# Notion: My Complicated Love Affair with the Productivity App Darling
## Notion: From Newbie to… Still a Newbie?
Okay, so I jumped on the Notion bandwagon maybe a year ago? Everyone was raving about it. “It’s life-changing!” “It’s the only app you’ll ever need!” Honestly, I was skeptical. I’ve been through so many productivity apps at this point – Todoist, Asana, even tried going back to good old pen and paper (that lasted a week). I thought, “What could Notion *possibly* offer that’s so different?”
Well, the initial appeal was the customizability. It looked… pretty. You could build your own dashboards, track anything you wanted, embed anything you wanted. It felt like building my own little digital world. I spent, embarrassingly, an entire weekend just setting up my workspace. Color-coded everything, added fancy icons. I was *so* ready to be productive.
And then… crickets. The problem, I soon realized, wasn’t the app itself, it was me. I had created this elaborate system, but I didn’t actually *use* it. I kept forgetting to update things. I’d start projects in Notion and then, halfway through, switch back to Google Docs because it was just… easier. Ugh, what a mess!
## The Allure of the Template (and the Downside)
I’ll admit, the vast library of templates is what keeps pulling me back to Notion. Need a project management system? Boom, template. Want to track your reading list? Template. Want to plan your dream wedding (even though you’re single)? You guessed it, template.
But here’s the thing about templates: they’re designed for *someone else’s* workflow. I’ve tried so many, and I always end up tweaking them, customizing them, until they’re barely recognizable. And then… I abandon them. It’s a vicious cycle.
I think the problem is that I get so caught up in the *idea* of being organized, of having this perfectly structured digital life, that I forget to actually, you know, *do* the work. It’s like buying all the fancy gym equipment and then never actually using it. Anyone else feel that way?
## My Big Notion Blunder: Over-Complicating Everything
Okay, here’s a mildly embarrassing story. Last summer, I was planning a road trip with some friends. Naturally, I decided to use Notion to organize everything – itineraries, budgets, packing lists, restaurant recommendations, *everything*. I spent weeks meticulously creating this elaborate dashboard. I even embedded Google Maps links for each stop!
The trip came, and guess what? Nobody used it. My friends were perfectly happy just winging it, making spontaneous decisions, and relying on Google Maps directly on their phones. My meticulously crafted Notion dashboard? Completely ignored.
I was a little bummed, I won’t lie. I’d put so much effort into it. But then I realized… I was the only one who needed it. I used the darn thing. I knew which tire shop to find using my meticulously-researched and inputed list. But yeah, I kinda over-did it. The lesson? Simpler is often better. Maybe I should stick to a simple packing list next time.
## Is Notion Worth It? My (Uncertain) Verdict
So, after all this, do I think Notion is worth it? Honestly, I’m still not sure. It’s incredibly powerful, incredibly customizable, and incredibly… overwhelming.
The learning curve is steep. I’m constantly watching YouTube tutorials and reading blog posts just to figure out how to do basic things. And even then, I often find myself thinking, “There has to be an easier way.” I wonder how many hours I’ve spent trying to create the “perfect” Notion setup versus actually being productive.
Maybe the key is to stop trying to force it. To use it for just one or two specific tasks, instead of trying to make it my entire digital life. Like, just use it for tracking my freelance projects, and leave my personal stuff in a paper planner. Who even knows what’s next?
## The Future of My Notion Relationship (Maybe a Break?)
I haven’t given up on Notion completely. I still see the potential. But I think I need to approach it differently. Maybe I need to take a break. Maybe I need to simplify. Maybe I just need to accept that I’m never going to be a Notion power user.
I’m thinking of going back to basics for a while. A simple to-do list, a basic project tracker, and that’s it. No fancy dashboards, no color-coded icons, no embedded anything. Just the essentials.
If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into project management techniques generally, to better understand what features are helpful for you and what are just bells and whistles. I mean, Notion is just a tool. It’s not a magic wand. And sometimes, the simplest tools are the best. Right? I hope so.
