#productivity system

hey emily! ✧

omg hi again!! (the love poem chaos was iconic btw, never apologize for that) you truly are my biggest fan (and i'm yours <3)

✧・゜: my notion setup: organized chaos but make it cute :・゜✧:・゜✧

so you asked about my notion setup and i'm soo excited to share because i've gone through approximately 500 iterations before finding what actually works for me! and by "works" i mean i've stuck with it for more than 3 weeks which is honestly a personal record.

the thing with notion is that it's so customizable it can be overwhelming?? like, i spent more time watching "perfect aesthetic notion tour" videos than actually using the app for the first month. classic me behavior.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ getting started (without spiraling) ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

first things first - don't try to set up your entire life system at once! i made this mistake and abandoned notion for 2 months because it felt too overwhelming.

start with ONE area that's currently chaotic in your life. for me it was school assignments because i kept forgetting deadlines until 11pm the night before (and then panicking while eating peanut butter straight from the jar… not recommended).

my biggest tip is to not get caught up in making it pretty right away. i know that's like, counterintuitive coming from me, but functionality first, then we make it cute!

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ my actual setup ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

homepage: i have a super simple homepage with links to my main dashboards (school, blog, personal) and a little daily quote that changes. also a tiny photo of my cat judging me for motivation.

school dashboard: this is my most used section! i have a calendar view of assignments, a database of all my classes with linked notes, and reading tracker. the best part is the assignment database where i can filter by due date and subject.

blog dashboard: where i keep all my post ideas (like this one!), content calendar, and stats tracking. i also have a section for brands i want to work with someday (manifesting!).

personal dashboard: this has my habit tracker, journal prompts, and goals. i also keep recipes here because i was tired of screenshots getting lost in my camera roll.

reading nook: where i track books i've read/want to read with little ratings and notes. sometimes i write embarrassingly emotional reactions to plot twists that no one else will ever see.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ the actually helpful stuff ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

okay so beyond the basic setup, here are things that have made notion actually useful for me:

templates!! i have templates for everything - blog posts, class notes, weekly planning. it saves so much time not starting from scratch.

linked databases are literally magic. i can have the same information show up in different places filtered different ways. like my assignments appear on my homepage as "due this week" but in my school dashboard i can see everything.

embeds are underrated. i embed my spotify playlists, google calendar, and pinterest boards so everything's in one place.

toggle lists for anything lengthy. they keep things looking clean but you can expand when needed.

color coding that actually means something. i used to just pick pretty colors but now each color has a purpose (red = urgent, blue = school, pink = blog, etc).

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ making it pretty (because we still care) ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

once the functionality is working, THEN we make it cute:

i use a consistent color palette across all pages (mostly soft pinks, lavender, and sage green)

custom icons for each page (there are free packs online or you can use emojis)

cover images that are cohesive (i use pinterest)

font consistency! i stick with the same headings and text styles

little decorative dividers between sections (just search "aesthetic dividers" and you'll find tons)

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ my honest thoughts ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

the truth is my notion isn't instagram-perfect all the time. some sections get messy when life gets busy, and that's fine! the beauty of it is you can always clean it up later.

the pages i actually use daily are pretty simple. it's the ones i rarely visit that look the most aesthetic (because they're not battle-tested with real life, lol).

start simple, find what actually helps you, and then make it pretty enough that you want to use it. that's the real secret!

let me know if you want more specific details about any part of my setup! i could literally talk about this forever (as you can probably tell from this novel of a response).

sending you the most organized vibes! hope this helps!!

xoxo, mindy 🤍

p.s. sleep tight to you too! currently writing this at 1am because i have no concept of proper sleep schedules

So below the cut is the general framework I followed to gamify my life that's been working (for the most part).

I hope to have my own system with (some of) its details up in the next few days as an example.

Please let me know if y'all need any kinda clarification or have any questions about the system - I'd be happy to share more!

Ep. 017 Overcoming Your Own Productivity System | @apinaud @fwade @rsidneysmith

Ray starts out most productivity seminars with a fundamental definition of a productivity system: a dynamic set of skills, strategies and tools, that you adapt as your life circumstances change. And, as you’ll hear from Francis in this episode, you have the system that usually developed organically, not out of planning necessarily. So, in many ways, you need to overcome your own productivity…

Why smart people stay stuck—and the proven system to break free from overthinking, procrastination, and analysis paralysis.

Are You Thinking Too Much and Doing Too Little?

You have goals.

You have ideas.

You have plans.

You have notebooks full of strategies, saved videos, bookmarked articles, and productivity apps.

Yet somehow, the results never seem to match the effort you're putting in.

Instead of moving forward, you find yourself trapped in endless loops of thinking:

"What if this isn't the best decision?"

"Maybe I need more information first."

"I should wait until I'm fully ready."

"What if I fail?"

If this sounds familiar, you're not lazy.

You're probably an overthinker.

And overthinking is one of the most overlooked productivity killers in the modern world.

The Hidden Cost of Overthinking

Most productivity advice assumes that people struggle because they lack motivation or discipline.

But for overthinkers, the problem is different.

The real challenge isn't starting.

It's getting trapped between possibilities.

Research published by the American Psychological Association has repeatedly linked excessive rumination and overthinking with increased stress, anxiety, reduced decision-making quality, and lower overall performance.

The more options we analyze, the harder it becomes to act.

Instead of clarity, we create confusion.

Instead of momentum, we create mental exhaustion.

Instead of progress, we create procrastination disguised as preparation.

Why Traditional Productivity Systems Fail Overthinkers

Most productivity books teach:

Create a to-do list

Set goals

Manage your calendar

Wake up earlier

Use time blocking

While these strategies can be useful, they often fail to address the real issue:

The inability to take action despite knowing what to do.

Overthinkers rarely suffer from a lack of information.

They suffer from an overload of information.

That is exactly why conventional productivity advice often feels frustrating.

You don't need more information.

You need a better decision-making system.

Introducing The Overthinker's Productivity System

The Overthinker's Productivity System was created specifically for people who struggle with analysis paralysis, perfectionism, mental clutter, and constant second-guessing.

Instead of teaching generic productivity hacks, this practical guide provides a step-by-step framework designed to help overthinkers move from endless planning to consistent execution.

Inside the book, you'll discover how to:

✔ Break free from analysis paralysis

✔ Make faster and better decisions

✔ Eliminate procrastination caused by overthinking

✔ Build momentum even when motivation is low

✔ Reduce mental overwhelm and decision fatigue

✔ Create sustainable productivity habits

✔ Take action without burning out

This isn't about working harder.

It's about thinking less and executing more.

A Productivity System Designed for Real Life

One of the biggest strengths of this book is its practicality.

Rather than overwhelming readers with theory, it provides actionable frameworks, worksheets, exercises, checklists, and implementation tools that can be applied immediately.

Whether you're:

An entrepreneur building a business

A freelancer managing multiple clients

A student balancing studies and personal goals

A content creator trying to stay consistent

A professional seeking greater focus and productivity

The principles inside this system are designed to work in real-world situations.

The Shift From Perfection to Progress

One of the most transformative lessons in the book is understanding that perfection is often a form of fear.

Many overthinkers believe that more planning creates better outcomes.

In reality, excessive planning often delays learning.

Progress comes from action.

Feedback comes from action.

Growth comes from action.

The faster you can move from thinking to doing, the faster you can improve.

The Overthinker's Productivity System helps readers develop exactly that skill.

What Makes This Book Different?

Unlike many self-help and productivity books, this guide focuses specifically on the psychology behind overthinking.

It recognizes that highly intelligent, ambitious people often become trapped by their own minds.

Instead of fighting your brain, the book teaches you how to work with it.

The result is a practical productivity framework that feels sustainable, realistic, and effective.

Readers will learn how to replace:

Confusion with clarity

Hesitation with action

Anxiety with confidence

Procrastination with momentum

Overthinking with execution

Who Should Read This Book?

This book is ideal for anyone who:

Constantly overanalyzes decisions

Struggles with procrastination

Feels overwhelmed by too many choices

Has difficulty maintaining focus

Wants to improve productivity without burnout

Feels stuck despite having clear goals

If you've ever felt like your mind is working against you, this book was written for you.

Stop Waiting. Start Moving.

The biggest opportunities in life rarely belong to those who think the longest.

They belong to those who take action consistently.

The difference between where you are today and where you want to be is often a single decision:

The decision to stop overthinking and start executing.

The Overthinker's Productivity System gives you the tools, frameworks, and mindset shifts needed to make that transformation.

Because success doesn't come from perfect plans.

It comes from imperfect action taken consistently.

Ready to break free from overthinking and finally make progress?

Get your copy of The Overthinker's Productivity System and start turning thoughts into results today.

Top 3 priorities Block time Focus only

That’s it.

👉 Full guide here: https://smartlivingjournal.com/plan-your-week-in-30-seconds/?utm_source=tumblr&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=plan-your-week&utm_content=post

Unlock Mantra 9-6-3 to boost productivity with SMART goals. Focus on three key tasks & achieve success in just 9 months with a structured approach.

Discover Mantra 9-6-3 to enhance productivity by setting SMART goals and focusing on three major tasks. Learn how to achieve success in just 9 months.