Over the past few months, I’ve experienced a significant transformation in my productivity levels, all thanks to Notion. As someone who juggles multiple projects and responsibilities, finding an efficient way to organize schoolwork, extracurriculars and hobbies always been an issue for me. Notion has not only met these needs but exceeded them, becoming a vital part of my daily routine. Funny enough, I now notice peers around me in the BIM lectures also using the application.
Notion: A Unified Workspace
One of the first things that drew me to Notion was its ability to consolidate various aspects of my work into a single platform. No longer did I need separate apps for note-taking, task management, and project collaboration. Notion’s versatile pages and databases allowed me to create customized workspaces tailored to each project. Additionally, the Notion calendar integrates all deadlines from my Notion databases. This integration has been a game-changer for my time management, ensuring I never miss a deadline. The seamless connection between my project databases and calendar has eliminated the need for manual updates, reducing the risk of overlooking important tasks. With everything in one place, I can easily prioritize my workload and allocate my time more efficiently.
Notion’s AI
The introduction of Notion’s AI tool took my productivity to another level, and I bet it could do the same for you. As BIM students, we were bombarded with concepts and information from the start. Notion and its AI has been a game-changer in helping me navigate these challenges. Unlike ChatGPT, Notion’s AI directly interacts with your existing notes and documents, providing more contextual summaries without having to update all your work into ChatGPT. For notes, I use pre-fabricated templates that I make at the beginning of the course, with AI blocks at the bottom of the page. After I am done with the notes, these blocks automatically generate quiz questions and answers about the material. When starting an essay (or this blog), Notion’s AI helps me create an outline promptly, providing a structure to build upon. This feature has been particularly helpful when I’m stuck or facing writer’s block. The AI can suggest ideas, expand on concepts, or even help rephrase sentences for clarity. It’s like having a collaborative partner who understands the context of my work and can provide relevant, intelligent input on demand.
Beyond Schoolwork
Notion’s versatility extends beyond academics into personal life. I have started using it for planning workouts, saving recipes, and organizing hobbies. Recently, while planning a catering event for 50 guests, Notion’s AI assistant automatically calculated ingredient quantities, which came out perfect. I’ve also created custom databases for fitness tracking and started on a digital recipe book. The ability to link related information across pages has strongly sparked my curiosity. For example, Notion AI could help create a personalized meal planning system. It could suggest recipes based on dietary preferences, generate shopping lists, and even calculate nutritional information. For fitness enthusiasts, Notion AI could analyze workout data, suggest improvements, and create customized training plans. In project management, it could automate task assignments, predict project timelines, and generate progress reports. I’m curious to find out if, and how, other BIM students use Notion to increase their productivity. Also, I hope more people start using it, so that group projects can be hosted from Notion instead of Google Drive or Sharepoint!
