Whenever a job interviewer asks me about my strengths, I always say that I am “organized and detail oriented.” Some people might claim they have these traits just because being “detail oriented” is a buzzword that is used in many job descriptions, but I genuinely have a slight obsession with being organized. So when I discovered Notion earlier this year, my brain went into overdrive.
Notion is like an advanced Notes app. The platform is free to download, and there is both a desktop version and a mobile version which I find to be super convenient. On Notion, you can create lists, data tables, pages within pages, and play around with cute formatting. There is also a Pro version that is free for students, and if you want to, you can create collaborative workspaces with other people. I personally find that the Free version is sufficient for my needs, but if you see yourself turning into a dedicated Notion enthusiast, you may want to take advantage of trying the Pro version while you’re still a student. There is a bit of a learning curve when you’re first starting out, but I found watching YouTube tutorials and reading blog posts to be super helpful. Notion has a lot of premade templates that you can use yourself, but I prefer to create my own from scratch. Here is an overview of what my Notion home page looks like:
As these images show, I use Notion for both work and personal purposes. The page titled “my corporate job” is where I keep track of all the tasks that I need to complete for the week at my co-op as well as a list of quick links that I need to keep on hand. I also use this page to keep a running list of my accomplishments, so it is easier to update my resume when my co-op ends.
I’ve also been using Notion to keep track of things like the makeup products in my wishlist, the recipes I know how to make and the new music I want to listen to. Images and GIFs are my way of adding a personal touch to my pages, and the end result is so much cuter than a boring Notes app entry. My music page is one of my favorites because it helps me keep track of my very long running list of the artists and albums I want to listen to:
Another page that I’m particularly proud of is the database I created to catalog every single piece of clothing in my closet. My goal in doing this is to build more sustainable shopping habits and ultimately consume less as I figure out my personal style:
Notion may seem a bit intimidating at first, but once you get into a rhythm, updating pages becomes almost therapeutic (at least for me). My number one tip would be to make sure that your Notion pages are functional; sure it’s fun to play around with cute layouts, but you don’t want to end up with an aesthetically pleasing page that isn’t useful to you. Personally, I’ve found that it’s okay to keep things simple; you want Notion to work for you and not the other way around.