This article is written for my customers who have purchased one of my Notion templates. However, I expect most is relevant no matter where you’ve bought it from!
Whether you’ve picked up a productivity tool, a lifestyle planner, or one of my creator-focused templates, this guide will help you get set up quickly.
Adding the NOTION template to your workspace
Ensure you have a Notion account to start, and log in.
Once you’ve bought a template, you’ll receive a link in your download file. here’s how to use it:
- click the link inside your delivery document.
- notion will open in your browser (or the app if you have it – it all syncs. I use the browser, desktop app and mobile app all in combination)
- in the top-right, click duplicate. (see Notion for a demo)
- choose the workspace where you want the template saved.
That’s it! You’ll now have a copy of the template in your Notion, ready to customise.
What if something goes wrong?
Don’t panic — Notion has built-in undo.
- undo:
ctrl + z(windows) orcmd + z(mac). - redo:
ctrl + shift + z(windows) orcmd + shift + z(mac).
Remember: you can always go back to your delivery document and duplicate a fresh copy of the template if you need a clean slate.
Quick tips for getting the most out of Notion
- favourite your template – drag it into the favourites section of your sidebar for easy access or click on the 3 dots to the right of your page name, then click Add To Favourites
- customise with emojis and colours – make headings stand out so it feels more personal.
- use the slash command
/– it’s the quickest way to add blocks, headings, checkboxes, and more. - try dark mode –
ctrl/cmd + shift + ltoggles between light and dark mode. - search faster –
ctrl/cmd + plets you search across all your pages instantly
Don’t complicate things
Don’t try to do too much with templates or you’ll feel overwhelmed (and likely give up, or is that just me?).
Get familiar with pages first and learn how you can link them together easily.
Create simple tables first, and get familiar with them and how they work before you start adding databases and linking pages.
When I want to utilise Notion for something new, I try out a very simple version first. Then I get to know it, adding bits along the way, until it’s my perfect template. I’ve downloaded templates that have so much going on, I’ve used them for 5 minutes and got lost. So I end up deleting them, non the wiser and more frustrated.
When I wanted a daily 30-minute template, I started off using a pen and paper. I looked online first, to get inspiration, then I drew out my design. I used it for a week; I noticed what I used, what I didn’t and what was missing. I then built a very simple Notion template that I slowly added to, and it’s now become my weekly work planner that gives me a daily view split into 30-minutes.
Utilise font and cell colours to highlight at a glance
Use colours throughout whatever type of page you create to highlight different types of content.
To do? Make red.
In progress? Make yellow.
Done? Boom! Make it green!
Need to tag certain projects? Colour them so you know exactly what’s what or who they belong to.
Learn from NOTION help
NOTION have a huge help section on how to do pretty much anything within it.
The best way for me to learn is to mess around with the app and pages, but I make sure to take a look every few months at any new features.
https://www.notion.com/help/customize-and-style-your-content
