If you’ve ever opened Notion, stared at the blinking cursor, and thought, “Cool… but what am I supposed to do with this?” You’re not alone.

Notion is one of the most flexible tools out there for organizing your work, planning content, and keeping your team aligned. But that flexibility is also what makes it feel so intimidating at first. We’re here to tell you: you don’t need to be a power user. You just need a simple setup that helps you stay on top of your work without losing your mind.

Here’s how to get started with Notion, without getting overwhelmed.

Step 1: Don’t Try to Use It for Everything

The first mistake we see? People try to build a full-on command center before they know what they even need.

Instead, ask yourself:

• What do I already track in too many places?
• What’s one thing I wish I could keep more organized?
• What would make my week easier? 

Start with just one system—like a weekly to-do list, content calendar, or project tracker—and grow from there.

Step 2: Use a Template

You do not have to start from scratch. Notion has a built-in gallery of free templates for everything from meeting notes to marketing calendars.

Some beginner-friendly ones to explore:

• Simple Task List
• Weekly Agenda
• Content Calendar
• Project Tracker
• Nonprofit Grant Planner (search community-made templates!)

Sign up for Notion here (affiliate link) to access their template library and get started with one that fits your needs.

Step 3: Make It Yours—But Keep It Simple

Notion is all about blocks: you can drag, drop, and rearrange anything. That’s powerful, but you don’t need to go wild with it. Our favorite “starter kit” setup includes:

• A Weekly To-Do List
• A Calendar View for Upcoming Deadlines
• A Notes Page for Meetings or Ideas 

From there, you can tag, filter, and connect pages if (and only if) it helps you.

Pro Tip: Your First Notion Workspace Doesn’t Need to Be Pretty

Don’t worry about aesthetics right away. Focus on usability. You can always come back later to add icons, headers, and colors when it feels fun—not frustrating.

Ready to Try It?

We’ve used Notion daily for years now—for project planning, content calendars, client notes, and more. Once you get comfortable, it becomes the home base you didn’t know you needed.

Sign up for Notion here (affiliate link)
It’s free to start, easy to customize, and powerful when you’re ready for more.