can be used to store and manage all kinds of data, such as tasks, contacts, and project information.
- Blocks – Blocks are the individual components that make up a Notion page. Each block can contain different types of content, such as text, images, and tables. You can add, move, and delete blocks to customize your pages.
- Navigation – The navigation menu on the left-hand side of the interface allows you to quickly access different areas of your workspace, such as your pages, databases, and settings.
- Search – Notion has a powerful search feature that allows you to quickly find any content within your workspace, including pages, databases, and individual blocks.
- Integrations – Notion integrates with a variety of third-party apps and tools, such as Google Drive, Trello, and Slack. These integrations allow you to bring in data from other sources and streamline your workflow.
If you’d like further details, check out the Notion Foundations series.
Setting Up Your Notion Planner
Notion can be overwhelming if you don’t have a clear plan. Start by identifying your goals and what you want to track. This will help you determine what pages and templates you need to create in your Notion planner.
Now go away, brainstorm it, and write it down. Do it!
Once you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, it’s time to start setting up your Notion planner. Notion offers a variety of templates that can be customized to fit your needs.
You can also create your own templates from scratch or use pre-made templates from the Notion community. There are free templates scattered all over the Excel Me site as well.
Dashboard
One of the most important pages in your Notion planner is your dashboard. This is where you’ll see an overview of your tasks, goals, and projects.
You can create a dashboard by using the “Database” template and customizing it to fit your needs. You can also add a calendar view to your dashboard to see your tasks and events in a calendar format.
Check out my guide on How To Make A Weekly Planner In Notion for a step-by-step tutorial if you’d like to learn how to make your own dashboard.
Task Manager
Another important page in your Notion planner is your task list. This is where you’ll keep track of all your tasks and deadlines.
You can create a task list by using the “To-do list” template or by creating your own template. You can also add tags and filters to your task list to make it easier to find and organize your tasks.
You can check out my free to-do list template Notion: Minimalist To-Do List Template.
Customizing Your Notion Planner
As I mentioned, one of the best things about Notion is how customizable it is. You can tailor your Notion planner to fit your specific needs and preferences. Here are a few ways to customize your Notion planner:
- Choose a template – Notion offers a variety of templates for different types of planners, including daily, weekly, and monthly planners. Choose a template that fits your needs and customize it to make it your own.
- Add custom fields – Notion allows you to add custom fields to your planner. This can be useful for tracking specific information, such as the amount of water you drink each day or the number of hours you spend working on a project.
- Use tags – Tags are a great way to organize your planner. You can use tags to categorize your tasks, projects, and notes. For example, you could use tags to separate work-related tasks from personal tasks.
- Create linked databases – This is what sets Notion apart from the rest. A linked database allows you to track information across different pages. For example, you could create a linked database for your goals and link it to your daily planner.
By customizing your Notion planner, you can create a system that works for you (and not against you!) and helps you stay organized and productive. Take some time to experiment with different templates and features to find what works best for you.
Notion Planner Templates
Notion’s template gallery is a great place to start for users who are new to the software or are looking for inspiration. The gallery contains a wide range of templates created by Notion experts and community members.
These templates cover a variety of topics, including project management, habit tracking, and personal finance.
Users can also create their own templates from scratch or modify existing templates to suit their needs. Notion’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create and customize templates. Users can add tasks, notes, and other elements to their templates with just a few clicks.
Tips And Tricks For Mastering Productivity With Notion
Here are some beginner tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Notion:
- Use Templates – Whether you’re planning a trip, managing a team, or tracking your habits, Notion has a template that can help you get started quickly.
- Create a Dashboard – A dashboard can help you keep track of all your projects and tasks in one place. You can create a dashboard by creating a new page and adding links to all your projects and tasks.
- Try the Kanban view – The Kanban view is a great way to visualize your tasks and projects. You can drag and drop tasks between columns to track their progress.
- Use the Calendar View – the calendar view is a great way to see all your tasks and events in one place. You can create tasks and events directly from the calendar view.
Remember to experiment with different features and find what works best for you.
Final Thoughts
By using Notion as a planner, you can keep track of your tasks, projects, goals, and ideas all in one place. Notion’s flexibility allows you to customize your planner to fit your unique needs and preferences.
While Notion can be a great productivity tool, it’s important to remember that it’s not a magic solution. You still need to put in the effort to stay organized, prioritize your tasks, and manage your time effectively. However, by using Notion as a planner, you can streamline your productivity and make it easier to achieve your goals.
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