Since @NotionHQ made huge changes to the database functionality, I completely revamped my personal dashboard.
Here's how every nook and cranny helps me attain abso-fucking-lute productivity Nirvana 🧘♂️
At @optemization, we're a very action-driven organization. So when I open my dashboard, all I see above the fold is:
1. Current tasks
2. Pinned tasks
3. Navigation Toolbar
That's right, no cover photo, no page icon, no cute widgets. Just the stuff that I need to get done.
I use the term "above the fold" very intentionally.
When you're designing Notion pages, you're essentially creating landing pages for internal ops.
When we create Notion pages and workflows for clients, we borrow web design principles to optimize for engagement.
The next section is my Calendar. It shows the meetings that I have this week. With a quick glance, I see:
1. Purpose of the meeting
2. Date/time in EST
3. Internal attendees
4. External attendees
5. Designated notetaker
Inside each card, I have the meeting agenda and notes.
The next section is dedicated to my personal knowledge management. It creates windows into:
1. Threads that I'm writing (async communication method)
2. Decision that I need to make
3. Notes that I've edited in the past week
4. Notes that I pinned for reference
The penultimate section is where I keep track of the bigger pieces of our work -- projects. I see:
1. Active projects where I'm the owner
2. Projects that I want to pay attention to but I don't own
3. Projects that other people want me to pay attention to
Last but not least is the OKR section. Here I have:
1. My personal objectives
2. My personal key results
3. My organizational objectives
4. My organizational key results
For us, it's the weakest link. We haven't yet nailed the process but we're getting there.
As you can see I prefer to think about work "bottom-up"
1. What do I need to get done?
2. What meetings do I need to attend?
3. What do I need to communicate?
4. What do I need to note and remember?
5. How does fit into projects?
6. How does it help accomplish objectives?
It's a long page. To navigate I use:
1. The text toolbar to jump down
2. @NotionHQ new "press page title" feature to jump to top
Having used Notion for 4+ years I remember to KISS my workspace. Meaning "Keep It Simple Stupid." I do this by:
- Having at most two columns
- Naming databases and sections simply and clearly
- Using table views wherever I need to quickly edit content
One of the best parts of this setup is accessibility.
No matter where I am in our massively sprawling workspace, I can always jump back to my personal dashboard by pressing `cmd+1` because it's the top favorite page in my sidebar.
Another benefit is that anyone on the @optemization team can quickly see what I'm up to at any point in time. Beyond that, they can easily create stuff like assigning a task or booking a meeting.
This ability eliminates redundant communication and shorts feedback loops.
