From the tranquil corridors of a Swedish university to the dynamic world of content creation, Tona’s journey into the realm of Notion was sparked by simple curiosity and a PhD student’s organized dashboard.

With a passion for simplifying complex tasks and a knack for gamifying productivity, Tona has crafted a series of innovative Notion templates that cater specifically to the needs of academics and content creators.

Dive into this insightful interview to discover how Tona uses Notion to revolutionize note-taking, research, and personal productivity.

Q: How did you first discover Notion, and what drew you to it?

A: I was supervising a PhD student and one day she was checking her milestones, goals and tasks. I asked what that thing was, and she said “It’s Notion, you must try and I will share my Ph.D. studies page”. It was love at first sight.

Q: What inspired you to create Notion templates specifically for academics and content creators?

A: I was scratching my own itches. I’m an academic, working at the University. I have many duties ranging from teaching to research and all the admin stuff you can imagine. Centralizing everything in Notion has been incredibly useful and increased my productivity. Thus, I thought, why not share this that might help others?

I’m also a creator, working on the side, and it was difficult to learn how to manage my content creation process. Using Notion and AI makes it possible to create content on the side every day. I’m sure these digital products can help other creators to stay consistent.

Q: Can you describe the development process for a new template?

A: I start by defining what I want the template to solve. For example, how to manage your knowledge system (essential for both academics and content creators). Then I brainstorm the databases and relations I need. I create them all and then I spend time creating icons, covers, and graphics. Only then do I create pages and arrange them in a main dashboard. I like to include buttons and database automations to make the template easy to use and navigate.

Q: What does a typical day in your life look like?

A: I wake up at 6:30 and prepare my daughter for school. During the spring/summer, I bike to the University (7 km). Wintertime in Sweden is quite hard and after falling on the ice more than once, I decided to stop trying to use my bike during winter. I work at the University full time (teaching and researching and admin tasks). Sometimes in the middle of the day, I work out or go for a run. Then back home, spend time with my family, cook, etc. I use part of the evening for my side projects. I don’t work on weekends unless something really urgent pops up. Otherwise, I spend quality time with my family and recharge.

Q: With the “Zettelkasten Nexus” and “Cornell Notes” templates, you emphasize advanced note-taking strategies. How do these methods enhance learning and research?

A: I’ve been taking notes for most of my life. While studied as undergrad, for my Ph.D., for my research, and now for learning how to create content. Connecting related notes makes the knowledge process possible. Ideas are not isolated, they normally converge into something bigger. Taking good notes changes how you approach learning. 

Q: What advice do you have for academics looking to streamline their research and note-taking processes?

A: Learn how to take notes. Use whatever fits you (Notion for me), and adopt a system. Cornell is great when studying, Zettelkasten uniquely connects ideas, etc. Automate things as much as possible. I like to have my Notes and references together. That’s why I created the Research Hub. Scattered things are more difficult to handle.

Q: What challenges have you faced in marketing your Notion templates to an academic audience?

A: We (academics) are hard to convince. We are in a sense very traditional and don’t adopt things immediately. And we don’t like to spend money on anything we can do ourselves!

Q: With the rise of AI in education, what potential do you see for integrating AI tools with Notion templates?

A: I’m sure AI will change education and research. I’m an early adopter and I see all the potential. AI can be a great tutor and can teach in different ways reaching students with different learning styles.

Q: What’s your favorite way to relax or destress?

A: I need music for everything and I like to go for a run while listening to music. And sometimes watching a movie. It depends on the day and my mood.

Q: Are there any upcoming templates or projects that you’re particularly excited about?

A: I have a huge template (almost done) to gamify the work, including other templates inside that are unlocked when you complete tasks and projects. Also, you unlock custom GPTs and AI prompts. I’m also working on a template to centralize the content creation. I have more ideas, but too little time!

From the lecture halls of academia to the cutting-edge intersection of AI and digital organization, Tona’s journey as a Notion creator is as inspiring as it is innovative.

Balancing a full-time academic career with a flourishing side hustle in Notion template design, Tona exemplifies the modern-day renaissance individual. Her templates not only streamline the chaotic lives of academics and creators but also bring a sense of fun and gamification to everyday tasks.

Whether it’s enhancing how we learn with advanced note-taking methods or pioneering the integration of AI into educational tools, Tona continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Stay tuned as she embarks on her next big project—sure to redefine productivity and creativity.