Note-taking in Notion? | 5 Best Tips to Get You Started

Notion is a powerful tool for note-taking due to its versatility, easy-to-use design, and strong customization options. It offers a variety of note-taking methods, allowing you to choose the one that suits your needs best. You can easily create and duplicate templates for each note-taking method, streamlining your process.

Additionally, Notion has features that enhance note-taking, such as the ability to highlight text, comment on important sections, mention other note pages, add a table of contents, and even embed other resources. In this article, we will guide you through the five best tips to help you get started with taking notes in Notion.

Tip 1. Leverage the use of Different Note-Taking Methods

Different methods are effective for various types of information and learning styles, hence, being knowledgeable about multiple note-taking strategies can enhance your ability to retain and understand information.

Here are the top note-taking layouts you can use for your studies and your work!

Cornell Note Layout

The Cornell note-taking method is a popular note-taking approach developed at Cornell University in the 1950s. A Cornell note is a note-taking method that divides a note page into three sections: cues, notes, and summary.

The cues section is on the left-hand side of the page and includes main ideas or questions about the topic. The notes section occupies the right-hand side of the page and includes detailed notes on the topic. The summary section is at the bottom of the page and includes a topic summary. This method encourages active engagement with the material and facilitates review and study.

Source: The Organized Notebook, 2024

Review Note Layout

The next method we demonstrate is a review-style note method. This is particularly useful if you're preparing for exams, quizzes or just simply keeping track of your learning. The review note page contains the main topics followed by questions and answers. This method lets you see your notes in an easy-to-review format, perfect for later quizzing.

Source: The Organized Notebook, 2024

Lecture Note Layout

For those attending a lecture or studying alone through videos or seminars, a lecture note can be beneficial. With a layout for resources, summary and key points, questions and answers, a lecture note helps keep track of important information from a lecture. This method also includes a future action plan that encourages active application of your knowledge.

Source: The Organized Notebook, 2024

Charting Note Layout

The [charting note-taking method](https://sheridancollege.libguides.com/takingnotesmodule/taking-notes-in-class/charting-method#:~:text=The Charting Method is a,filled with summaries of information.) involves creating a chart from your notes. This approach is ideal for topics that can be compartmentalized or structured similarly. It involves categorizing your notes into different sections, which is most effective when the information has comparable characteristics that can be organized into a table.

For instance, the charting method works well for historical events. Each column of your chart could represent a specific historical event, while different categories such as significance, date, and involved parties could form the rows.

Source: The Organized Notebook, 2024

Outline Note Layout

The outline note-taking method is a simple yet effective way of structuring your notes. This is one of the most simple note-taking methods that you can use. The aim is to create an “outline” of what you have read or learned. The outline usually consists of various main topics and sub-topics. After setting a main topic, you can create several subtopics with supporting examples and further notes. You can create a hierarchy of information.

It’s also a good tip to separate your main topics, subtopics, and details by using different numbering or lettering systems. What’s great about this method is that you can take notes as you go. There is not as much pre-planning as in other methods.

Source: The Organized Notebook, 2024

Tip 2. Create a note template in Notion

One amazing tip that we recommend you try out is to create note templates in Notion. This will streamline your note-taking process by allowing you to choose the most appropriate template for each situation. For example, you can create a default meeting note template and use it whenever you have a team meeting or group meeting.

Source: The Organized Notebook, 2024

Tip 3. Use headings & table of contents to navigate notes

To effectively structure your notes, we highly recommend you use headings. In Notion, you can create different levels of headings (from H1 to H3) to organize your information hierarchically. Simply highlight the text and select the appropriate heading from the text formatting options.

1. Use H1 for Main Topics: These are the most important topics in your notes. They're the broadest categories and should represent the main points or subjects of your notes.
2. Use H2 for Subtopics: These are the topics that fall under your main headings. They're slightly less important than your H1 headings but still crucial to your notes.
3. Use H3 for Minor Details: These are the smallest divisions in your notes. They're less important than your H1 and H2 headings, but they're still pertinent to your understanding of the topic.

As you have multiple headings in your notes, a table of contents in Notion is the best tool to automatically generate a list of links to the headings on a page. It provides an overview of the page's content and lets you quickly navigate to different sections. The table of contents updates automatically as you add, remove, or change headings.

Tip 4. Highlight text and make comments to emphasize the key points

Highlighting text in Notion helps you to quickly identify and refer back to key points in your notes. It allows you to emphasize important information, making it stand out visually. This can be incredibly beneficial when you're reviewing your notes, as it allows you to quickly locate and remember crucial information.

In addition, making comments is another valuable feature for note-taking in Notion. You can add context, ask questions, or include additional information you don't want in the main body of your notes. Comments can also be used to collaborate with others, allowing you to discuss points directly within the notes. Both of these features can make your notes more effective and interactive, enhancing your note-taking experience in Notion.

Source: The Organized Notebook, 2024

Tip 5: Create a notes database for quick capture & review

Creating a notes database in Notion lets you quickly capture, store, and organize all your notes in one place. This makes it easier to review and find specific notes later on. Additionally, you can add tags or properties to your notes to categorize them based on different topics, projects, or classes. A database also allows you to create different views (like a table, list, or calendar view) to see your notes in the way that works best for you.

Excited to learn more about note-taking?

We've demonstrated how to create notes based on these methods. We strongly recommend you watch this tutorial for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on making the best out of your note-taking experience in Notion.

Ready to take your note-taking to the next level?

Check our Note-taking Bundle, which features a centralized space to store your notes and topics, as well as 15 different types of note-taking templates. Our bundle is also powered by AI features, which can help you generate note summaries automatically!