TL;DR: Start with five free Notion templates—Daily Planner, Habit Tracker, Project Dashboard, Meal Planner, and Reading List—to replace scattered apps and paper notes. Duplicate each template into your workspace, then customize the properties and views to match your routines.
1. Daily Planner (Your Command Center)
Step 1: In Notion, click “+ New page” and name it “Daily Planner.” Type “/” and choose “Template button.” Name the button “Today.” Inside the button, add a checklist with time blocks (e.g., 9 AM – Deep Work, 1 PM – Emails). Step 2: Drag the button to the top of the page. Each morning, click it to create a fresh checklist. Tip: Add a “Priority” property (select: High/Medium/Low) to each task, then sort by that property in a table view.
If you want to dig deeper, check out our guide on EES Rollout Megathread: Key Dates & What to Expect.
2. Habit Tracker (Visual Streaks)
Step 1: Create a new page and type “/database” then “Table.” Add columns: Date (text), and one checkbox column per habit (e.g., “Read,” “Workout”). Step 2: Switch the view to “Gallery” by clicking “+ Add a view.” This shows each day as a card. Tip: Use a “Formula” column with if(prop("Read") and prop("Workout"), "🔥", "❌") to get a daily win emoji. Check off habits nightly to build streaks.
3. Project Dashboard (Work & Side Hustles)
Step 1: Create a new page, type “/” and select “Board.” Add columns: To Do, Doing, Done. Step 2: Click “+ New” in each column to add tasks. For each task, click it to open a page. Add a “Due Date” property (click “Add property” → Date) and a “Priority” select. Tip: Add a “Filter” on the board view to hide “Done” tasks after 5 PM, so you only see active work.
4. Meal Planner (Grocery Auto-List)
Step 1: Start a new page. Type “/” and create a “Calendar” view. Add a property called “Meal” (select: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner). Step 2: For each day, click on the date and type the meal name. Tip: Create a linked database (type “/linked view of database”) on the same page, then filter it to show only “Dinner” for the next 7 days. Copy those items into a simple checklist titled “Grocery List.”
5. Reading List (Capture & Review)
Step 1: New page → type “/” → “List” database. Add properties: Author (text), Status (select: Unread, Reading, Finished), Rating (select 1–5). Step 2: Add every book you want to read. Tip: Switch to “Board” view, group by “Status.” When you finish a book, drag it to “Finished” and add a one-sentence review in the page body. This turns Notion into your personal book journal.
FAQ
Q: Do I need the paid plan to use these templates?
A: No. All five templates work on the free personal plan—just duplicate pages and use basic database properties.
Q: Can I sync these templates across my phone and laptop?
A: Yes. Notion syncs automatically in real time once you’re logged into the same account. Just install the app on both devices.
Leave a Reply