Ever feel like your to-do list is running the show instead of you?
Help is at hand. Notion, a popular tool for organizing everything in one place, has a calendar view feature many users rely on. This view lets users visualize pending activities and their deadlines in a calendar format.
Let’s walk you through the step-by-step process of how to add a calendar to Notion. We’ll then examine some of the tool’s limitations and demonstrate why an alternative might be a more powerful option for your scheduling needs.
Let’s get started! 🙌
How to Create a Calendar in Notion | ClickUp
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow to Create a Calendar in Notion
Creating a calendar in Notion is relatively straightforward, but it’s not always apparent if you’re new to the platform. Read on, and you’ll have your custom Notion calendar up and running in no time.
Step 1: Create a new page `
The first step in creating a Notion Calendar is opening one of your existing Notion pages or creating a new one.
If you’re starting from scratch, click the New Page button in your workspace. From here, you can name your calendar, add icons, insert a cover, and set rest of it up how you like.
Step 2: Set up your database
Once you’ve set up your Notion pages, you must create a database. Databases in Notion are versatile, serving as the backbone for many types of content organization.
To create a new one, follow these simple steps:
- On the new page, choose ‘Table’ from the content options (this will create a basic database)
- Add columns like Project Name, Due Date, Priority, or any other relevant fields
- Rename each column by clicking the column headers and selecting a property (e.g., text, person, etc.)
- Enter data into the rows of the table
Your database is now ready!
You can skip this step if you already have a database on any previously built Notion page.
With just one click, you can turn your existing database into a calendar layout. Let’s see how it works in the next step.
Step 3: Select the calendar view
Once you have your page and the database set up, it’s time to switch to the calendar view and leverage Notion as your work scheduling app. On the top-right of Notion’s page of your database, you’ll spot three dots.
Click on it, and a dropdown will open. From the available options, click on “Layout.” Select “Calendar” to switch from the ‘Table’ view only.
You now have a calendar view of all your entries. Notion automatically converts existing properties into this view, displaying all the scheduled tasks and entries in an easy-to-read calendar format.
Step 4: Customize your calendar
Now that you’ve set up your calendar, it’s time to make it work for you. In Notion, you can customize your calendar by adding various properties to each event.
For example, you can assign different properties to each entry, set priority level or status, and even link to other pages. You can also drag and drop tasks between days to adjust deadlines quickly.
One of Notion’s benefits is its flexibility. If you’re managing multiple projects or tasks, you can filter your calendar to display only the items you need to focus on, keeping things from overwhelming.
Step 5: Schedule items directly from the calendar
With your online calendar set up, you can continue to schedule and sync your project deliverables! Add events, deadlines, and more by clicking on a date in the calendar. Fill out the details, such as descriptions and collaborators.
Step 6: Adjust calendar settings
Don’t forget to fine-tune your calendar settings. For example, Notion allows you to select your start week on a specific day, choose your time zone, and display tasks in different views based on your preferences. Depending on your workflow, You can switch between daily, weekly, or monthly overviews.
Summarize this article for me pleaseLimitations of Using Notion to Create Calendars
While creating a calendar in Notion is useful, the platform has a few limitations that may hinder its effectiveness for larger teams or more complex workflows. Here are some common challenges you might face:
- Lack of native reminders: Requires integration with additional tools for notifications, making it inconvenient for users seeking an all-in-one solution
- Limited visual customization: Offers basic visuals with minimal options for color-coding or custom layouts, hindering the ability to visualize complex scheduling at a glance
- No in-depth way to configure dependencies: Lacks advanced project management features like task dependencies, making it difficult for teams managing large projects to track how delays may impact deliverables
- Information overload: Becomes cluttered and overwhelming for users managing multiple projects, reducing scalability for extensive workloads
- Limited time-tracking: Requires external integrations for effective time tracking, which may not meet the needs of users needing built-in time management functionality
These limitations can make Notion calendars less than ideal for users with complex scheduling needs or those who require seamless integration with other calendar systems. Fortunately, a more robust solution addresses these limitations and offers even more powerful features.
Also Read: 15 Best Notion Alternatives & Competitors
Summarize this article for me pleaseCreate Calendars With ClickUp
If you’re worried about hitting roadblocks when setting up complex projects and tasks on the Notion calendar, ClickUp comes to the rescue. As an all-in-one project management tool, ClickUp is the everything app for work that can substantially increase your productivity.
ClickUp’s Calendar View works like a charm; whether you’re organizing personal commitments, managing a team’s workload, or juggling multiple projects, ClickUp delivers a calendar experience that makes planning, scheduling, and tracking seamless.
Let’s see how ClickUp’s Calendar can make your life easier by offering more flexibility and power than you might have experienced with Notion.
Consolidated and smart Calendar View across all projects
Picture this: instead of hopping between multiple calendars or struggling to see how your deliverables fit together, you can view all your projects in one place. That’s exactly what ClickUp’s Calendar View allows you to do.
It’s not just a simple to-do list or event schedule. Within the same space, you can pull in events from multiple projects, visualize deadlines, and even schedule and manage meetings.
Need to shift a deadline or reprioritize a deliverable? No problem. The modular interface makes moving events around incredibly easy—far easier than manually adjusting entries in Notion Calendar.
In addition, ClickUp lets you leverage AI for calendar views. ClickUp Brain’s AI Project Manager gives instant and smart progress updates on the tasks in the Calendar View, so you don’t have to toggle to another screen to check on these.
As Mike Coombe, MCM Agency, puts it,
Want a more visually organized calendar? ClickUp lets you color-code Tasks, add Custom Fields, and adjust views to tailor the calendar to your needs.
This way, you can focus on what matters most without getting overwhelmed by information overload. Organizing projects or team efforts? Color-code by priority, team member, or project type to make your calendar as clear as possible
These features make ClickUp perfect for those managing multiple large-scale projects or team-based deliverables—something Notion Calendar simply can’t keep up with.
Seamless Google Calendar integration
One of the standout features that elevates ClickUp over Notion is its enhanced Google Calendar integration. With two-way syncing, any updates you make in ClickUp will automatically reflect in your calendar—and the reverse applies, too. This integration is a game-changer for those juggling both personal and work calendars.
You no longer need to worry about double-booking or missing a meeting because you forgot to sync between tools. It’s all done for you automatically. This is particularly useful for remote teams or those with flexible schedules who need to manage their time across different platforms.
Also Read: 20 Free Google Calendar Templates for 2024
Time management and tracking: beyond simple scheduling
ClickUp isn’t just a calendar tool; it’s a full-fledged time management system and productivity guide. Imagine you have a busy day filled with meetings, tasks, and deadlines. ClickUp not only helps you schedule these events but also allows you to track your time.
For freelancers, agencies, or anyone working on client-based projects, this is invaluable for billing clients or simply monitoring how you’re spending your work hours.
Even more, ClickUp’s reminders and notifications ensure you never miss a meeting or a critical deadline. You can set automated reminders for both individual tasks and entire projects, keeping you always on top of your work.
Calendar templates to boost productivity
We’ve all been there—staring at an empty calendar, wondering where to begin. Starting from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially when managing a busy schedule or complex projects.
Why waste time setting up a calendar from scratch when ClickUp has optimized, customizable templates for planning to get you started in just one click? Here’s a breakdown of two standout templates that can transform how you manage your time and tasks.
ClickUp Calendar Planner Template
When you’re juggling multiple projects, meetings, and deadlines, the ClickUp Calendar Planner Template is like having an organized assistant by your side. It’s not just a basic calendar—it’s a dynamic tool that allows you to manage everything from daily tasks to long-term goals, all in one place.
While the template offers a great structure right out of the box, the real power lies in its flexibility. You can adjust it based on your exact needs. For example, if you’re working on a product launch, you can add custom fields like launch phases, team assignments, and task dependencies. If you need a daily planner, simply reduce the complexity, and you’ve got an easy-to-manage personal tool.
ClickUp’s Calendar Planner Template allows you to switch between different views depending on your focus. Want to see everything happening this week? Use the weekly calendar view. Need a broader perspective? Switch to the monthly view.
If you’re managing multiple team projects, this template makes it easy to visualize each team member’s workload, ensuring tasks are evenly distributed and deadlines are met. You can even integrate ClickUp’s time-tracking features to monitor how much time is spent on each task within the Calendar View itself, making it a fantastic tool for optimizing productivity.
ClickUp Calendar To-Do List Template
Not every project requires complex planning, and that’s why the ClickUp Calendar To-Do List Template is invaluable. It’s designed for individuals or teams who need a streamlined way to keep track of daily tasks, errands, or small projects without the clutter.
This template is designed for users who need something simple yet effective. Whether you’re managing a daily checklist of personal errands or tracking tasks for a small project, the Calendar To-Do List Template gives you a clear, organized structure that helps you focus on what needs to be done.
Sometimes, you only need a list to keep track of your priorities. This template allows you to quickly set deadlines, assign priorities, and check off items as you go.
One unique feature of this template is the ability to set up recurring tasks. For example, suppose you need to follow up on a project every Monday or send a weekly report. In that case, this template can automatically populate those tasks, saving you from manually entering the same task every time.
Summarize this article for me pleaseChoose ClickUp for a Robust Calendar Experience
Both Notion and ClickUp are useful shared calendar apps. While the Notion Calendar is great for basic scheduling and task management, it may not provide the depth and flexibility many users need for more complex workflows. ClickUp, on the other hand, offers a more powerful, integrated solution that covers everything from project timelines to time tracking and custom workflows.
If you’re tired of juggling between tools or finding workarounds for Notion’s limitations, stay ahead with ClickUp. With its advanced features, seamless integrations, and flexible customization, ClickUp can help you stay organized and manage your time effectively.
Sign up for your free ClickUp account today! 🚀
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