Behind the Scenes: Building a Notion Template That Actually Works
Most templates are designed to look good in screenshots. Here's how I build templates that survive real use.
When I started making Notion templates, I made the same mistake everyone does: I designed for the screenshot, not the workflow. Pretty cover images, complex formulas, and 20 linked databases. Then I tried using my own template for a real project and immediately hit friction.
The first thing I changed was the number of properties. I cut every property that wasn't used every single day. That removed about 40% of the clutter. Then I added template buttons for repetitive tasks — so you don't have to create a new page from scratch each time.
Next, I tested the template on a friend who isn't a Notion power user. She got confused by the views. So I simplified the sidebar to three views: Active, Upcoming, and Completed. That's it. More advanced views are hidden in a 'Power User' section.
Now every template I release goes through a one-week 'dogfooding' period where I use it for my actual work. If something annoys me, I fix it before launch. That's why these templates are minimal — because every element that remains has earned its place.