Once upon a time, I was using a thousand different apps for notes, to-do lists, knowledge management, and project management. I never found something that ticked all the boxes for my needs. But that was until I stumbled upon Notion. Notion was the answer to my prayers, and since then, my life completely changed! With Notion, you can centralize all your documents, information and keep track of tasks & projects.
What is Notion?
Notion is a powerful tool that will revolutionize the way you work and live. Its main and most powerful functionality is the ability to build databases and link them all together. Once you've built the basic structure that will hold your data, you can then move things around, as you would with Legos, until you have your perfect all-in-one dashboard. Thanks to its infinite flexibility, you can customize your workspace to your liking, making it the best (in my biased opinion) tool for organizing your life.
In this article, I'll give you tips on how to get started with Notion to start boosting your productivity. Whether you're a student, a freelancer, working in a startup or a big company (or just someone who wants to get organized), Notion is the perfect solution for all your needs. Because it's highly collaborative, it will also change the way you work with your teams and friends.
So buckle up, and let's start with the basics.
Create Notion Account
To use Notion, you need to create an account. Here's how:
- Go to the Notion website and click "Get Notion free" in the middle or top-right corner of the screen.
- Enter your email address and create a password.
- Check your email and click the verification link sent by Notion.
- Enter your name and choose a profile picture (optional).
- You'll then be taken to your Notion dashboard, where you can begin creating pages, databases, and more.
Once you've created your account, you can download the Notion app on your devices and sign in to start using it.
Download the Notion App
Notion is available on all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Here's how to download it on your computer and phone:
Notion on Mac
To download Notion on your Mac, go to the Notion website and click "Download for Mac." Follow the instructions to install the app on your computer.
Notion on Windows
To download Notion on your Windows computer, go to the Notion website and click "Download for Windows." Follow the instructions to install the app on your computer.
Notion on iOS
To download Notion on your iPhone or iPad, go to the App Store and search for "Notion." Tap "Get" and then "Install" to download the app. You can also access the app at this link.
Notion on Android
To download Notion on your Android phone or tablet, go to the Google Play Store and search for "Notion." Tap "Install" to download the app. You can also access the app at this link.
Once you've downloaded Notion on your devices, sign in with your account and begin using it to organize your life!
Notion Templates & Use Cases
Notion for Personal Use
Notion is the perfect tool for personal use because it allows you to organize everything in one place. You can create to-do lists, store your notes, and track your habits and goals. You can also use databases to keep track of your expenses, workouts, and reading list.
Here are my best Notion templates for personal use:
Notion for Freelancers
Notion is incredible if you're a freelancer because it allows you to manage all aspects of your business in one place. You can add pages for your clients, projects, and invoices. You can also use databases to keep track of your time, expenses, and progress.
Here are my best Notion templates for freelancers:
Notion for Students
Notion is also useful if you're a student because it allows you to keep track of all your classes and assignments in one place. You can add pages for each of your classes and then assign specific to-do lists and notes. You can also use databases to keep track of your resources and see your upcoming assignments and exams on a calendar.
Here are my best Notion templates for students:
Notion for Startups
Notion is THE go-to tool for startups because it allows you to manage all aspects of your business in one place. You can add pages for your team, your projects, and your investors. You can also use databases to keep track of your metrics, your job openings, applications, your marketing campaigns, and more.
Here are my best Notion templates for startups:
Notion for Enterprises
Notion is an awesome tool for enterprises as it enables you to manage all aspects of your business in one place. With Notion, you can create multiple teamspaces for different teams, which helps prevent feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, you can utilize databases to keep track of employee information, sales data, and customer feedback.
If you are an enterprise, feel free to take a look at my services for a custom workspace build.
Notion Beginners Guide
To get started with Notion, you'll need to download the app or use the web version. Then, create an account and sign in.
Create Your Workspace
When you first log in to Notion, you'll be prompted to create your workspace. Your workspace is where you'll organize everything. You can have separate workspaces for personal and work, or use teamspaces for that matter.
Pages
Pages are the building blocks of Notion. You can create a page for anything you want to organize. For example, you can create a page for your to-do list, a page for your notes, and a page for your projects. Pages can be added everywhere, and a page can contain a page that can also contain some pages.
Databases
Databases is the most powerful feature of Notion. You can use them to build tables for storing information. For example, you can have a database for tracking your expenses or a database for managing your team's projects. There are multiple available views such as Table, Board (Kanban), Calendar, List, Timeline (Gantt) or Gallery.
Within each database, you can add properties, such as dates, select (dropdown), person (to tag someone), status and a lot more.
Templates
A Notion template is a pre-made page or database that you can customize to fit your needs. Notion has a wide range of paid & free templates for everything from project management to personal finance. Templates can be a great starting point if you're new to Notion and don't know where to start. Once you have your template, feel free to play with it and rearrange the layout so that it fits your personal needs.
Have a look at my premium & free templates and select what best suits your needs
Resources
There are tons of amazing Notion resources out there. But the best way to stay up-to-date with Notion's latest features, tips to improve your workspace, and resources to learn more about how to maximize Notion, is to subscribe to my weekly newsletter 3-2-1: Notion!
It's no more than 5 minutes a week, and I'll provide you with everything you need to know to become a Notion ninja 🥷
Tips for Notion Beginners
Notion can be overwhelming at first, so here are some tips to help you get started:
- Start small: Don't try to organize everything at once. Go first with with one or two pages or databases and build from there.
- Use templates (not all the time): Notion has a wide range of paid & free templates that you can use to get started. Use a template as a starting point and customize them to fit your needs. To familiarize yourself with Notion, also try building your own templates, even if it takes a bit more time.
- Collaborate with others: Notion allows you to collaborate with others in real-time. Use this feature to work on projects with your team or to share notes with your classmates.
- Use keyboard shortcuts: Notion has a range of keyboard shortcuts that can help you navigate the app more quickly. You can download my Notion keyboard shortcuts cheatsheet here.
Conclusion
Notion is a powerful tool that can help you organize your life in one place. Whether you're a freelancer, student, startup, or enterprise, Notion has features that can help you stay productive and organized. By following the tips in this article, you can get started with Notion and take your productivity to the next level. Download Notion today and start organizing your life in one place.
Start now & create your Notion account 🙃
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