How to Use Notion: A Quick Start Guide in 2025

Are you tired of papers and notes being all over the place?

It’s like, you try to keep stuff organized, but it just ends up a mess.

Well, guess what? There’s a way to fix that.

It’s called Notion.

This guide will show you step-by-step instructions on how to use Notion so you can get organized.

1. Understanding the Workspace

Okay, so you want to learn how to use Notion, right? 

First, you gotta know what you’re looking at.

Think of Notion as your digital toolbox. 

It’s got different parts that help you get stuff done.

• The Sidebar:
  • This is the strip on the left side of your screen. It’s like the main menu. You can jump to different pages here.
  • You’ll see your workspaces (such as folders for different projects), all the pages you’ve created, and even databases.
  • And guess what? You can customize this! Move stuff around, hide things you don’t need, and make it yours.
• Pages and Blocks:
  • Think of a page as a blank piece of paper. You can create a Notion page for anything. Notes, lists, plans, anything!
  • Now, blocks are like the LEGO bricks of Notion. Everything on a page is a block: text, pictures, lists, even little calendars.
  • To add a block, just type “/,” and a menu will appear. You can add text, to-do lists, pictures, and more.
  • Layout is very important. You can drag and drop blocks to arrange them how you want.
• Basic Navigation:
  • To make a new page, click the “New page” button in the sidebar or type “/” and then “page”.
  • Click on a page in the sidebar to open it.
  • Notion offers many ways to use basic navigation.
• Customization:
  • You can make your pages look cool! Add little icons and cover pictures.
  • Change the text color, make it bold, or put it in italics.
  • This helps with productivity.
• Databases:
  • Databases are like super-powered tables. They can hold lots of info, and you can see it in different ways.
  • You can view it as a table, a calendar, a board (such as for project management), or even a gallery.
  • They can be used as a tracker or a planner.
  • You can even use a formula within databases to automate certain tasks.

This is just a basic tutorial to show you the main parts.

As a user, you will find your own best ways to use Notion.

2. Creating Your First Pages

So, you’ve seen the Notion workspace, and now you want to make something cool, right?

Let’s start with the basics.

• Simple Note-Taking:
  • Just open a new page and start typing. It’s like a digital notebook.
  • You can make lists, write paragraphs, or whatever you want.
  • Use the “/” command to add headings, bullet points, and more.
  • This is better than relying on random scraps of paper.
  • It is a very powerful tool for organizing notes.
• To-Do Lists and Task Management:
  • Type “/to-do” to add a checklist.
  • Check off tasks as you finish them.
  • You can even add dates and reminders.
  • This helps you stay on top of things.
  • This is a good way to track project progress.
• Setting up a Personal Dashboard:
  • Think of a dashboard as your main hub.
  • You can put your notes, lists, and calendars all on one page.
  • Add widgets (little tools) to show things like the weather or your calendar.
  • This is a very customizable area within the Notion.
  • You can create custom dashboards for your own needs.
• Using Templates:
  • The notion has pre-made pages called templates.
  • You can find templates for everything: school, work, personal stuff.
  • Just pick one and change it to fit your needs.
  • This saves you a lot of time.
  • You can import information from Google Drive and other applications.
  • This makes it easier to keep all of your information in one place.

3. Working with Databases

Okay, so you’ve made pages, but what if you have a lot of stuff to keep track of?

That’s where databases come in.

• Introduction to Databases:
  • Imagine a spreadsheet, but way cooler.
  • You can organize anything: books, projects, chores.
  • You can see the info in different ways: as a table, a calendar, or even a board like Trello.
  • If you don’t use databases, it is easy to lose track of information.
• Creating a Simple Database:
  • Type “/table” to make a basic table.
  • Add columns for things like “Name,” “Date,” or “Status.”
  • You can add different kinds of info: text, dates, checkboxes.
  • This is a good way to organize work tasks.
• Using Database Views:
  • You can change how you see the data.
  • Switch to a calendar view for dates or a board view for projects.
  • You can sort and filter the data to find what you need.
  • This helps you see the information in the way that is most useful to you.
• Database Relations:
  • This is where it gets a little more advanced, but it’s still cool.
  • You can connect different databases.
  • For example, you can connect a “Projects” database to a “Tasks” database.
  • This helps you see how everything is connected.
• Calendar and Board Views:
  • The calendar view is great for scheduling.
  • The board view is perfect for moving tasks through different stages.
  • These views are very useful for project management.

4. AI Features

Okay, so Notion isn’t just a place to write stuff down.

It also has some AI smarts that can help you out.

• Introduction to Notion AI:
  • Think of AI as a smart helper. It can write, edit, and even organize things for you.
  • It saves you time and makes your work easier.
  • It helps you when you start building your workspace.
• AI Writing and Editing:
  • You can ask AI to write a summary or fix your grammar.
  • It’s like having a super-smart spell checker.
  • You can ask it to make things shorter or longer.
• AI for Task Management:
  • AI can help you organize your tasks and even suggest deadlines.
  • It can help you see what you need to do next.
  • It can help you when you create multiple entries in a notion database.
• Use AI to summarize information:
  • If you have a lot of text, the AI can summarize it.
  • This is useful for research or taking notes.
  • It can help you organize your second brain.
  • You can use it to help you organize information on another page.
  • It can even create a timeline view of information.

Wrapping Up

So, we’ve gone over the basics.

You know how to make pages and lists and even use databases. 

Remember, Notion is like a digital toolbox, and you can make it your own.

You can put just about anything within Notion.

Don’t be afraid to click around and try things out.

You might find cool features you like.

If you get stuck, there are tons of tutorials and videos online.

Now, go ahead and start building your awesome Notion workspace!

Alright, here’s the FAQ section:

Frequently Asked Questions