Some people have diaries. Some people have planners. I have Notion. And honestly? At this point, my whole life lives there. If Notion crashed tomorrow, I would probably forget what day it is, when my next test is, and maybe even who I am. (Kidding… mostly.)

First, What Even Is Notion?

If you don’t already know, Notion is like Google Docs, your Notes app, a planner, and Pinterest all had a baby. You can make pages, databases, to-do lists, calendars—you name it. Basically, it’s a digital brain. And considering my real brain is already stuffed with AP exams, DECA role plays, and song lyrics I didn’t mean to memorize, a second brain is essential.

My Daily Dashboard

Every time I open my laptop, the first tab I click is Notion. My daily dashboard is set up like a command center.

• To-Do List: What absolutely has to get done today (spoiler: I don’t always check every box).
• Calendar View: Deadlines, assignments, and meetings in one place, so I don’t forget that lab report due Friday.
• Quick Notes Section: For random ideas, like “look up the brain’s substantia nigra” or “buy coffee before cross country practice.”

It’s basically my home screen for real life.

School Stuff

Notion is also where I keep track of school—because juggling AP Chem, APUSH, and DECA deadlines in my head would be chaos. I have:

• Subject Pages: Each class gets its own page with unit notes, vocab, and links to resources.
• Assignment Tracker: A table with every assignment, its due date, and whether I’ve started, halfway done, or completely ignored it (oops).
• Study Plans: When it’s AP exam season, I’ll set up schedules and checklists right in Notion. Way less stressful than keeping fifty different sticky notes on my desk.

Extracurricular Brain Dump

Between NeuroClub, DECA, and volunteering, I’d actually combust without Notion. I have:

• Meeting agendas
• Brainstorm lists
• Competition prep timelines
• Even blog post ideas (yes, including this one)

It’s like carrying around a whiteboard in my pocket without being that kid who walks around with a whiteboard.

Personal Life, Too

And here’s the wild part: I don’t just use Notion for school. My “Life” page has:

• A journal section (because typing is faster than writing when I need to rant).
• A budget tracker (don’t laugh, it’s mostly just coffee expenses).
• A habit tracker (some days I crush it, some days I forget water is a thing).
• A bucket list (because planning future adventures is more fun than memorizing U.S. presidents in order).

Why It Works for Me

Notion works because it’s all in one place. I used to have five different apps: Google Calendar, Reminders, Notes, a planner, and random scraps of paper. Now it’s just Notion. I don’t waste time figuring out where I wrote something—it’s all there.

Plus, it’s customizable. If I want my dashboard to look like a minimalist productivity YouTuber’s, I can. If I want it to look like a chaotic rainbow mess? Also possible.

The Catch

Do I spend too much time customizing my pages instead of actually doing the work? Yes. Have I made three different versions of the same assignment tracker because the aesthetic wasn’t right? Also yes. But hey, it’s productive procrastination, and I’ll take that win.

Final Thoughts

Notion isn’t just an app—it’s my second brain. It keeps me on top of school, clubs, and life stuff, while also giving me a place to dump all the random chaos in my head. If my whole life “lives” anywhere, it’s there.

So if you’ve been thinking about trying Notion, take this as your sign. Just… be warned: once you start, you might never go back.