Tips to use Notion more efficiently


Hi Reader,

Whatever you're using Notion for, using it efficiently will make your experience smoother and life much easier.

Here are a few tips you can use daily.

Pull the corner of a cell to expand the content.
Want to apply the same relation, date, or tag across many database pages? Open a table view of the database and enter the required data into the entry on top of the table. After that, you’ll see a tiny circle appearing at the bottom right corner of the cell. Drag that tiny circle through the column until the blue selection of cells covers all the rows you need.

Click to copy the content from a cell.
This tip is especially useful if you’re constantly copying data from your database pages, such as AI prompts from your prompt library. When you hover over the cell, a copy button will appear on the right-hand side. Click on that button to copy all the data in that cell.

Make columns smaller on a table view.
When adjusting the width of a cell on a table view, there’s a limit to how small a column can be unless it’s a checkbox property, which can be as small as the checkbox. But, with this little trick, you can adjust the width however you like. Press Alt/Option while dragging the column border to minimise the width beyond the limit. (Thanks to Josh Redd for the tip)

Use inline reminders.
You are not limited to the reminder options in a date property. You can set reminders for any time using the inline date tagging. Type @ followed by a date (month and date) and choose the option from the dropdown search menu. You can then click on the newly created date to change the date, add a time, and set a reminder.

Change the peek mode.
Notion offers 3 options to view database pages. Centre peek, side peek, and full-page view. You can set the default peek mode in the Settings → Layout window. But you can also choose to change the peek mode as you view a page using the peek icon on the top left corner. I recommend the full-page view when working on a page that contains a database, such as a project page with tasks. When you open a project in full-page view, you’ll be able to view the tasks without leaving the projects page.

This is all from me for now, Reader.

If you have any Notion questions or would like me to cover anything in these emails, hit reply and let me know.

Have a good one,

Merve


Resources

The Notion Concierge: Notion template to manage your tasks and leads, plan your social media content, and build your prompt and social proof libraries.

ChatGPT to Notion: Chrome extension to save ChatGPT responses to Notion with a single click.

Formula Lab: Study and practice guide to learn Notion formulas.

Notion Templates: Browse all in the Notion template gallery.


I design business management systems to help business owners centralise their resources, work more efficiently, and love Mondays again.

Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3DF
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Spark Zone • by Merve Goulding

I write about systems, productivity, and Notion to inspire solo business owners, creatives, and consultants.

Read more from Spark Zone • by Merve Goulding
""

How can you decide when you have too many options? How do bees make decisions? What's quietly draining your resources? Curious? Keep reading… For your mind "Decisions are strategic, choices are personal." —Seth Godin For your toolkit In an overly crowded software space, making decisions about our tech stack can feel overwhelming. Stackfix is a simple tool that helps you compare software solutions side by side to find what works best for you. For your next collective decision When bees need to...

""

What would Nirvana sound like if they were a jazz band?How do animals celebrate Valentine's Day?What is slowing your business down?How can you expand your comfort zone? Curious? Keep reading... For your ears A jazz band led by drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. was challenged to sit in a recording studio and reimagine a grunge song "as an instrumental jazz piece." Except for one, none of the musicians had ever heard the song: Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box." They listened to the song, had a quick...

""

What can you do with what you have?Is that chocolate cookie a genuine craving or just an excuse?When was the last time your website had a checkup?What can you achieve in 10 minutes? Curious? Keep reading... For your mind "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." — Arthur Ashe (3 times Grand Slam winner, 1943-1993) Arthur Ashe (1975) For healthier habits Our brains often run on autopilot when following old habits. That's why, to change a habit, we need to understand what...