How to visualize your future with Notion

By: Liv Rafaela

In the era where creativity meets productivity, vision boarding has evolved from glue sticks and magazines to the vibrant realm of digital canvases. As your digital community coordinator at the SSU, I'm thrilled to guide you through the exciting world of Notion – a powerful tool you can use to organize your school, work, and personal life. With so many Notion templates that you can find online, and with GIFs to welcome you to the page whenever you open it, you can also access your vision board at any time just by reaching for your phone. Join me as we explore the art of vision boarding, delve into the heart of Notion, and discover how this online platform can amplify our collective goals.

It may be a surprise, but I didn’t start out vision boarding in Notion right away.

During the pandemic, I found myself immersed in the art of bullet journaling. I would create yearly spreads at the end of the year to prepare myself for the new year. Some of those spreads included my goals for the year, things I wanted to prepare before college, and a spread where I collected notes to myself as reminders throughout the year. If you prefer a more traditional approach to vision boarding, the bullet journal is a wonderful tool for you to pour out your artistic self.

It wasn’t until I transitioned into college life that I began to use Notion, as a lot of my designer peers were also using it. Only in my third year have I begun to discover the full potential of Notion, including unlimited storage that you can keep in your account, bundled with some benefits that come with your student plan.

Here are some pros of using Notion:

1. Collaboration

   I love how Notion allows you to collaborate with other people. For example, you can create a table for your courses, assignments, and deadlines, and Notion can automatically create a calendar for you.

2. Drag and Drop Feature

   Another feature I love about Notion is that I can easily bring my board to life with a collage of images, motivational quotes, and symbols that resonate with my student journey. Notion's drag-and-drop feature makes this process very easy.

3. Quick Search Feature and Tags

   As someone who loves to figure out a system to organize my assets, Notion helps me use databases and tags to neatly categorize my goals – because who says dreams can't be organized?

Some cons of using Notion to consider:

1. Learning Curve

   It took me two years to love Notion. Its extensive range of features can be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve. Initially, you might find it challenging to navigate and utilize this tool to its full potential.

2. Limited Offline Access

   While Notion does offer offline access, the functionality is somewhat limited compared to working online. You may find that certain features are not available or synchronization delays can occur when working offline.

3. Mobile App Limitations

   The mobile version of Notion may not provide the same seamless experience as the desktop version. Most of the time, I use Notion on my laptop. You might find certain features more challenging to use or have limited functionality, on mobile devices.

However, Notion, with its wide range of features, can initially seem intimidating to learn. In my opinion, one of the most effective ways to grasp the intricacies of Notion is by immersing yourself in the wealth of knowledge available on YouTube.

Here’s why you should consider hitting that play button:

Visual Learning Experience
YouTube tutorials offer a visual and dynamic learning experience. Watching someone navigate Notion in real time can provide a clearer understanding of its functionalities and help you absorb information more effectively. There are many step-by-step guides that break down complex Notion features into digestible chunks.

Quick Problem Solving
Struggling with a specific feature? Chances are, someone on YouTube has faced the same issue and created a tutorial to guide you through it. Watching these tutorials can help you find a quick solution to common challenges.

Real-Life Examples
Tutorials often use real-life examples to illustrate how Notion can be applied to various scenarios. Whether you're a student organizing your study materials or a professional managing projects, YouTube tutorials can showcase how to tailor Notion to your specific needs.

Community Recommendation
YouTube is a hub for the Notion community, where users share their tips, tricks, and creative implementations. By engaging with these tutorials, you tap into a vast network of Notion enthusiasts who are eager to share their insights.

As a final tip, I suggest you create a personalized playlist on YouTube with the tutorials that resonate most with your learning style. This way, you can revisit them whenever you need a refresher or want to delve into more advanced features.

We believe that there are a variety of ways to improve your #SheridanLife.

Whether it’s creating a budget, practicing mindfulness, or building healthy relationships, every aspect of wellness comes together and affects your well-being. The Sheridan Student Union provides resources, so students can take steps to manage their wellness.