Why Choose Notion?

Picture a highly flexible digital environment that acts as your personal productivity playground—that's Notion! It serves as an all-in-one platform for notes, tasks, projects, goals, branding, marketing, and much more.

You can tailor Notion to suit your preferences, whether you're a fan of lists, a visual thinker, or somewhere in between. Plus, it works seamlessly across all your devices, ensuring you're always in the loop.

However, there is a caveat, as explained by Radreads.co:

Notion resembles a vast collection of Legos—by assembling various elements, you can construct anything from a simple treehouse to the Eiffel Tower. Its applications are vast, covering mood boards, net worth trackers, and personal dashboards. But there’s a catch: when you open the app, you’re met with a blank canvas—just a blinking cursor.

For those with ADHD, Notion might seem even more daunting. Yet, this doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a shot; I've encountered several individuals with ADHD who genuinely appreciate Notion. Stay tuned for upcoming tips on navigating Notion when you're feeling overwhelmed!

Setting Up Your Notion Account

Before diving into Notion, ensure you have an active email account. After that, follow these steps:

Create Your Notion Account

Download the Notion app from your device’s app store or head to the Notion website to sign up. You can opt for the free plan or choose from the paid versions. For this guide, I’ll be using the free version.

Once you've signed up, don't forget to check your email for a verification message to confirm your account.

Install Notion Web Clipper

As described by Notion Support, the Web Clipper is a valuable tool:

The Web Clipper allows you to save any webpage from the internet into your workspace for later reading or editing. You can categorize this web content under a specific workspace or page, making it simple to create a reading list, gather references, and more.

Visit https://www.notion.so/web-clipper to install the Web Clipper for Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Navigate to Your Home Page

Upon logging in, you'll arrive at your main dashboard—this is your Notion control center. From here, you can access all the features Notion offers.

Start a New Notion Page

It's time to unleash your creativity! Click on “Add A Page” to initiate a new canvas. You can create pages for various personal projects, work tasks, travel plans, or even a digital diary. And, of course, create a dedicated page for your business.

After adding a new page, remember to rename it by clicking on the three dots and selecting the “Rename” option.

Customize Your Page with Notion Templates

Notion provides a selection of pre-designed templates to jumpstart your productivity. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also create your own templates.

Alternatively, you can purchase Notion templates from platforms like Etsy (where you can get 40 free listings) or Creative Fabrica. Just search for “Notion template” or be more specific, like “Notion Template Content Calendar.”

To access pre-made templates in Notion, navigate to the left menu and find the “Templates” option near the bottom. Click on it to open a window showcasing all available templates. You can filter by categories such as “work” or utilize the search bar. To install a template, click on the blue “Get template” button.

Set Up Your Notion Workspace Without Templates

Think of your workspace as your own personalized space. Feel free to add pages, images, music, and anything else that enhances your productivity and happiness!

As a blogger or solo entrepreneur, consider setting up the following in Notion to maximize its potential:

1. Daily To-Do Lists — a daily checklist of tasks with due dates that you can mark off upon completion.
2. Goals — document your daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual goals, checking them off as you achieve them.
3. Content Creation — manage your blogging, YouTube, and social media activities.
4. Products — a space to organize completed products, ongoing projects, and future ideas.
5. Courses — create and share paid courses directly within Notion with your clients.
6. Training — maintain a list of links to all your training courses and memberships.
7. Personal Interests — add hobbies, fitness routines, and other personal activities to round out your daily agenda.

Creating a New Notion Database

In Notion, a database serves as a structured collection of information arranged in a tabular format. It's a way to store, display, and manipulate data within the app. You can customize databases to meet specific needs, incorporating different types of content such as text, numbers, dates, and attachments.

To create a new database, click the “+” icon and select “Database.” You can choose from various views, including table, board, or list, based on your preference.

Database Views

Notion offers several views for databases, allowing you to select the one that suits your workflow best:

1. Table View: Presents your data in rows and columns—similar to Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
2. List View: Displays each database entry as a separate item in a vertical list.
3. Board View: Organizes data into columns based on specific criteria, akin to a Kanban board (e.g., stages like Not Started, In Progress, and Completed).
4. Gallery View: Ideal for visual content, arranging entries with thumbnails.
5. Timeline View: Organizes data chronologically, showing when tasks are scheduled or completed.
6. Calendar View: Displays data in a calendar format.

Adding a Widget

A widget in Notion is an embedded application. For instance, you can embed a weather widget that updates automatically. I plan to embed an Environment Canada widget for Calgary, Alberta.

To start, obtain the embed code or HTML code needed for the widget. Environment Canada simplifies this process, allowing you to select your location and providing the necessary code:

Next, go to your Notion dashboard, choose the spot for the widget, type “/embed” (without quotes), and select the embed option.

Paste the code from the Environment Canada site into the designated area and hit the blue “Embed Link” button.

Now, whenever you access this area in Notion, the weather will update automatically. Cool, right? You can do this for Google Docs and even Spotify!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Notion for Free?

Absolutely! Notion provides a free plan with extensive features, and you can upgrade to a paid plan for additional advantages and advanced functionalities.

Can I Sync Notion with Google Drive and Google Calendar?

Yes, indeed! Notion integrates effortlessly with Google Drive, enabling you to attach files and documents directly to your pages. You can also sync your Google Calendar to keep track of your schedule—refer to the widget section above for more details.

How Do I Download Notion on My Device?

Downloading Notion is straightforward. Visit your device’s app store, search for “Notion,” and click the download button. Depending on your device's settings, you may need to enter a password before proceeding.

Can I Change the Background Colour in Notion?

Yes! You can modify the background color of blocks. The overall page background can be set to either white or black (dark mode). Check out the Notion background blog post for a detailed tutorial.

Can I Center Text in Notion?

Certainly! However, it may not function exactly like in Google Docs or Microsoft Word. I’ve written a blog post dedicated to centering text in Notion—feel free to check it out!

Your Personalized Notion

Congratulations on setting up your Notion account! You're now ready to explore and customize it according to your preferences.

With a plethora of options available, it’s impossible to cover everything in a single article, so stay tuned for more “how-to” guides on Notion. If you have specific topics in mind, please leave a comment below.

* originally posted on organizeyouronlinebiz.com *

Hi, I’m Lindsay!

I’m a blogger committed to empowering women entrepreneurs in the online business realm. With over 15 years of expertise in process documentation and SOP creation, I focus on streamlining workflows, organizing workspaces, and optimizing digital tools for peak efficiency. Join me as we revolutionize your business operations with practical insights and budget-friendly solutions.

For more organization techniques and productivity tips, check out the Facebook Group: Organize Your Online Biz: Digital Productivity for Women Entrepreneurs. It’s a supportive community for women entrepreneurs aiming to enhance their business efficiency.

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