How to Use Notion for Organization and Productivity With Sandra Halling

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Katie: Hello, and welcome to “The Wellness Mama Podcast.” I’m Katie from wellnessmama.com and wellnesse.com. That’s wellness with an E on the top, my new line of private care merchandise. Be certain to test them out. This episode is all about one of many instruments I exploit to remain productive and arranged, and that I really feel is an especially beneficial device. And I additionally really feel like I’m not utilizing it in addition to I could possibly be. It’s known as Notion, and it’s an app that can be utilized on cellphone or desktop. It integrates with each. And there appear to be countless methods of utilizing it. I’m in no way an skilled. So I’m right here with the methods skilled, Sandra Halling, who’s a enterprise strategist and system specialists, who loves the technological facet. She’s been doing completely different types of this for 20 years. And now she brings her company expertise and her strategic pondering to assist small companies and entrepreneurs and people at implementing Notion and how one can use that to create a framework that helps her private life. She focuses on group and she or he guides her purchasers by creating private {and professional} initiatives inside Notion. And we go into a few of these ways in which she does this at present. And it is extremely a lot a visible factor. So we discuss by as a lot as we will simply verbally right here, however she’s additionally gonna have a hyperlink within the present notes at wellnessmama.fm, that may take you to her web site and to some extra visuals on how one can truly implement this in addition to she could be prepared to do a mixed course for mothers and households of how one can use this particularly for these associated matters. So, once more, I discover this a really, very useful device however I’m in no way an skilled at utilizing it and I wished to usher in Sandra at present to go deeper on Notion. Sandra, welcome. Thanks for being right here.

Sandra: Hi. Thanks, Katie.

Katie: I’m so excited to talk with you and study from you at present. One of the matters that’s all the time developing once I ask the listeners what they need me to speak extra about is issues like group and productiveness. And an app that I’ve been most likely not even effectively utilizing, that has made my life a lot simpler is known as Notion. And I really feel like I’ve a ton of room for enchancment in how I exploit it. And I additionally really feel like that is an incredible device that isn’t tremendous well-known but, particularly amongst mothers. And I believe it may be completely unimaginable. So, to start out with, I do know that you’re an skilled on this, which is why I used to be so pleased to talk with you at present however stroll us by on a really broad degree what Notion is.

Sandra: Okay. So, Notion at its core is type of like a database. But I say that phrase, and generally individuals run for the hills. So simply know that, once you’re first diving into it, it’s actually like….. It’s a no code utility, which implies it’s very straightforward to arrange and configure. And it’s meant to do all the things beneath the solar from deal with notes, and duties, to collaboration. And one of many lovely issues about Notion is that you would be able to cross-reference and sync information from all areas of your life to all different areas. So that implies that it’s very versatile with regards to designing your personal private dashboard that is smart to you and the best way you need to run your loved ones, run your life, run your corporation, and so forth.

Katie: Yeah, I really feel like I’m solely starting to barely scratch the floor of understanding what number of makes use of it has. And I exploit it for enterprise and in addition for type of family administration and simply preserving monitor of all the things I must do in my very own life in addition to, like, long-term objective monitoring. I monitor one thing known as OKRs or targets and key outcomes for each enterprise and private, and I preserve all of these issues in Notion. But I do know earlier than we began recording, you talked about a very good level, which is that there’s a studying curve with regards to Notion. And I believe anytime we’re speaking, like, excessive degree group, it could appear overwhelming at first. Certainly once I first began utilizing Notion, I used to be just a little bit caught so far as how one can create methods in it. And I ended up having to type of go define all of the issues I wanted to determine how one can handle after which work from there versus simply making an attempt to start out creating in Notion. So if somebody’s new to it, how can they type of keep away from that overwhelm or what’s a great place to begin simply to begin to study or begin to determine what you’re going to place in Notion to start with?

Sandra: Yeah, so one which I might throw on the market for a brand new person is nearly all the notebooks and post-it notes and shoe packing containers that you’ve round with numerous tidbits of data, all the things from just like the whiteboard in your kitchen, the place you retain your menu, at the least that’s what I do, you already know, uber nerd over right here. But all the little locations the place you may have items of data that you simply don’t wanna lose monitor of and begin fascinated by these as components of your life that you could possibly carry collectively in a coherent complete. So when you may have form of a one-stop store for simply getting the heartbeat of issues, what would that appear like in a perfect world? And even, like, breaking out the crayons and, like, drawing it out within the early days is a very good mind-set about it. Because Notion actually is so versatile. I believe it’s value taking the time to customise it for your self. And then the second factor is I additionally wouldn’t, like, overdo that as a result of Notion is best once you begin utilizing it as quickly as attainable, versus making an attempt to construct the right system earlier than you dive in. And that’s the opposite factor I see individuals do rather a lot is, like, leap in after which get so enthusiastic about how enjoyable it’s to design it as a result of it truly is enjoyable when you like enjoying round in these kinds of issues after which neglect that it’s meant to truly make your life simpler and never form of be a distraction rabbit gap. So, it’s like discovering that pleased medium between placing some thought into what you need it to appear like, what goal you need it to serve, what info do you want you could possibly arrange higher or had higher monitor of? So my company purchasers are normally level to love their Google Drive is a large number or their stuff buried in Slack.

But my, like, private purchasers give it some thought extra for, like, you already know, monitoring their chore sheet, or funds, or perhaps well being methods, or simply various things on the private facet, even hobbies. It’s a terrific place to trace info on hobbies. So, it’s type of like getting the lay of the land of all of the classes after which fascinated by how you’ll wanna carry it collectively and being actually helpful with your self, such as you talked about. I really like that you simply talked about the OKRs as a result of I monitor these as effectively. I believe it’s a terrific place to have the ability to do that prime degree planning in addition to the low degree each day job planning. I believe that’s one thing to consider is also, like, once I construct my system, one of many issues I’ve executed is I’ve time-based perspective. So I’ve, like, a day by day web page, a weekly web page. But then I even have form of matter perspective. So I’ve a enterprise homepage and a private homepage, after which additionally issues for hobbies and so forth. So it’s type of trying on the classes. And then the third factor I’ll throw out, proper off the bat is, like, guarantee that when you fall down the plethora of data on YouTube, about Notion is that you simply go to Notion’s official channel and take a look at the movies. And I all the time counsel that even for my, like, superior customers, as a result of Notion, as an organization, after they put out movies, they focus extra on the options and the way it works, versus, like, utility and templates. And there’s plenty of info and examples out on YouTube about alternative ways of approaching it and, like, taking a look at completely different templates. But generally what will get misplaced in that’s, like, the actually easy core ideas of what’s a web page and what’s a desk? And so, like, what are the constructing blocks inside Notion that you simply use to configure your system?

Katie: Got it. Okay. So I’d like to undergo just a little bit of those type of perhaps get some recommendation step-by-step on issues which can be largely universally relevant to individuals listening. So, issues like all of us must eat and most of us are planning meals for our households. And I’ve, you already know, instruments like Real Plans that I exploit to do that however I additionally preserve my meal plan in Notion, together with like a seasonal rotating meal plan. But you talked about a meal plan being a factor that’s nice to trace in Notion that I totally agree. So, stroll us by type of how somebody can begin doing that or what sort of, I assume not template, what sort of system they need to arrange in there to have the ability to construct on?

Sandra: Yeah. So, by way of, like, meals and meal plans, specifically, one of many issues that I like to recommend to individuals typically is to consider their teams of data, form of like separate buckets. So, for instance, I’ve a recipe log the place I’ve completely different web sites. And I’ll go on the web site and seize the prettiest image of no matter it’s and put that on the high after which have the directions and any form of notes in there. But separate recipe log, I even have a totally separate desk for, like, my menu plan. So it’s like what day am I planning to eat what, proper? And from there, I hyperlink that. Actually, it’s simply round with this yesterday, my Sunday afternoon on which was enjoying round with making this work even higher than it has earlier than. So, I’m type of tremendous excited to speak about it at present. And that’s that I linked it into what I name my day by day journal or my form of, like, my digital bullet journal, if you’ll. So, I’ve this day by day homepage that I am going to that has all these reflections, which I can get into in a second. But it has the hyperlink to journaling questions and my habits. Like, am I ingesting my water? Am I exercising? That great things after which it additionally has this show of my week and can truly inform me what I plan to eat, or no matter I plan to make for dinner. And Notion has all these nice completely different show codecs, if you’ll. So, one of many issues I can do is definitely set this up in order that there’s a reminder that if we’re having stir fry for dinner, I ought to make the rice at lunchtime so I don’t neglect. You know, it’s like that little stuff that may make our lives a lot simpler. And so determining how one can arrange my gallery view in Notion. So it not solely shows a fairly image of the recipe to entice me, to start out dinner prep once I ought to, and it additionally tells me, like, “Hey, what can I do at lunchtime to make my evening a little smoother?”

So that’s type of, like, structurally how I do a meal. I’ve the completely different tables, however I’ll say, like, to even type of zoom out or go to an much more larger degree, one of many issues I prefer to level out for Notion customers is that once you’re beginning out, what’s the distinction between a web page and a desk? And how do you make tables relate to one another in a approach that makes issues simpler? Tables may be fairly particular in it’s goal. Like I used to be saying, I’ve a recipe desk, however that’s very separate from my meal plan desk. And that’s separate from my digital bullet journal and behavior monitoring desk. And by doing issues like that, it offers you just a little extra flexibility and management about what you show the place. And, you already know, Notion, it’s arduous to speak over audio, proper, how versatile it’s. And I’m certain you could possibly converse to this too, the place you simply can management so many little nuances of what you see on numerous screens and dashboards. It’s in contrast to another residence upkeep or, you already know, effort I’ve put into monitoring, like, simply all these issues that go into managing residence life, actually.

Katie: That’s superior. Yeah, I really feel like I exploit this in so many alternative methods as effectively. And like I mentioned, I don’t even assume I exploit it practically as effectively as lots of people, and particularly as you. You simply talked about a day by day homepage. And I really like this concept type of like a management middle for all the things you’ll put into Notion. Can you stroll us by type of, like, the way you set that up and all of the issues that you simply carry on there, and the way you then go from there and to all the things else you monitor?

Sandra: Yeah. Yeah. So I really like that you simply requested that as a result of my day by day web page is definitely the place I begin my day, on daily basis. And the truth is, it’s so essential to my course of that oftentimes… It’s additionally the place I finish my day if I’m being according to my habits. And so, I’ve… One of the issues I love to do is do test ins at numerous level in the course of the day. And for me, a check-in is a set of questions that I prefer to ask myself to only form of, like, actually test in to see how I’m feeling that day, what I need to accomplish that day, if there’s something I’m worrying about, actually only a pause from form of the, I hate to say grind as a result of that’s not likely what I imply. But you get what I’m saying. Like, that day in time out the type of, we get into computerized pilot, a greater approach of claiming it. And having the check-ins for it’s a big approach of me zooming within the midst of the day and deciding how I would like a few hours to go. So, my day by day web page is the place I’ve my test ins positioned and I set these up as template button. So I’ve a preset listing of questions which can be in a web page. And so all I’ve to do is click on the template button and it pops open a brand new web page with all my questions and I fill them out. And then I suppose all in a mirrored image database. So I can go and see that, like, you already know, on December 14th, I used to be speaking about stability. That’s the tag I’ve on it for this morning. And then from there on my day by day web page, I’ve a hyperlink to a separate desk, the one I used to be speaking about for form of, like, the day by day habits. And in that desk, I monitor an entire slew of issues from, like, I’ve checkboxes for did I sweat? Did I stretch? Did I meditate? Did I do my morning pages? Did I do a thought mannequin? Did I take drugs, nutritional vitamins, so on and so forth? So you could possibly go down the laundry listing of the issues that you simply preserve monitor of for your self.

And, you already know, that is multi functional desk however I show it in numerous sections. So, I don’t must assume by it on a regular basis. I get by what I’m taking a look at a given second. And so, this day by day web page, it truly has, like, I believe 4 sections to it. And so there’s a web page that’s worthy of my consideration at 5:00 within the morning once I’m, like, pre-coffee and simply making an attempt to get my mind in right here. But there’s additionally a piece of it that’s like noon test in and a piece of it that’s extra in the direction of the top of the day. And in every of those areas, I exploit my behavior tracker and I show completely different fields. So completely different properties. So, within the morning, the one factor I actually care about is, like, did I keep in mind to take…? You know, did I keep in mind to have some water and what time did I get up? That type of factor. But later within the day, there’s fields for meals and monitoring signs. Like, I’ve persistent sinus points so I monitor all of the signs associated to that simply so I can see going again, “Oh, hey, you already know, this has truly been bugging me for a few weeks now, not simply a few days. And simply offers me all this wealthy details about what’s happening in my world from a each day foundation. So that’s type of how I leap off from the day by day web page.

Katie: I’m taking notes and mapping out all these items that I want so as to add to mine. So, discuss just a little bit extra about templates as a result of I believe this is without doubt one of the big strengths of Notion. And I do know that there appears to be a capability to share templates as a result of I’ve used templates that different individuals have created. I haven’t gotten excellent at creating my very own templates but however this has been on my listing as a result of loads of the issues I do are repetitive. And creating them as a template, like a day by day to do listing or weekly planning for my workforce, issues like that, it appears actually, actually useful. So, stroll us by the benefits of templates and how one can type of work out how one can use them.

Sandra: Yeah. So, the phrase template is utilized in a few alternative ways and form of the Notion sphere if you’ll. So, the excessive degree model of a template is, like, you already know, you possibly can construct out no matter you need your pages and tables to appear like, after which you possibly can truly share that complete setup with different individuals. And so, once you say you’ve introduced templates into your system, that’s what you’re speaking about there. There’s truly a strategy to share it on the net. And once you first go into Notion, you possibly can, like, click on the duplicate button on a shared template and it’ll switch that complete setup into your setup. So once I work with purchasers privately, that’s typically what we do is as soon as I get them arrange with the fundamentals, and so they’re rocking and rolling, and so they’ve acquired the technical expertise down, which solely takes, you already know, an hour or two to do, then we switch my template into their system. My template’s just a little little bit of a whopper, proper, as a result of I, you already know, do that day in and time out. And that’s one strategy to form of streamline issues is to seek out an individual that you simply like Notion already, you already know, both by way of YouTube or no matter, after which both buy or search for a free template that you would be able to switch in your system. It’s an enormous time saver as a result of these templates, in the event that they’re designed effectively will include all these tables that we’re speaking about pre-linked collectively. So you don’t have to take a seat there and type of figuring all of the format. It additionally eases issues from the standpoint. I prefer to say that Notion doesn’t have an opinion about the way you handle your corporation or your life. And in order that’s each a great factor and a nasty factor. And it’s that them not having an opinion implies that you must have an opinion. We all have time for ourselves, how are we utilizing Notion, the place are we gonna begin our day? What’s gonna be an important? And then, but it surely implies that we get to determine all that stuff, versus having to fall into regardless of the software program developer determined was one of the best ways to do one thing.

So that’s templates at a excessive degree. But there’s additionally templates inside the system which can be like for any given database, you possibly can have a template that might prefill info. So, like, finest instance for me is in a piece, I’ve a template specifically for my assembly log, if you’ll. And so, once I began new issues, say, I’ve a brand new gross sales plan or one thing like that, I even have prefilled questions that I like to ensure I ask. And so, once I begin a dialog of that nature, I can simply press a button on that desk, launches a brand new web page, with all of these questions preloaded… So I don’t even have to consider it. Another approach could be perhaps, like, you’re operating a podcast, for instance, sure steps that you simply comply with for the podcast, most likely on a weekly foundation, on a month-to-month foundation episode. And so, these form of checklists, if you’ll, could possibly be their very own template in a system so that each time you begin a brand new podcast, you already know, content material calendar on your month or your quarter may open that up and also you’d have all new checkboxes to start out your movement of data. And I’m utilizing checkboxes simply to make the instance. But your templates can get actually advanced with nested tables and ask associated info. So it’s actually… This is what makes Notion superior is that it’s so malleable to what the person truly wants. It may be tremendous easy with simply a few checkboxes, all actually highly effective, and you could possibly use it to handle a workforce or run a enterprise. And then the third one, like, so many templates… So the third kind of template is definitely what we name a template button. And a template button is a totally completely different type of characteristic in Notion, the place it simply exists on the web page and you’ll put something into it that you simply wanna replicate. And I like to make use of it as a result of it offers the title of the web page a prefilled label, so it pops in versus utilizing a template in a desk, which doesn’t do this. And you possibly can type of sneak them in all through. And so, if there’s sure issues that you simply do on a repeated foundation, however perhaps aren’t so advanced, that it’s value placing them in their very own desk, then you possibly can, you already know, use these template buttons simply to form of streamline a course of or create a set of reminders or, like I mentioned, it’s good for making a set of checkboxes that perhaps you do each week or month or one thing.

Katie: Yeah, I’m pondering of so many new methods to make use of this for lots extra areas of my life actually. Does this…? Can notion combine instantly with different methods that folks could be utilizing? For occasion, you talked about Slack or Calendar apps or can it combine instantly with any of these items or is it standalone?

Sandra: So proper now it’s standalone. What I’ll say is that Notion has the power to embed loads of apps. So what meaning is Notion is principally entry by the slack command. And you press that, and also you’ll see a listing of choices. And as you begin typing, it type of narrows all the way down to what you want. One of the issues you are able to do is you possibly can, like, embed a Google doc, or a picture, or plenty of different issues. Just final week, there was a launch Notion put out a discover that they’re within the midst of testing API, which is principally the decision that functions use to speak between one another. And so it’s gonna be in beta early subsequent 12 months. So, fingers crossed someday earlier than the top of subsequent 12 months, we’re gonna even have true integration with different functions. But proper now, standalone. And I’ll say, although, every time I’ve had that, like, once I used to do it or a few of these different apps which can be on the market to assist meet my life, I all the time discovered myself including extra to it than I may actually fairly course of. So there’s one thing about API that may ship us on a path of just about, like, over-integrating issues. So, in some methods, I’m type of grateful that Notion has been the standalone characteristic as a result of it actually encourages curating what you’re placing in there, versus simply dumping all the things in there after which not likely with the ability to use it to execute on the issues that you simply wanna have the ability to do.

Katie: That’s superior. I do know one other type of unrelated factor that I exploit it for that I most likely may work out how one can templatized higher, however that I like to recommend to folks that could be a brand new one, even for you as I exploit it to do one thing known as the Feynman approach. And I preserve what would principally be like a journal, however the place I form of put all of my Feyman approach summaries proper now. And for anyone who’s not acquainted, I’ve talked about it just a little bit on the podcast earlier than however the Feyman approach is principally the concept you may have discovered one thing when you may have the power to obviously and concisely clarify it to a toddler. And fortunately, I’ve plenty of kids to truly follow this and clarify to on daily basis. But that is one thing I do every time I learn a brand new guide or watch a TED discuss or study a brand new idea by researching or actually delve into the research on a subject. And I discover it actually helps recall. But by committing these items to an precise written type, I even have them in a single place for reference. So if I ever want to return and keep in mind one thing from a guide or from an idea that I’ve discovered, it’s in a single place, and Notion offers me a terrific place to trace all of those. And then I may also, like, simply discover them to share them, if I must with my workforce or no matter it could be. So that’s a tip I really like to provide mothers is it actually helps I discover improve recall and creativity. And when you’re not a giant fan of writing, you should use one other app known as Otter in your cellphone to talk into your cellphone and clarify, and it’ll transcribe it for you so then you possibly can put it in Notion. So that’s type of like the way you mentioned you utilize it as a journal. That’s form of the best way I form of day by day journal with it. And you then talked about you additionally use it to trace issues like targets, and I do too, however I’ve a sense you’re gonna have some suggestions of higher ways in which I may be utilizing this to trace targets. So, do you construct templates for that or how do you map out after which preserve monitor of targets inside Notion?

Sandra: Yeah. So, monitoring of targets, I do OKR course of, which has been actually revolutionary for me personally, as a result of I all the time discovered SMART targets to be just a little too bossy, if you’ll. I’m a insurgent at coronary heart. And so, the second somebody tells me what to do, I are inclined to do the alternative. So SMART objective by no means fairly labored for me as a result of I simply wished to insurgent in opposition to it. But there’s one thing concerning the OKR methodology the place once you make the targets, the form of inspirational/aspirational issues that you simply’re making an attempt to do in your corporation or your life, the impression that you simply’re making an attempt to have, the main focus, and also you set these up first, out of the blue having key outcomes, that are basically SMART targets, they’re well timed and particular, it feels much more approachable to me. And there are issues that I actually care about. So I’m capable of, you already know, harness that energy. And so the best way my system is configured is I’ve targets and outcomes each in separate tables. And then I additionally am a giant fan of Charlie Gilkey, and the Productive Flourishing Academy. He has a guide known as “Start Finishing,” which when you haven’t learn it or seen it, I extremely suggest it. It’s only a nice guide for anyone actually. Like, I’ve seen professionals use it. I’ve seen creatives use it. I’ve seen dad and mom use it. It’s only a neat methodology for planning how one can truly end the issues that we begin, proper? So, the best way I exploit the momentum planning methodology in Notion is, I’ve another tables, one’s for initiatives, which I consider as type of just like the smaller steps to creating my key outcomes occur. And then I’ve a desk for actions or duties with a very micro degree. I must, you already know, replace this factor or analysis this factor, no matter, the duties I must maintain. And then, to make it much more strong, I’ve yet another desk that I exploit, which I name areas, which is supposed to be form of wheel of life, if you’ll. So, any form of element to my life that I wanna have an intentional follow round and chew with, I arrange within the areas.

And so it’s form of like having a objective, but it surely takes off, like I mentioned, that point strain, in order that it’s simply, you already know, periodically, I am going in and I take a look at these issues that matter to me, and I can type of… You know, a few of them have checkboxes, a few of them have tables, a few of them simply have quotes to remind me of issues. So it’s a really fluid course of by the point it will get to areas, but it surely permits me to separate out issues I care about that I wanna be intentional about from precise measurable spindles that I’ve in my enterprise. And all of those tables, very areas of my system. So all of them seem in my weekly evaluation. They seem on… Some of them are on the day by day web page or I even have two different dashboards that I exploit after the day by day web page on a each day foundation. And they’re known as the Today Page and The This Week Page. And these principally enable me to have, like I mentioned, time-based perspective on what it’s I’m making an attempt to create.

Katie: I really like that. I do know, like… I believe, OKR, I’m an enormous fan as effectively. I’ll put a few of my favourite sources associated to understanding that within the shownotes. I believe it’s relevant to everybody. I do know it’s typically utilized in enterprise, however I believe it’s truly very related to oldsters as effectively, so far as planning long-term issues with our children, actually for homeschooling dad and mom and having targets associated to that. And I additionally use it, like I mentioned, in my private life for private growth issues or new expertise I’m making an attempt to study and preserving monitor of all of these. I really feel like there’s simply so some ways to make use of that.

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And a few different ways in which I exploit Notion, generally, are for preserving monitor of issues like Christmas reward concepts or reward concepts, generally, for all my youngsters. I’ve issues like that as a result of they have a tendency to say issues all year long. And then reasonably than having to think about them, simply right now of the 12 months, additionally issues like home updates and initiatives issues I must, like, work towards with that. And you talked about additionally issues like well being metrics, which can also be related to lots of people listening. How can we use Notion to maintain monitor of these items or how would you set that up?

Sandra: Yeah, so that is the place Notion can actually be a whole, like, life working system. And I say that… And, you already know, I’m all the time very… I work with loads of freshmen and loads of proper mind form of inventive thoughts map kind individuals. And so I’ve a comfortable spot for them. And I do know that saying the phrase working system isn’t all the time engaging to all people. But on the identical time, it’s only a approach of harnessing all that creativity and all these concepts you may have, and placing the knowledge that we’re all monitoring in our heads down and to get, once more. That’s the important thing factor for me, whether or not we’re about education and even simply serving to your youngsters preserve monitor of their schoolwork. And if they’re doing on-line class or their chore schedule or their after college occasions or one which I did lately that I type of amused myself with is I arrange an entire desk that’s, like, I name them weekly quests. And it’s principally a gamified model of preserving monitor of all of the issues that I don’t must do on daily basis however I must do just a few occasions per week. And principally the best way the desk works is I’ve a few formulation inbuilt in order that so long as I vacuum as soon as per week, I get a thumbs up and a great job. But if I vacuum twice per week, then it offers me a bonus. And of this previous gamified factor with formulation in there that simply amuses me to no finish. And it truly encourages me to do these items that I’d in any other case procrastinate or simply really feel like, “Oh, I’m too tired, it can wait until tomorrow.” And then you understand how that goes. Like, then it’s like three days later and you continue to haven’t vacuumed or no matter. So I prefer to put enjoyable issues in there. So it doesn’t all the time really feel like, oh, that is, like, yet another factor I’ve to do. The key factor for me with Notion, like, I truly need to open it on the weekend, which I’ve by no means felt earlier than with another app. So, by way of, like, attending to a extra sensible reply to your query, one of many issues that I exploit or that I did at Notion this 12 months that was tremendous useful is we moved.

And so not solely did I’ve in there our lists of we have been in search of in a home and, like, our preferrred, you already know, options and what have been the necessities, individuals stored monitor of the dialog, the realtor and, like, all the homes we visited, type of like doing a professional con listing on them. And then when it acquired time for the transfer, I did an entire stock. So I numbered all of the packing containers. And then once I packed a field, I simply made, like, a 3 phrase or a 3 sentence, only a actually fast… What am I making an attempt to say? Three phrase, there we go. Three phrase description of what went within the field. And so then I used to be capable of after we moved, and it’s like, okay, we want no matter, the espresso grinder. I may truly search the desk and discover it. And I knew, okay, that is field 89 or no matter it was. And I’ve to say, I assumed I used to be over-engineering it and type of laughing at myself however I used to be having a lot enjoyable doing it, I did it anyway, and it completely paid off. Like, it was effectively definitely worth the effort I put in to have the ability to monitor down, you already know, no matter pot and pan and my spices come that first week after the transfer. So that’s form of, like, a sensible approach that you could possibly use an app like this to make your life simpler.

Katie: And one other factor we’ve talked about just a little bit, however I wanna ensure that we are saying explicitly is that as a result of Notion is an app, it has each desktop and cellphone interfaces after which, in fact, they sync. And in order that’s been actually useful to me as a result of, as an illustration, like a few of the issues we’ve talked about, like meal planning, I can pull that up once I’m on the retailer. I can work on these items once I’m at an appointment with the children or ready on the children in an exercise as a result of my cellphone is just about all the time with me. And so it’s tremendous handy that approach however then it’s straightforward additionally to work on a desktop once you’re establishing a few of these larger initiatives and greater issues. I’m curious, I imply, clearly, you’re most likely an influence person of Notion, however how a lot are you interacting with Notion throughout any regular day?

Sandra: It’s a great query. I’m out and in of it just about all day lengthy. I’ll say although, you already know, I nonetheless preserve a paper journal once I’m on the cellphone, oftentimes, as a result of I’m displaying someone else how one can use Notion. So we’re of their Notion setup. But I discover it useful for my mind to jot down some issues down. And then I’ve a course of on the finish of the week, the place I type of undergo that listing and guarantee that all the things’s in Notion the best way I would like it to be and that, you already know, I can preserve monitor of all of the little particulars and the nuances. So, I discover it to be a very fluid factor by way of, you already know, some days I’m in there, like, actually virtually all day. Now granted, I’m a Notion marketing consultant in order that is smart. But even on days once I’m engaged on different issues or serving to someone with an internet site or different enterprise methods, I’m nonetheless out and in just about all day. And I might say the opposite two issues I’ll throw out, I really like that you simply talked about the net, desktop, cellphone, and it really works on iPad rather well. In reality, they’ve made loads of enhancements within the final couple of months on the way it works on iPad. And so, it’s like virtually so many enhancements that I type of wanna get a model new iPad simply so I can use it. It’s nice to have the ability to see it in all these completely different codecs. And there’s a new factor on the brand new iOS working… You know, the most recent replace for iOS truly has this factor known as widgets, which if individuals haven’t seen them or checked them out but, they’re actually cool. They principally put little mini apps, if you’ll, proper in your cellphone display screen. And the Notion widget is tremendous useful as a result of it could take, like, the primary few issues in your favorites. So, like, my favorites, the pages are day by day, fast seize, and my at present web page plus just a few others. And I even have that widget proper on my cellphone in order that, you already know, if I’m within the kitchen, making a cup of tea between calls, and I consider one thing, I can pop it open and add it to my fast seize or no matter web page is smart actually simply and on the fly. So there’s plenty of, like, you already know, you’re not locked into solely being in your browser, solely be in your desktop, you may have plenty of choices and methods to entry it that may make life simpler.

Katie: Awesome. And you talked about at first, it is a troublesome factor to clarify fully, simply verbally as a result of it’s very a lot hands-on and visible as effectively. But I do know that is one thing that you simply do assist individuals with and you’ve got an internet site associated to. So, for individuals who need to perceive extra and who need to begin integrating this, I’ll guarantee that hyperlink is within the present notes however type of stroll us by the way you assist individuals with that and the sources you may have.

Sandra: Yeah, so for several types of purchasers are completely different. I actually would like to have a gaggle of mothers or dads simply households that wanna use it for homeschool or private stuff and all of that stuff. So what I’m gonna do is ready up just a little discussion board on my web site so if anyone’s curious about that type of factor, they will let me know after which we will determine it out within the new 12 months. And the opposite factor I’ll throw out, you will discover Twitter at notionnerd and Instagram @notionnerd additionally. So one of the best ways to seek out me is on sandrahalling com. And when you put in /wellnessmama, you land on a web page that may have some attention-grabbing info that’s, like, geared in the direction of serving to households. And I truly would like to have a workshop subsequent 12 months, particularly with that as a goal. So I’ll put in just a little factor that if that’s of curiosity to anyone, they will enroll and let me know. Main methods I work with individuals proper now could be by enterprise teaching and methods assist. And so, generally individuals are available and so they need simply Notion and so we’ll deep dive over 30 days to get each step up and rocking and rolling. And then generally what individuals want is extra of, like, a type of slower burn, if you’ll. So we do a 3 to 6 months method to dig into the completely different methods they’ve of their enterprise and streamline issues, join all of the dots. Like, simply this morning, I used to be serving to a shopper join their Google calendar with their iCloud, with their Macbook, with their cellphone, like, all these little doodads go collectively. And so Notion is form of like one piece of the puzzle for me, but it surely spine of the methods I arrange. So, once more, you will discover me on the net at sandrahalling.com or on Twitter or Instagram at notionnerd.

Katie: Perfect. I’ll ensure that these are linked right here. And one other query I like to ask on the finish. You talked about one already, but when there’s a guide or numerous books which have had a dramatic impression in your life, and if that’s the case what they’re and why?

Sandra: Yeah. So, I’ve to say that one of the crucial impactful books for me is “Getting Things Done,” which is form of a basic within the productiveness area. So, I discovered it most useful or most impactful within the sense that it taught me how one can group, and categorize, and course of info in a approach that I hadn’t seen earlier than. And it got here out once I was fairly younger in my profession, I believe I used to be about 20 or so. So it simply hit me on the proper second to create what we have now now, which is, you already know, database marketing consultant now for a few years. So, that was actually impactful. And clearly “Start Finishing” is type of a terrific device now. I believe “Getting Things Done” is form of a basic, but in addition it was written 20 years in the past. So there’s some components to it, the place our lives have simply modified a lot. And I believe “Start Finishing” does a greater job of addressing all the completely different avenues that our lives take and the way a lot info comes at us and simply form of managing the combo there. And then different books that, like, actually matter to me on a private degree have been, like, some Ram Dass books, “Paths to God.” And Eckert Tolle’s “A New Earth” was additionally actually impactful for me as a result of it simply gave me a distinct perspective on issues. And I like mixing these items. So it’s each taking a look at my life holistically, offers me a want to wanna arrange it extra. So that’s type of how these two issues tie collectively for me.

Katie: Great suggestions. I’ll ensure that these are linked within the present notes as effectively. I’m so glad I acquired to share extra about Notion at present as a result of like I mentioned, it’s a device that I discover actually invaluable. And I additionally one, I really feel like I’m not utilizing them as a lot as I could possibly be. And I’m excited to have discovered extra from you at present. And hopefully shared a brand new useful resource with most of the individuals listening that may simplify their lives. But thanks on your time at present and for all of the work you’re doing.

Sandra: Thank you a lot, Katie. It was loads of enjoyable.

Katie: And thanks guys, as all the time for listening, for sharing your most useful useful resource, your time with each of us at present. We’re so grateful that you simply did, and I hope that you’ll be a part of me once more on the following episode of “The Wellness Mama Podcast.”

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