Notion is a versatile workspace app that allows you to create all kinds of documents, wikis, notes, and lists. One of the most popular uses of Notion is to create a to-do style task list to help you stay organized and productive.
In this article, I will walk you through the entire process of making and populating a to-do list in Notion from start to finish. As an experienced Notion user, I’ll share my tips, tricks, and best practices along the way.
Table of Contents
Getting Started
To follow along, you’ll need:
- A Notion account
- The desktop or mobile app
Once you have those, create a new blank Notion page. This will be the home base for your new task list.
Structuring Your List
Notion has a few different options when it comes to formatting a task list:
- Basic text lists – Simple bullet points
- Toggle lists – Collapsible bullet points
- Numbered lists – Sequential checklists
- Database tables – Custom views and sorting
For a robust task management system, I recommend using a database table. This gives you the most flexibility and features down the line.
To create one, type /table and select the Table option. You can now start adding tasks as rows.
Adding Task Properties
With your blank table created, it’s time to add properties – essentially columns that store metadata about each task.
Some useful properties include:
- Name – The task description
- Tags – Categories like “Personal” or “Work”
- Priority – Low, medium, high
- Due date – Self-explanatory
- Status – To-do, doing, done
To add a property, click the + icon at the top of the table. The more properties you add now, the more functionality your list will have.
Viewing and Filtering Tasks
One of Notion’s best features is its ability to filter database views. This lets you create customized perspectives of your task list.
To set up views, click the Filter icon next to your property column headers. You can now filter by any property like:
- Tasks due today
- High priority tasks
- Tasks tagged “Personal”
Save these filtered views to access them instantly later. Try making an “Overdue tasks” view to help you stay accountable!
Other Tips and Tricks
Here are some other tips for leveling up your Notion task list:
Keyboard shortcuts
Ctrl + Enter– Instantly check off a taskTab– Indent a task to make it a sub-task
Notifications
- Turn on notifications for due date reminders
- @Mention colleagues to assign tasks
Relationships
- Link tasks to projects and vice versa
- Create a master calendar from all task due dates
Templates
- Save your empty table as a template for instant duplication
- Share templates with others to collaborate
Integrations
- Connect to apps like Google Calendar, Slack, Trello and more
- Automate workflows by connecting tasks to other platforms
Conclusion
With a Notion database table, you can build an incredibly powerful and customizable task list suited to your exact needs. Take advantage of properties, views, and integrations to organize your life.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions! I’m always happy to help fellow Notion users with tips and advice.
