Overcoming Overwhelm: A Personal Experience with Notion

As a productivity enthusiast and writer, I have been a big fan of Notion for quite some time. It's a versatile tool that allows you to organize your thoughts, projects, and life in a way that suits you. I have written about it in this newsletter and recommended it to many people. But in the last two months, I found myself using Notion less and less. Specifically, I stopped recording my ROI system and only recorded my tasks. At first, I felt guilty about it. I had created this system, and I felt like I was failing because I wasn't using it to its full potential.

However, I realized something important – it's okay to take a step back when we're feeling overwhelmed. It's okay to not use all the technology and systems we've created for ourselves, especially if they're causing us more stress than they're worth. Sometimes, we need to rebalance ourselves and take a break.

Overwhelm can take many forms. It can be the result of having too much on your plate, dealing with unexpected events or changes, or simply feeling burned out. It's a feeling that most people experience at some point in their lives, and it can be challenging to overcome. For me, overwhelm was a combination of feeling like I had too much to do and not having the energy or motivation to do it.

I started using Notion to keep track of my tasks, goals, and projects. I created a system that was comprehensive, detailed, and highly effective. However, as my workload increased, I found myself struggling to keep up with my Notion system. It required a lot of time and energy to maintain, and I found myself falling behind. This created a sense of guilt and shame, and I began to feel like a failure.

Eventually, I decided to take a step back and re-evaluate my priorities. I realized that I needed to focus on what was truly important and let go of some other tasks and responsibilities that were weighing me down. I also recognized that I needed to give myself permission to take a break and recharge my batteries. So, I stopped using my Notion ROI system for a while and only focused on recording my tasks. This allowed me to simplify my workflow and reduce my stress levels.

Taking a break from my Notion system was a simple solution, but it made a big difference. I was able to take some pressure off myself and focus on the things that truly mattered. It also gave me the space and time I needed to recharge and come back to my work with renewed energy and motivation.

So, what did I learn from this experience? I learned that it's okay to take a step back when we're feeling overwhelmed. We don't have to do everything all the time, and we don't have to do everything perfectly. It's important to prioritize what's important and focus on that. It's also essential to take care of ourselves and our mental health first and foremost.

Notion is a powerful tool that can help you stay organized and productive, but it's not a magic bullet. Sometimes, we need to take a break from our systems and find other ways to manage our overwhelm. This might mean simplifying our workflows, delegating tasks, or just taking some time off to recharge. Whatever works for you, remember that it's okay to step back and take care of yourself.

In conclusion, overwhelm is a challenging feeling to overcome, but it's not impossible. By recognizing our limits, prioritizing what's significant, and taking care of ourselves, we can manage our overwhelm and come out stronger on the other side. So, if you're feeling overwhelmed right now, remember that you're not alone. Take a step back, focus on what truly matters, and give yourself permission to take a break if needed. And if that means not using all the technology and systems you've created for a while, that's okay too. The important thing is to take care of yourself and your mental health.

Thank you for reading my personal experience with Notion and overwhelm. I hope this post has been helpful to you. I will be back with more advice when I feel ready to share it. In the meantime, take care of yourself and stay well.