- Notion
How to create a Notion habit tracker. Tips from experts.
- May 30, 2024
- By Chape
- Building habits, Creating a habit tracker in Notion, Digital organization, Expert tips, Expert tips on habit tracking, Habit tracker, Habit tracking in Notion, How to track habits in Notion, Notion habit tracker, Notion productivity tips, Notion templates for habit tracking, Notion tutorials, Productivity hacks, Productivity Tools
Creating a habit tracker in Notion that actually sticks and helps you achieve your goals can be a game changer in how you organize your life and track your progress. With the sheer adaptability of Notion, the possibilities are as vast as your creativity.
However, navigating these possibilities to create an effective habit tracker can be daunting. That’s where the insights of those who have mastered this tool come into play.
In this article, we’ve reached out to nine prolific Notion creators who have turned the art of habit tracking into a science. They’ve each carved out their own unique strategies and designs, shaping spaces that not only motivate but also sustain daily progress towards personal goals. I asked them four critical questions to uncover the core of their success, gathering a rich blend of advice and innovative tips.
These are the experts helping us out today, make sure to follow them, they constantly share valuable content!
The second button will take you to their Habit Trackers.
Shihab
Whether you’re a seasoned Notion user or just starting out, this compilation of expert advice will provide you with the inspiration and guidance needed to create a habit tracker that is both functional and enjoyable to use. Dive in to learn from the best, and begin crafting a habit-tracking system that truly enhances your daily routine and personal productivity.
1. What principles do you consider most important when designing a habit tracker in Notion?
Ian:
I wanted my habit tracker to stand out among all the many tracker templates out there. So before I started building my habit tracker, I had end goals in mind and these are driven by principles.
The first one is prioritizing simplicity and flexibility.
- The tracker should be easy to use and maintain in the long run. Minimize clicks and complexity. Aim for a straightforward flow that anyone can understand.
- Go beyond basic checkbox properties for habits. I found most habit trackers use database properties as habits. This is fine but using them causes limitations in customization and accuracy. Use database entries to achieve a wider range of properties. This allows you to add details like schedules, categories, and times of day, creating a personalized system.
The other one, boost motivation with psychology and metrics
- You’ll have to consider psychology and metrics when making a habit tracker. When building Forge, I call it more than a habit tracker but a habit and routine builder because it allows you to create challenges and target points for a specific habit and see streaks to keep you motivated.
Kevechino:
Ease of use, simplicity, and intuitive functionality.
As a college student, I’ve been through several types of habit trackers. Some worked for me, some didn’t. Some were unnecessarily complex and some were simple.
I found that the best ones are usually the simplest–people really just want a simply visual way to track their habits. As a Notion Creator, I prioritize function and design over complexity. Ease of use, simplicity, and intuitive functionality (it should be so simple your customers wouldn’t need a tutorial to use it.)
Hugo:
When designing a habit tracker in Notion, I prioritize simplicity, customization, and functionality. Simplicity ensures that the tracker is easy to use and understand at a glance, avoiding unnecessary complexity. Customization allows users to tailor the tracker to their specific needs, making it more relevant and effective. Functionality ensures that the tracker not only looks good but also works seamlessly, integrating well with other aspects of their workflow in Notion.
At the beginning, like every good beginner, my habit tracker looked more like a grocery list than anything else. But thanks to the templates shared by the community and the “Notioners” who share tutorials on YouTube, I have been able to create my habit tracker in my particular style.
Syed:
- Simplicity: Keep it simple for easy use.
- Allow customization to fit different habits.
- Ensure habits are easily visible for tracking progress.
Shihab:
I look for two key principles in a habit tracker: Habit Variety and Progress Tracking. This is because individuals need to track various types of habits, whether they are daily, weekly, or occur a certain number of times per week. Progress Tracking is also important as it visually displays our progress, which can boost performance.
Hansel:
- Simplicity: Ensure the tracker is easy to use and not cluttered. Simplicity encourages consistent usage.
- Customization: Design the tracker to be flexible so users can adjust it to fit their unique habits and preferences.
- Clarity: Important information and progress should be easily visible, promoting quick insights.
- Motivation: Include elements that motivate, such as streak counters, progress bars, and visual rewards.
Templater Guy:
Habits are usually actions we take every day and building a “Habit Tracker” is practically a system that can take into account our habits consistently over a long period.
The person who uses it must be able to see the compounding effect over time in a way that motivates them to use it more. That’s the whole point/principle of designing it.
Djokavex:
- Simplicity to configure for the customer.
- Easy to check habits done.
- Easy to have the current week’s information.
Braelyn:
For me, it is important to make the system easy to use, and non-threatening. What I mean by that is it’s important to me that the system doesn’t point out when you are failing, and is meant to be encouraging and friendly. I do this by utilizing a calendar view that only populates with the checkmarks if you use the “log new day” button. Otherwise, the template will leave the day blank. This ensures that during periods of low energy or depression, that your habit tracker isn’t constantly reminding you of things you aren’t doing.
2. Can you walk me through the key features of your habit tracker and why you chose to include them?
Ian:
- Streak counter: Streaks made easy with Notion’s Formula 2.0. The more consistent you are, the harder it is to break the streak. Each habit shows your current streak and your longest streak, motivating you to stay on track.
- “Missed Yesterday” view: This feature reminds you of activities you might have missed from the previous day, even if you completed the habit but forgot to record it. So if you’re one forgetful human or just chose not to open Notion on particular days, don’t worry, that wouldn’t be an issue with this template.
- Create a habit running indefinitely or create a challenge. When creating a habit, there are properties that will indicate that you are creating a challenge. The properties are: Target number of completion, target day of completion, Overall progress report.
- Actionable buttons for easy setup: Choose from quick buttons to create daily, weekday, or weekend habits – making habit creation a breeze.
- Powerful insights and reports: These are the heart of the template and what makes the system valuable. See key performance indicators (KPIs) for each habit, daily record, week, and month.
- Forge mobile express: it’s a mobile version of the template. It’s lightweight and used only for logging. Perfect for on-the-go users.
- Can be integrated into any personal dashboard. Copy the link of view of the template and paste it directly somewhere on your personal productivity dashboard.
- Automation. Everything is automated. The only action needed from you everyday is to do the habit and click the button to record.
- Daily, monthly, and habit completion reflection. There are prompt questions for you to help you keep track of your habits and days.
Kevechino:
My Gamified Habit Tracker utilizes gamification to encourage users to be consistent with their habits. Unlike most types of habit trackers, my design uses a simple dashboard of pre-set habit buttons. You simply tap the habits you’ve done for the day, and out comes a motivating visual feedback on the calendar that says “+500 EXP!” and so on.
The principle here is that feedback really motivates users, it is an aspect of gamification. When users can visually see their progress over a week, it really hones in on the whole “leveling up” inner child we have. It’s the same thing we experience when we play RPG games.
This is also a major function of Gamified Life OS, my more premium (but simple) habit tracker.
Hugo:
My personal habit tracker in Notion includes several key features designed to enhance both usability and functionality. Firstly, I have a daily view that allows me to quickly check off habits as I complete them. This helps in maintaining daily accountability. I also include progress bars and visual indicators that provide an overview of how consistently I’m meeting my goals over time. These features help in identifying patterns and areas for improvement.
Syed:
Basically, my habit tracker consists of a list of habits along with some features that describe their status. It also contains an overview of the process and lastly, a motivational quote that helps me in strive towards achieving that goal.
Shihab:
The key features of my habit tracker include reminders and note-taking. Users can set reminders to help them remember to complete their habits, and there is space to add notes. This allows users to note down any thoughts or ideas that come to mind.
Hansel:
- Daily Checklist: A simple checkbox system for each habit, providing a clear daily overview.
- Progress Bars: Visual representation of monthly progress to keep motivation high.
- Weekly and Monthly Views: Allows tracking of long-term trends and patterns.
- Notes Section: For reflections or adjustments to habits, encourage mindfulness and growth.
- Reminders and Alerts: To ensure habits aren’t forgotten, integrate with Notion’s notification system.
Templater Guy:
But, it’s divided into 3 sections based on the timeframe :
- Daily Habits – “List View”. It is included with a checkbox to mark the completion of a habit as soon as it gets done.
- Weekly Habits – “Timeline View”. A formula property is shown that shows the progress of the habit completion.
- Monthly Habits – “Calendar View”. It shows all the habits followed throughout the month as an overview of how consistently he/she followed their actions.
I believe these simple, yet important ideations form the basis of a good “Habit Tracker”.
Djokavex:
- First a classic view of the habits, with checkbox -> The user can easily mark the habits to done.
- Then a widget to see the weekly progress and another for the monthly progress.
- It was also important for me to add a journal because it’s a good habit to have. So users can add journal entries with a mood tracker
- Finally, I added goal tracking with weekly, monthly, and yearly goals because good habits lead to goal success.
Braelyn:
Using a calendar view for my habit tracker, allows people to be more flexible with the days they choose to log habits. I also created a small daily check-in widget that you can place on your home dashboard to log a new day and mark off habits. While also utilizing buttons on the main habit tracker page, making it even easier to mark off habits. This system is easy for beginners to use and also simple and efficient for experienced users as well.
3. What are your tips for making habit trackers visually appealing yet practical for everyday use?
Ian:
Focus on functionality first,
Before diving into aesthetics, experiment with different habit trackers (digital and analog) to discover what works for you. This helps you understand what features and layouts keep you engaged. After, map out the flow of your tracker. Sketch a flowchart or use notes to visualize how you’ll add habits, track progress, and review trends. Then after, it’s time to build the structure. Use Notion’s databases to create sections for habits, daily entries, and monthly summaries. This ensures your tracker is well-organized.
Now, enhance the look and feel,
1. Once you have the backend set up, link database views to your main dashboard. This will display your habit data in a user-friendly way.
- Present your habits in a visually appealing format. Consider using a gallery view with habit covers to add personality.
- Arrange your database views on the dashboard for easy navigation. Users should be able to find and interact with information quickly.
- Utilize Notion’s formulas, filters, and buttons to enhance your tracker’s functionality and visual appeal. For example, formulas can track streaks, filters can focus on specific habits, and buttons can trigger habit completion entries.
Kevechino:
Customer first. Forget coming up with the next big-complicated thing. Sometimes people need a simple solution that isn’t already there. You need to fill that gap instead of widening it.
Focus on visual feedback: they should see their progress and habits. Then intuitive functionality: the tracker should be so simple they could understand how to use it in 5 seconds. And finally, ease of use: they should be able to add, remove, edit, and customize the habits they want without any hassle at all.
Hugo:
My primary tip for making habit trackers both visually appealing and practical is to start by creating them with a focus on how they can improve not just your life, but also the lives of your family, friends, and community. Use clean and organized layouts to ensure that the tracker is easy to navigate and use daily. Incorporate colors and icons to visually distinguish between different habits and progress markers, but avoid clutter to maintain a clean aesthetic. Utilize Notion’s database features to categorize and filter habits, and make use of templates to streamline repetitive tasks. Finally, personalize your tracker to reflect your style and preferences, ensuring it remains engaging and motivating for everyday use.
Syed:
A clear layout and simple yet productive to use.
Shihab:
To create visually appealing and practical habit trackers for everyday use, consider different colors for different habits to make them more visually appealing. Use visual progress trackings like progress bars or checkmarks, providing customization options, and ensuring mobile-friendly design. These features can enhance usability and appeal, making habit trackers more effective tools for tracking and maintaining habits.
Hansel:
- Progress Bar: Implement the Progress Bar to track your habit streaks in Notion. Witness the power of consistency by seeing your habits grow over time. Motivate yourself to maintain those streaks and build lasting habits.
- Buttons: Simplify your habit tracking with interactive Buttons in Notion. Easily log completed habits or mark progress with a simple click. Streamline your habit-tracking process for a more efficient and enjoyable experience.
- Interactive Chart: Elevate your habit tracking with the Interactive Chart feature in Notion. Gain valuable insights into your habits’ trends, identify patterns, and set informed goals. Make data-driven decisions to optimize your routine and achieve your desired lifestyle.
- Database: Transform Notion into a centralized hub for your habits using the Database feature. Organize your habits, set reminders, and access historical data effortlessly. Enjoy a comprehensive view of your habits’ history and progression in one convenient location.
Templater Guy:
I love minimally designing my Habit Tracker, but using charts within your Habit Tracker will make it more visually appealing.
The practicality of the template is reflected by how good it is to show how the daily effort scales to months and even years.
Djokavex:
Visual widget to display current status, and the habit database in gallery mode with checkboxes.
Also, I created a mobile page with today’s habits checkboxes so you can easily mark habits done.
Braelyn:
I think having a habit tracker that uses images, emojis, colors, and icons to convey something calming and peaceful is helpful. My habit tracker has a sunrise/sunset theme that is calming and pleasant to look at. Anytime you are working with data that can cause you to feel overwhelmed easily (habit tracker) I choose to give it a theme that is calming. I find this helps me utilize it more if I enjoy looking at the data and tracker.
4. What advice would you give to someone looking to build their first habit tracker in Notion?
Ian:
Planning is Key:
Before diving into Notion, plan your habit tracker’s flow.
- Visualize your workflow. Sketch a flowchart or use simple notes to map out how you’ll use the tracker. This helps visualize how you’ll add habits, track daily progress, and review monthly trends.
- Organize your data. Identify the different types of information you want to track. Common categories include:
- Habits themselves (e.g., meditate, exercise)
- Daily entries (did you complete the habit today?)
- Monthly summaries (overall progress for the month)
Building Your Tracker:
Once you have a plan, it’s time to build in Notion:
Use Notion’s database feature to create separate sections for your habits, daily entries, and monthly summaries. Each database will hold specific information.
Think Long-Term. Don’t get caught up in creating an overly complex tracker. Focus on features you’ll consistently use in the long run. A simple and sustainable tracker is better than a feature-rich one you abandon later.
Kevechino:
Stand out. Please don’t copy, don’t steal. That happens a lot. You can refine, improve it, make it much better, and so on. But don’t outright copy other trackers. Try to make yours unique and solve a problem better. My Gamified Habit Tracker is really quite simple, heck, any Notion Creator could make it–but I chose to focus on unique problem-solving value.
Hugo:
When building your first habit tracker in Notion, my advice is to start simple. Don’t try to create something overly complicated at the beginning. The best approach is to keep it as straightforward as possible and gradually learn to create more complex features. Begin with a basic layout that includes your essential habits and a simple checkbox system. As you become more comfortable with Notion’s functionalities, you can start integrating more advanced features like progress bars, automatic date rollovers, and custom formulas. Remember, the goal is to create a habit tracker that you will actually use daily, so it should be user-friendly and not overwhelming. Take advantage of the vast resources available within the Notion community, including templates and tutorials, especially from Notioners who are YouTubers, to enhance your tracker as you go along.
Syed:
First and foremost advice is to start. Then experiment with what works best for you. Lastly, customize along the way.
Shihab:
Keep it simple. People appreciate simplicity. Don’t worry, just start. By starting, you can eventually create an awesome habit tracker.
Hansel:
My advice for someone making a habit tracker would be to make it simple and easy to use. It should be something we are used to. Give it to your customers take testimonials from them and find a problem about it. what features can you add on? Make a progress like that. Customize regularly and make it funky and much more fun-looking template so you can come there are check it more often so you can be serious about that looking at the data.
Templater Guy:
For starters, build for yourself and test it. If it’s your first Habit Tracker, Notion itself must be pretty new to you and this is the best time to go all in on the “experiment mode”.
At this point, don’t look for inspiration from other creators to build your template, since you’ll fix your mindset to that specific idea of building it.
Build 5 different versions of your own Habit Trackers, and share them with other creators to test how unique your templates are. You’ll eventually see success.
Djokavex:
Start with something very simple, when it works, add new features.
Braelyn:
Try out a bunch of different views until you find what you like! Notion is an amazing tool to use to create anything, and finding ways to make it special and function how you want is always fun. Remember there is no wrong or right way to set up a page, rather it is important to do what works best for you!
As we wrap up our exploration into the world of Notion habit trackers, it’s clear that the key to a successful system lies in its ability to be uniquely tailored to your personal needs and lifestyle. The insights shared by our Notion experts offer a treasure trove of strategies, from the minimalist to the complex, proving that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to productivity and habit formation.
I hope that the diverse array of tips and advice provided here inspires you to experiment with your own designs and find what truly works for you. Remember, the perfect habit tracker is not just about monitoring your habits—it’s about transforming your daily practices in ways that move you closer to your aspirations.
So take what you’ve learned, apply the creativity and insights from these seasoned Notion users, and start building a habit tracker that keeps you engaged, reflects your personal flair, and most importantly, supports your continuous growth. Here’s to making tracking less of a chore and more of a stepping stone to achieving your greatest goals!
