The Notion setup that helped me crush the semester
the semester has ended and I’ll talk about some setups that worked best for me and will leave the bads for another post~
1. building an overall assignment database with different classes as relation were a life-saver; setting up this database has helped me navigate what pages I have under which classes, and I can get the view for overall and for the specific class!
2. using formula for displaying days left till the “due date” property gives me a countdown for how many days I have left to complete an assignment! As someone who constantly struggles with long to-do lists and don’t know what tasks needs to be prioritized, this is perfect! I didn’t need to rely on an extra count down app just for my assignments.
3. tracking volunteer time was made easy with inputting the start and end date, although I wish notion made it easier to calculate the hours but formulas worked well for me. It’s just nice that I can track everything in one system.
Building on the Notion tips I shared earlier, I wanted to dive a bit deeper into how these setups truly shine, especially when you're using Notion as your primary study planner across different devices, like on a MacBook Air or even a tablet. It's one thing to know what to set up, but understanding the nuances of where and how you interact with your Notion study planner app can make all the difference for a successful semester. For me, setting up my core Notion assignments database and complex formulas, like the 'days left' countdown, is best done on my MacBook Air. The larger screen real estate and physical keyboard make it incredibly efficient to build out relations between classes, define properties, and fine-tune those crucial formulas. As you might have seen in my screenshots, my MacBook Air displays a Notion 'Assignments' page where I can easily see everything at a glance. It’s perfect for those initial setup phases or when you’re deep into planning a new project. I love how the Notion desktop app lets me have multiple windows open, maybe one for research and another for my Notion database, making multitasking seamless. The precision you get when creating a detailed view of the Notion 'Assignments' database highlighting the 'Days left' formula is unmatched on a laptop. It's where the heavy lifting of organization happens. But what about when you're not at your desk? This is where Notion really shines as a versatile study planner app on a tablet. While I prefer my MacBook Air for the initial setup, my tablet becomes my go-to for reviewing and quick updates throughout the day. Imagine being in class or at the library, and you need to quickly check the due date for an assignment or mark something as complete. Pulling out my tablet, opening the Notion app, and seeing my 'Assignments' database with the 'Days left' counter is incredibly convenient. I don't need to carry my laptop everywhere just to stay on top of my schedule. It’s also fantastic for reviewing my volunteer hours – having a Notion page titled 'Volunteer hours' right there on my tablet means I can quickly input start and end times right after an event, ensuring my tracking is always up-to-date, no matter where I am. Using Notion as a comprehensive study planner app truly integrates all aspects of student life. It's not just about assignments; I also use it for note-taking, project management, and even keeping track of readings. The beauty is that whether I'm working on my MacBook Air or quickly checking things on my tablet, all my information syncs instantly. This cross-device functionality is what makes Notion indispensable for me. It means I can start planning on my laptop, add quick notes from my tablet during a lecture, and even check my progress on my phone – all within the same unified system. It's like having a personal assistant across all my devices, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks and helping me manage my studies and commitments like a pro. Seriously, if you're looking for an all-in-one digital solution to conquer your academic goals, exploring Notion as your study planner app on all your devices is a game-changer!