Stop Getting Overwhelmed in Notion: 4 BS-Free Ways to Finally Get Your Digital Life Together

Let me guess: You downloaded Notion because someone said it would "change your life" and now you're staring at that blank white page like it's judging you.

Welcome to the freaking club. 🙌

If you're anything like me (or the thousands of clients I've coached through burnout), you've tried ALL the productivity tools. The planners. The apps. The systems. And yet somehow, you're still drowning in digital chaos, with your business backend held together by duct tape, late-night panic, and maybe a little witchcraft.

Here's the truth no one wants to tell you: Notion is powerful AF—but that's exactly why it feels so damn overwhelming at first.

In this article, I'll show you how to skip the blank-page paralysis and build a system that actually works for your overachieving brain. Because another half-baked productivity setup is the LAST thing you need right now.

Why Notion Feels Like Too Damn Much (But Isn't)

First, let's talk about why Notion makes so many high-achievers want to curl up in the fetal position:

• The blank page is terrifying. When you can "do anything," sometimes you end up doing nothing.

• The learning curve feels steep (spoiler alert: it's not as bad as it seems)

• Everyone's showing off those aesthetic AF dashboards while you're over here just trying to figure out how to make a to-do list

• You're paralyzed by the possibilities—should you use a database? A kanban? A calendar? A WHAT?!

Look, I get it. When I first opened Notion, I stared at it for a solid 20 minutes before I closed the tab and went back to my 17 Google Docs and color-coded spreadsheets. 🥴

But here's the reality check you need: That overwhelm isn't Notion's fault. It's a sign you've been making do with sub-par systems for too long.

So let's fix this. No more digital duct tape. No more "I'll figure it out later" BS. Here are four ways to get started in Notion without wanting to throw your computer out the window.

Tip #1: Use. The. Damn. Templates. (Seriously!)

The #1 mistake I see entrepreneurs, creatives, and corporate escapees make? Trying to build their Notion workspace from scratch.

Stop it. Right now. 🛑

Why reinvent the wheel when someone's already built you a Tesla? Notion has hundreds of built-in templates, and the creator community has thousands more.

• Where to find templates:

• 📌 Notion's template gallery (built right into the app)

• 📌 Creator websites like Thomas Frank, K Digital Studio, and Anna Lins

• 📌 The Notion community (Reddit, Twitter, Facebook groups)

• 📌 My Anti-Burnout Notion Planner (shameless plug because it's been tested with thousands of burnout-prone high-achievers)

Here's the thing about templates: they give you a starting point. They show you what's possible. They're like training wheels until you're ready to ride solo.

✨ Pro tip: Make sure your Notion is functional before it's pretty. I know those aesthetic dashboards are tempting, but they won't save you from burnout. Systems will.

Tip #2: Let YouTube Be Your Notion Professor

Y'all, Notion is DEEP. It's like the Mariana Trench of productivity tools. But that doesn't mean you need to learn it all at once.

Instead of trying to figure it out alone, let the people who've already done the work show you the way.

• My go-to Notion YouTube channels:

• 📌 Thomas Frank Explains (the king of clear, beginner-friendly tutorials)

• 📌 K Digital Studio (for beautiful and functional workspace ideas)

• 📌 Anna Lins (for creative approaches to Notion)

• 📌 Notion's official channel (yes, they have tutorials!)

Give yourself permission to be a beginner. Watch videos. Follow along. Pause and try things out. You don't have to learn everything overnight—Notion isn't going anywhere.

And the beautiful thing? Once you start, YouTube's algorithm will keep feeding you more Notion content. Before you know it, you'll be that annoying friend telling everyone how they "NEED to try Notion!"

Tip #3: Stick to the Damn Basics

Listen up: The secret to not getting overwhelmed in Notion is to START SMALL.

Forget fancy formulas and complicated databases for now. Focus on mastering these core features:

• Headers: Different sizes to structure and emphasize content (like I'm doing in this post)

• Lists: Bullets, numbers, to-dos, and toggles to organize your thoughts

• Basic Databases: Simple tables to organize tasks, notes, or projects

• Linked Databases: Filtering the same information in different views (this is where the magic happens!)

I promise—these basics will unlock 80% of what you need. You can get fancy later, but first, build a foundation that doesn't make you want to scream.

And for the love of all things holy, don't let internet strangers make you feel like you need to use every single feature. You don't.

Tip #4: Beware the Notion Vortex (AKA Planning Procrastination)

Here's something I've learned the hard way: Notion can become its own form of procrastination.

It's way too easy to spend hours tweaking your workspace, watching tutorials, and perfecting your dashboard—while never actually DOING the work you're organizing.

Let me be real with you: If you're a high-achiever (and let's be honest, you wouldn't be reading this if you weren't), planning itself can become a form of avoidance.

So how do you keep yourself from falling down the Notion rabbit hole?

• Strategy #1: Give yourself a dedicated "Notion Nerd" session. Maybe it's a weekend where you go HAM and get your basic setup done.

• Strategy #2: Use a timer. I use my 60-minute time cube to cap how long I spend "improving" my Notion workspace.

• Strategy #3: Remember that your Notion workspace is a living document. It's never "done." That's the point!

The goal isn't to have a perfect system. The goal is to have a system that helps you get shit done without burning out.

Let's Recap This Shit

To get started with Notion without the overwhelm:

1. Use templates instead of starting from scratch (because your time is valuable, dammit)

2. Watch YouTube tutorials to learn from others' mistakes (and save yourself the headache)

3. Stick to the basics until you're comfortable (headers, lists, databases, linked databases)

4. Set boundaries to avoid planning procrastination (because organizing your to-do list isn't the same as doing the work)

Remember: The most important thing is that your system is functional first. Pretty can come later. And "perfect" is never coming, so stop chasing it.

Ready to Create a Burnout-Proof Notion System?

If you're sick of digital tools that collect dust instead of changing your life, I've got you covered.

👉 Take my free Burnout Quiz to discover exactly what's causing your burnout and get personalized systems recommendations.

👉 Join Systems School to learn how to build a Notion workspace that works FOR you, not against you.

👉 Already know you need hands-on help? Check out Burnout-Proof Business where I'll help you build systems that actually stick.'

Because Notion isn't just another tool—it can be the home base for your burnout-proof business and life. But only if you use it right.

Now go create something that works for your beautiful, busy brain!