A look at Notion, the App for Productivity.

Productivity is a Myth, But Notion helps you believe in it.

TL:DR — Plan on spending a general work day trying to understand what its useful for, and then wonder how you could have lived this long without it.

Well, I’ve spent the last few days battling the Devil’s toothache. I’ve been trying to become focused on productivity, because 2020 has been pretty much a disaster bus waiting to run off of a disaster cliff. Probably for more than just me, but ya know. so it is.

I’ve been spending the first half of 2020 attempting to better myself, even though it sometimes feels like i’m fighting against the current. But, I’m continuing forward, with a smile on my face, and a a few more productivity tricks to keep progressing forward through the rest of this year.

I’ve spent the last maybe 10 years of my life acting like I want to be more productive. This has caused me to try most iOS apps (I guess you can count Evernote from my Blackberry days but I have a bit of an aversion to Evernote, so I guess I’ll skip that notification in my life). While going through the productivity motions, I came to the realization that productivity apps and productivity systems can only work for you, if you let them work for you.

I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on apps that I probably would use once or twice, then completely forget about them. The sheer thought of the money I spent makes me sad sometimes, but then, I move on. Most folks that I know with iPhone devices have run into this same issue with using productivity apps. They aren’t cheap by any means. I found Notion, a (generally) free app that works cross platform that can be used to move forward in my productivity lifestyle.

Considering my general app usage struggle, I was hesitant to try and utilize yet another productivity application. My phone has been bogged down with to-do lists, calendars, and fancy not taking apps that I don’t really use that often for a while. However, I figured that Notion might be different. Only way to find out is to at least give the application a try.

I came across Notion recently as I was binge viewing various Productivity and Tech Youtubers. You can either download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store, you can hit up the Notion.so website to download the desktop app, or you can simply use Notion from the website.

Pricing for Notion looks pretty reasonable overall, with most users being able to utilize the free version. Most features that are free for Notion, tend to not be free for other apps. Most productivity apps tend to be prices in the 10–20 dollar range depending on the type of app and the capability of said app. The pricing for the non-free versions are pretty reasonable as well for teams utilizing services. You can check out pricing over here.

I may be a little new to the whole idea of a review, but I know a couple of review basics. We can’t really go into a proper review type article without a definition. So, let’s begin.

Notion is an all-inclusive productivity type app. Notion can be used to create and capture different types of media, plans, and essentially, be productive.

With Notion, users can create and manage workflows (so like a “routine” for your day to day comings and goings) for personal, commercial, or any other type of usage that they may see fit. As I stated above, Notion is free to use, with added benefits and features coming in with paid tier options. However, if you are like me, it’s pretty safe to say that you can get away with using the free version of Notion.So for your needs.

A user can use templates to tailor their productivity system to their likeness. A user also can set up templates to automate the to-do list to simplify their lives in many ways. Although the app seems to cater to the creative in us all; Doctors, Professors, Freelancers, Students, Engineers, and everyone in between would likely find comfort in this app as well.

Notion.so is a different take on the typical mashup of Tasks, Productivity, and Project Management Apps that have taken over the Internet.The app and productivity system is simply for anyone and everyone who needs a productivity overhaul in their personal and their professional lives. In my opinion, Notion gives a pleasantly surprising take on your Productivity Tasks and things. There’s a nuts amount of features that the app has, some I understand, more I am pretty sure I haven’t quite understood yet.

I appreciate how much freedom most users can have while using Notion. I’ve been slightly overwhelmed by the amount of freedom that I have with Notion, and I haven’t really touched the surface of the apps abilities. A user can have full control over the App via the web, mobile apps, or the desktop apps that are available. Notion gives users the ability to create everything productivity related from To-Do Lists, and Project Road Maps, to Blog Posts, Research Papers, and even Journal Entries. Users also can use templates to create the documents you need for your work/personal life.

The advent of templates is something super different that Notion has in comparison to other apps that I’ve noticed. With most productivity apps, templates can only be created. There aren’t pre-made templates available for use at the click of a button. I like using the pre-made templates that Notion has available. but I notice that you can also create your own templates at the click of a button.

A big positive to any productivity workflow can include the ability to import work from other popular apps, including Asana, Workflowy, Google Drive, and other apps that make your productivity driven life a little easier. Specifically, you are able to import your documents from Word, Google Drive, and beyond into a template for Notion and share with guests if that suits you.

While I have used Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and other productivity focused word processors, I can’t say that I’ve ever used Asana, and I know for a fact that I’ve never used Workflowy. I have heard about how fancy those Asana and Workflowy are, so cool on being able to use them with Notion, right?

Notion works best when you can use the app to interact with other parts of your productivity system. Users would be able to import their documents from other applications to include in their workflows.

A decent app can only be decent app when it works well with others. The point hits home during this time of social distancing, working from home, and general insanity that has overcome this world. Staying productive and keeping your eye on the prize can work best for your overall well being.

When it comes staying productive with your projects, products, and everything in between, having a frictionless system will also work best in keeping your eye on the prize. It seems like Notion is able to help with keeping everything together, as far as your system is concerned.

For team projects, most functions need to be completed using one of the paid premium plans, but with the free version, Notion gives you the ability to allow other users guest access to your workspace.

So I mean i’m not that popular, important, or busy enough to have the need to connect my apps yet, but I can foresee the need to connect apps as I continue down my journey of ultimate productivity and ultimate joy.

Notion has given me a bit of hope in learning how to be more productive, and less of a lazy. Of course, an app isn’t going to completely save my productive life, but, It’s nice to see a small start in the productive direction.

Give notion a shot when it comes to looking for your productivity system, and the next app that will work best for life. So far, its done well for me. Hopefully it will do well for you, also!