Notion Users bubble
Notion Users profile
Notion Users
Bubble
Skill
Notion Users are an international community of productivity enthusiasts who customize and optimize the Notion workspace platform, shari...Show more
General Q&A
This bubble centers on using the Notion app for productivity, organization, and creative knowledge management, where members exchange workflow ideas, templates, and troubleshooting support.
Community Q&A

Summary

Key Findings

Template Prestige

Identity Markers
Among Notioneers, sharing custom templates isn’t just helpful; it’s a status marker signaling creativity and mastery, influencing social standing inside the community.

Feature Debates

Polarization Factors
Notion Users engage in passionate debates over feature updates and integrations, where opinions often split between valuing functionality versus aesthetic workspace design.

Workflow Collaborations

Community Dynamics
Collaborative events like template contests and workspace showcases foster peer learning and elevate collective problem-solving through shared workflow innovations.

Second Brain Mindset

Insider Perspective
Insiders view Notion as a 'second brain', emphasizing holistic knowledge curation beyond task management, a perspective outsiders rarely appreciate about the app’s cultural role.
Sub Groups

Template Creators

Users who design and share custom Notion templates for various use cases.

Productivity Enthusiasts

Members focused on optimizing workflows and sharing productivity hacks using Notion.

Educators & Students

Sub-community leveraging Notion for academic organization and collaboration.

Business & Team Users

Groups using Notion for project management, team collaboration, and business operations.

Notion Ambassadors & Influencers

Power users who lead community events, create content, and advocate for Notion adoption.

Statistics and Demographics

Platform Distribution
1 / 3
Reddit
25%

Reddit hosts highly active Notion-specific subreddits where users share templates, workflows, and productivity tips.

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Discussion Forums
online
Discord
20%

Numerous dedicated Notion Discord servers facilitate real-time discussion, troubleshooting, and community collaboration.

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Discussion Forums
online
YouTube
15%

YouTube is a major hub for Notion tutorials, template showcases, and productivity content, fostering a large creator-viewer community.

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Content Sharing
online
Gender & Age Distribution
MaleFemale55%45%
13-1718-2425-3435-4445-5455-6465+5%30%40%15%7%2%1%
Ideological & Social Divides
Template TinkerersEnterprise IntegratorsSimple OrganizersWorldview (Traditional → Futuristic)Social Situation (Lower → Upper)
Community Development

Insider Knowledge

Terminology
Kanban BoardBoard View

While outsiders call it a Kanban board (a project management tool), insiders refer specifically to Notion's 'Board View' layout for databases to represent tasks visually.

DatabaseDatabase

Outsiders may vaguely understand the concept of databases, but insiders use 'databases' as powerful customizable tables or boards that drive dynamic content in Notion.

RemindersDue Dates and Notifications

While outsiders think of reminders as simple alerts, insiders integrate due dates with notifications and task statuses for workflow management.

Note Taking AppNotion

Casual observers refer to Notion simply as a note-taking app, but insiders recognize it as an all-in-one workspace platform for databases, task management, and documentation.

FoldersPages

Outsiders often think of organizing information with folders, but insiders understand Notion's building blocks as 'pages' that can contain various types of content and nested sub-pages.

CollaboratingSharing and Permissions

Outsiders think of collaborating vaguely, whereas insiders understand the importance of granular 'sharing and permissions' controls to manage access and editing rights.

ShortcutsSlash Commands

Outside users might refer to keyboard shortcuts broadly, but insiders specifically call the '/' commands that invoke blocks or actions 'slash commands'.

Offline NotesSynced Block

Casual observers think of offline note access, but insiders use 'Synced Blocks' to keep content consistent across multiple pages dynamically.

To-Do ListTasks

Casual users describe simple checklists as to-do lists, while insiders use 'tasks' which often have advanced properties like due dates, assignees, and status.

TemplatesTemplates

Both outsiders and insiders use 'templates,' but insiders specifically refer to shared customizable pages or workflows designed to optimize productivity.

Greeting Salutations
Example Conversation
Insider
Happy Noting!
Outsider
Huh? What do you mean by that?
Insider
It’s a cheerful way we wish each other productive and enjoyable time using Notion—like ‘keep up the good work!’
Outsider
Oh, that’s clever! I’ll have to remember it.
Cultural Context
A motivational greeting that doubles as an expression of community bonding around the Notion app.
Inside Jokes

"Just duplicate my template."

A frequent humorous refrain when answering questions, reflecting the community’s encouragement to start by copying and adapting existing workspaces instead of building from scratch.

"If it’s not relational, is it really Notion?"

A tongue-in-cheek comment on how relationships between databases are central to advanced Notion use and beloved by power users.
Facts & Sayings

Notioneer

A self-identifier for members of the Notion Users community, signaling belonging and expertise in using Notion.

Dashboard

A customized page within Notion that organizes important links, databases, or widgets for quick access and overview.

Relation

A database property that links entries in one database to entries in another, enabling dynamic cross-referencing.

Template swap

The act of sharing or exchanging custom-made Notion page templates within the community for inspiration or practical use.
Unwritten Rules

Always share your templates generously.

The community values openness and collaborative improvement, so sharing a useful template is seen as contributing back to the collective knowledge.

Credit original creators when sharing templates or ideas.

Acknowledging others’ work is important to maintain trust and respect within the community.

Use clean, minimalistic design in workspaces.

Aesthetic simplicity is favored, as overly cluttered pages can reduce clarity and usability, which is often a point of pride among Notioneers.

Test formulas and relations carefully before relying on them.

Because users build custom logic, double-checking ensures accuracy and prevents errors cascading throughout complex systems.
Fictional Portraits

Maya, 28

Content Creatorfemale

Maya is a digital freelancer who uses Notion to manage projects, client communications, and content calendars, often sharing her unique Notion templates with her audience.

EfficiencyCreativityCommunity sharing
Motivations
  • Streamlining her workflow to handle multiple clients efficiently
  • Building a personal brand as a productivity guru
  • Sharing and receiving creative Notion templates
Challenges
  • Finding templates that fit her freelance business model
  • Balancing customization with usability in her workspace
  • Keeping up with rapid updates and community trends
Platforms
Notion subredditInstagram productivity groupsDiscord servers dedicated to Notion
DatabasesRelationsRollupsWidgets

Liam, 36

Product Managermale

Liam integrates Notion into his team's workflow to track product sprints, roadmaps, and documentation, fostering collaboration and transparency in his tech company.

CollaborationClarityAdaptability
Motivations
  • Enhancing team communication and documentation
  • Standardizing project tracking across departments
  • Leveraging Notion’s flexibility to adapt workflows
Challenges
  • Training team members new to Notion
  • Avoiding workspace clutter from over-customization
  • Balancing feature use with team productivity
Platforms
SlackLinkedIn groupsCompany Notion workspace
Kanban boardsSprint retrospectivesTemplatesPermissions

Aya, 22

University Studentfemale

Aya uses Notion to organize her study schedules, notes, and extracurricular activities, and enjoys exploring creative templates made by the broader Notion community.

BalanceCreativitySelf-improvement
Motivations
  • Organizing academic life to reduce stress
  • Discovering creative and visually appealing templates
  • Connecting with peers for study tips
Challenges
  • Adapting templates made for professionals to student needs
  • Avoiding overwhelm by too many customization options
  • Balancing productivity tools with actual study focus
Platforms
Reddit study groupsInstagram study pagesUniversity Discord servers
TemplatesDatabasesTags

Insights & Background

Historical Timeline
Main Subjects
People

Ivan Zhao

Co-founder and CEO of Notion Labs; visionary behind the platform’s minimalist design and roadmap.
Founding FigurePlatform VisionDesign Philosophy

Marie Poulin

Notion educator and author of Notion Mastery course; popularized advanced dashboards and PKM workflows.
Masterclass HostDashboard GuruPKM Evangelist

Thomas Frank

YouTuber and productivity creator; produces widely-watched Notion tutorials and template walkthroughs.
Video EducatorTemplate CuratorProductivity Coach

August Bradley

Creator of the “Notion Life OS”; advocates end-to-end systems for life-management within Notion.
Systems ArchitectLife-OS PioneerWorkflow Strategist

Ali Abdaal

Productivity YouTuber who integrates Notion into study-and-business workflows; shares setup guides.
StudyfluencerWorkflow IntegratorYouTube Educator

Tiago Forte

Productivity theorist behind the PARA method; heavily referenced by Notion users for organization.
PARA OriginatorPKM TheoristSecond-Brain Pioneer
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First Steps & Resources

Get-Started Steps
Time to basics: 1-2 weeks
1

Create a Personal Notion Account

1-2 hoursBasic
Summary: Sign up for Notion and explore the interface by creating a free account.
Details: Begin by registering for a free Notion account, which is the essential gateway to the community. Spend time familiarizing yourself with the interface—create a new workspace, experiment with adding pages, and try out basic blocks like text, headings, and checklists. Many beginners feel overwhelmed by the flexibility of Notion, so start small: make a simple to-do list or daily journal. Avoid the temptation to dive into complex templates immediately. This step is crucial because hands-on exploration builds foundational comfort with the platform’s logic and structure. Evaluate your progress by being able to navigate the sidebar, create and edit pages, and use at least three different block types confidently.
2

Join Notion Community Spaces

2-3 hoursBasic
Summary: Register and participate in Notion-focused forums or social groups to observe discussions.
Details: Find and join online communities dedicated to Notion—these could be forums, subreddit groups, or social media communities. Spend time reading through popular threads, observing how users share templates, ask questions, and discuss workflows. Introduce yourself if the space encourages it, and note the etiquette and common topics. Beginners often hesitate to engage, but lurking and gradually participating helps you understand community norms and discover valuable resources. This step is important for connecting with other users, learning from real-world use cases, and staying updated on best practices. Progress is measured by your ability to follow discussions, recognize recurring community themes, and feel comfortable posting or commenting.
3

Duplicate and Customize a Template

2-4 hoursIntermediate
Summary: Find a popular Notion template, duplicate it, and adapt it to your own needs.
Details: Templates are a cornerstone of the Notion community. Search for a template that matches a personal need (e.g., task manager, habit tracker). Duplicate it to your workspace and experiment with customizing properties, layouts, and content. Beginners often struggle with understanding how templates are structured, so start with something simple and make incremental changes—rename sections, add your own data, and tweak the design. This hands-on process demystifies how advanced setups work and builds confidence in modifying existing systems. It’s a key step because it bridges passive learning and active creation. Success here means you can take a template and make it functionally your own, understanding the basics of databases and page linking.
Welcoming Practices

Welcome threads and weekly newbie calls in Discord servers.

These spaces help newcomers introduce themselves, ask beginner questions, and receive guided support to integrate into the community.
Beginner Mistakes

Copying complex templates without understanding the structure.

Start with simple templates and gradually learn about databases, relations, and formulas before using advanced setups.

Ignoring mobile app limitations when designing a workspace.

Test workspace designs on both desktop and mobile since some features or layouts don’t function identically on smaller devices.
Pathway to Credibility

Tap a pathway step to view details

Facts

Regional Differences
North America

North American users tend to emphasize productivity methodologies like GTD (Getting Things Done) integrated in their Notion workflows.

Europe

European Notion users often customize for language localization and compliance needs, reflecting diverse multilingual communities.

Misconceptions

Misconception #1

Notion is just a note-taking app.

Reality

While it supports note-taking, Notion is a versatile all-in-one workspace that combines notes, databases, task management, and collaboration features.

Misconception #2

Only tech-savvy people can use Notion effectively.

Reality

Although some advanced features require learning, Notion is designed with an accessible interface and a vibrant community providing beginner-friendly templates and tutorials.

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