Notion FAQ: Answering the Most Common Beginner Questions

If you're anything like me, you first heard about Notion from a friend (or let’s be real, a YouTube productivity guru) raving about how it changed their life. They probably threw around words like “second brain” and “all-in-one workspace,” convincing you that this mysterious tool could transform your chaotic notes, to-do lists, and big ideas into a sleek, organized system.

So, you signed up. And then… stared at a blank page, wondering where to start.

I’ve been there. Notion is incredibly powerful, but its flexibility can also make it overwhelming for beginners. The good news? You don’t need to be a tech wizard or an architect of digital workspaces to get the hang of it. Below, I’ll walk you through some of the most common beginner questions I had (and have seen others ask) so you can start using Notion without feeling like you’ve fallen into a black hole of endless customization.

1. What is Notion, and why is everyone obsessed with it?

At its core, Notion is an all-in-one productivity tool that helps you organize your tasks, notes, projects, and even databases in a single place. Think of it as a mash-up of a to-do list app, a digital notebook, and a project management tool.

The reason people love it? It’s endlessly customizable. You’re not stuck with rigid templates or predefined structures. You can create exactly what works for you, whether that’s a simple journal, a full-blown life dashboard, or the perfect system for managing your work projects.

Of course, that flexibility is also what makes it daunting at first. Unlike other apps that give you a premade layout, Notion starts with a blank slate—literally. But don’t worry, I’ll help you get through that.

2. Do I have to build everything from scratch?

Absolutely not! One of the best (and most overlooked) features of Notion is its pre-made templates. When you create a new page, you’ll see an option to browse templates, and I highly recommend starting there.

Some great beginner-friendly templates to explore:

• Personal Dashboard – A simple hub to keep track of tasks, notes, and projects
• To-Do List – A straightforward task manager
• Weekly Agenda – Perfect for planning your week
• Habit Tracker – A great way to stay consistent with personal goals

Using templates helps you understand how Notion works without getting bogged down in designing from scratch. You can always tweak things later when you feel more comfortable.

3. What’s the deal with pages and databases?

Notion operates on two main building blocks: pages and databases.

• Pages are like digital notebooks or docs. You can write in them, embed files, drop in images, and format them however you like.
• Databases add structure. They allow you to organize and filter content dynamically, like a spreadsheet but way more user-friendly.

If you just want a simple note-taking space, you can stick to pages. But if you want to track information (like tasks, book lists, or finances), databases are where the magic happens.

Quick tip: You can turn a page into a database down the road if needed, so there’s no pressure to decide upfront.

4. How do I use Notion for daily tasks and to-do lists?

One of the most common ways people use Notion is for daily planning. You can create a simple to-do list by adding a checkbox list to any page. Here's how:

1. Open a new page.
2. Type /todo and select "To-do list.”
3. Start adding your tasks!

If you want more structure, you can create a task database with columns for due dates, priorities, or categories. This makes it easy to organize, filter, and sort your tasks—so you can see what’s urgent or what’s on your weekly list.

For an even smoother workflow, some people create a daily planner page and use "linked databases" to pull in tasks automatically. But if that sounds too advanced for now, don’t stress! A simple to-do list is more than enough to start.

5. Can I use Notion across devices?

Yep! Notion syncs across desktop, mobile, and tablet, which means you can start a note on your laptop and check it on your phone later. The mobile app is great for quick edits or jotting down ideas on the go, though it does take some getting used to because of the smaller screen.

If you work on multiple devices, just make sure you’re online while making changes so everything updates properly.

6. How do I avoid getting overwhelmed?

Ah, the classic Notion rabbit hole. It’s very easy to spend hours picking the “perfect” font, obsessing over icon choices, or building a system so complex that you never actually use it. Been there.

Here’s my advice:

• Start small. Just build a single page that serves your current needs (a note dump, a task list, etc.). You can expand later.
• Ignore fancy setups (for now). A lot of the beautiful Notion dashboards you see online come from seasoned users. You don’t need a masterpiece on day one.
• Make it useful, not perfect. A simple to-do list you actually use is way better than a barely-functioning aesthetic setup.

Basically, think of Notion as an evolving tool rather than something that needs to be perfect immediately.

7. Can Notion replace my current planning tools?

It depends! Some people use Notion as their only productivity tool, while others keep it alongside apps like Google Calendar, Trello, or Evernote.

If you love digital minimalism, you can consolidate everything into Notion—notes, tasks, project planning, and even a lightweight calendar setup. But if you already have apps that work well for you, there’s no harm in using Notion alongside them. Personally, I still use my phone’s native reminders for quick errands, but I rely on Notion for deeper planning and journaling. It’s all about balance.

8. What’s one thing I need to try as a beginner?

If you try just one feature, I’d say experiment with the table database. It’s incredibly useful for tracking anything—books you’ve read, tasks for a project, meal planning, or even budgeting. Once you get the hang of adding properties (like dates and tags), you’ll start seeing how useful databases can be.

And if you ever feel like you're overcomplicating things, just simplify! The best Notion setup is the one that actually helps you get things done.

Final Thoughts

If Notion overwhelms you at first, you’re not alone! It takes a bit of exploration, but once you find a structure that works for you, it becomes an incredibly powerful tool.

Start with simple pages, play around with templates, and don’t be afraid to tweak things as you go. Notion is meant to grow with you, not stress you out.

Now, go explore! And if you have any lingering questions, I’d love to hear them. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced with Notion so far? Let’s figure it out together.