Plan your year in Notion

[@Notion]

Thank you for putting together this fantastic tutorial Marie!

[@CliffordFajardo]

Brief notes for myself & other viewers, here are some of the fields Marie used in the following databases: "Start big picture and work your way down to the micro" - @6:24 -- Goals DB [↗ Outcomes , ↗ Next Actions (AKA tasks), Progress (rollup calculation)] - @10:40 -- Outcomes DB [↗ Goals, ↗Quarter, ↗ Tasks, Status] - @13:30 -- Quarters DB [Date, ↗ Goals, ↗ Outcomes] - @14:51 -- Tasks DB [Date, ↗ Goals, ↗ Projects, ↗ Weekly] I really love the goals kanban view @ 13:14 😍 Just goes to show how powerful our own data can be when viewed from different perspective.

[@mannynunez1481]

Wow, this is amazing. I'm completely new to Notion and stupified by what it seems to do. Clicking through the templates I started to formulate a master plan. I imagined it would take me weeks to understand relational databases, then create templates, but I think this generous Christmas gift will save me weeks!!! I'm subscribed to your channel and will be pouring over them to kick off the new year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@theebolaqueen]

Thank you for all your work helping the rest of us understand this tool. You’re a rockstar!

[@MariePoulin]

🥰

[@dgdev69]

you made a video that's been searching for a week .thank god I found it. actually, I saw some notion videos in keeping productive but don't know where to start then that results in searching and procrastination for planning for 2020 , and finally, in the last four hours of 2019 I got to see your video .i thank you so much for sharing a template.

[@marioschirtou2302]

Wow! You've really excelled yourself with this video and template. Thank you so much for providing such a valuable resource.

[@MsConnectGlobal]

This is an absolutely wonderful, very well thought out, great manifesting template. Thank you for creating this for yourself which is helping so many others, especially myself.

[@joebolton3925]

It would be great to see a video reflection on how this template aligned with your year and also improvements upon it for the up and coming year!

[@geekazoid]

Thanks so much for getting these videos out before end of the year. What a timely and helpful video!

[@justnealpatel]

This makes me so excited for when the public API releases; imagine creating all of the weeks with the proper dates, years, journals, and quarters attached to them with a single click.

[@SusannahConway]

How lovely to find a shout out here - thank you, Marie! Glad you enjoy the workbook ❤️

[@benjaminrigsby1606]

I'm a long term Todoist user, but your video has me thinking about switching to Notion for tasks (I already use it for many other things). Thanks for the great video!

[@write2pp]

Thanks a ton for integrating and sharing all this.

[@RyanCloverOwens]

I love this Marie - especially how the relational data helps me identify which projects are helping me toward my goals, and vice versa. When you're managing clients, and the goals they have, do you have a separate goals database for them, or all the same database but with filters each time? I'm wrestling with questions like this, but also appreciate how easy it is to simply change the system. Most other tools require an incredible amount of work to switch things around, but with Notion I can just iterate.

[@MariePoulin]

I don't do goals databases for my clients - i feel like its overkill for most people in terms of collaborating with them on a project. They can set up their own goals and I always share my templates with my clients if its helpful for them, but mostly if I'm working with a client it's fairly project specific, and I would keep their goals as Text at the top of our project overview page :)

[@insh8pgailteixeira949]

Your video recommendation for "Unravel" is still relevant in 2021 - Thank you for this Notion video...

[@yodonomi]

I am in love with your way of organising! Thanks for sharing

[@aniketvp]

Hello Marie, love the video. The description says the template is 'pay what you want', but the link points to a paid template (which I'm aware is totally worth it). Just wanted to clarify.

[@imrannazir6931]

Thank you for creating these videos Marie. You are a 🌟

[@d6h597]

Thank you so much Marie for all your work. it is so awesome. I really appreciate this!

[@nikkibrocklehurst7335]

Really great video Marie - your pace is perfect. Thanks

[@Gemini5AU]

Thanks Marie, Coming from a database background, I have linked 6 databases keeping track of goals, projects and tasks in Notion since August. Unfortunately did not quite get to the point where I can collate and review a great deal from 2019. This video has given me some good insight into what I can use to plan my 2020. :)

[@myo3939]

That's the fabulous way of planning our years. Definitely will purchase your template.

[@myo3939]

I've bought it. If you have a list of other useful templates, please do let me know. Thanks millions for sharing your approach and template!

[@evxc]

Thanks, Marie, I am so excited and grateful for your work!! The only thing that I keep lost track of is the differences of Goals, outcomes, and tasks. You did explain in the video, but from time to time I just mix them up.

[@MariePoulin]

Weijun Yang goals are the biggest, almost like a big “dream achievement”, outcomes are specific measurable results (you can measure whether or not they were achieved), and tasks are the smallest unit of activity that are required to make the outcomes happen. Does that make sense? You’re basically zooming in - goals > outcomes > tasks. outcomes may require a project or two to complete - projects support outcomes. For example, one of my goals is to become a competent investor. An outcome is to have an investment budget and criteria laid out. My project is called “rule #1 investing”. It is related to my goals and outcomes databases, as well as to my tasks. I may have a task that is “finish reading X book”, “fill out spreadsheet for the 5 companies”, etc. the simplest way is the think of them as levels and scope, highest level zoomed out to lowest level zoomed in. Does that help..?

[@evxc]

@@MariePoulin It does! Thanks for the in-depth explanation and examples you showed.

[@BradleyWhiteRPh]

This is amazing. I am just learning notion and I am finding my way (slowly) on how to connect databases. But to see a plan for day/week/year/ with goals and such amazing interconnectedness is amazing!! Thank you so much!

[@vanessavanhest9043]

The content you bring is very inspirational and useful, thank you so much! I have been looking for a connected system for years. Notion and your set-ups may well be the end of my perpetual search! Excited for watching your other videos and any new content.

[@freestylefrenzy1]

Thank you I just downloaded your template. Will give it a try! Happy new year

[@kreetyk]

This video was every notion nerd's dream.

[@daniel1130]

Absolutly...i'm addicted ! i 've waisted so many time and data before i discover Notion... i was trying to do this in evernote without succes of course.

[@PhilippaRichard]

Love your videos, always clear and helpful. p.s. really love your hair in this one.

[@thiagodambttr1895]

Thanks for the awesome content you shared! It changed my life! Thanks a lot Marie ❤️

[@mohsinarif2802]

Wow, I've just come across your channel. Your content is amazing!

[@wilfriedDIY]

this video is gold✨thank you so much

[@KristaNCBarril]

I love your videos! They're so informative. How do you make sure all your databases are linked up? I'd also be interested in how you created this template for from scratch. I'm so fascinated with Notion and all it's capabilities of seriously being this huge all in one system for everything in one place.

[@labulabuland]

1:07 Manifest😊 📌VISION 6:18 🔸1). 2:13 Review last year by Suzanna conway 🔸2). Brain dump this year. 1-3 jam. 4:12 🔸3). Declaration 5:22 📌Outcome (KR) vs Goals 7:42 🔸SS 11:50 📌Project 12:12 📌Area (select) SS 13:13 📌MILESTONES 13:27 📌Win the week 16:56 🔸Weekly review = Effectiveness, Low & chalanges, win & celebration (select success plan not relation) 17:30. 🔸Monthly review.

[@josephnewton4170]

Thanks for the effort you put into this. Purchased!

[@stvvjbs]

Love the makeup you're wearing today, it's beautiful:)

[@christinepopovich992]

wow!! this is AWESOME. YOU are awesome!!!

[@MariePoulin]

Thanks Christine! You might also enjoy the office hours we did! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3XOp3yonpVpd7M

[@christinepopovich992]

@@MariePoulin I've been doing a huge deep dive across all your platforms. I am enthralled. I've purchased the Notion Yearly planning template on Gumroad and currently working on my personal vision statement. So curious to know if you'll be making any more templates available?

[@ninarap2]

Love this and your videos in general! I've purchased the template and used it happily for my 2020 planning, but now I'm struggling to build the infrastructure for the new year. Would be great to see an explanation on how to manage this (for example, do you end up having a 2020 Q1, Q2... as well as 2021 quarter entities or do you replace the content so that it's always relevant to the the current year and maybe save a copy as backup?) any help from fellow followers would be much appreciated as well!

[@trixiewixieo]

Thank you so much!! This is so helpful 💕

[@clarisajoy9136]

Did she share this template? I've been binge watching her videos. And I kind of resonate with her. I wanna plan my next year using this template of her.

[@VV-jw3rm]

AMAZING!!!! Thank you. More please :D

[@sirEdelas]

Thank you so much fo this. very helpful.

[@tamasratkaihu]

Hi Marie! 👋 First off thank you for this glorious and huge thing that you have built and shared with us. 🙏 I got a bit confused and I really hope you can point me in the right direction. I was consuming your content as well as read Tiago Forte's PARA Method. Please help me if I got it wrong but in your previous videos (when you introduced the PARA method) the Areas purpose was to create a huge bucket for projects. Tiago in his article sad that Areas don't have a deadline at all - An area of responsibility is “a sphere of activity with a standard to be maintained over time.” Based on this video and checking your Template I see that your Goals indeed have a deadline related connection. For example - Q3 Launch Online Course. I read in your comments that you were sad that Goals are on top of Areas, as you sad "Goals are the highest level thing". And this gave me the confusion. So basically you dropped the Areas and moved to have Goals instead? Or you still have Areas somewhere? 🧐 Thank you in advance, and I hope this made sense. 😂

[@MariePoulin]

Goals are the biggest thing in terms of unit of time, not in terms of organizing data necessarily... Goals are an "area" of my business (its a page that lives inside Areas). Areas are really just groupings of responsibilities of my life and business, not just projects. What i said goals live at the top of my area, I literally mean, the page/link at the top of the Areas page. I hope that helps clarify?

[@tamasratkaihu]

Thank you @@MariePoulin ! I think I got it. Also as I watched this video again I also saw that in the Goals Kanban view, you have set "Areas" as Personal, Health, Business, Career, etc... At first, I wanted to create something that is based on the PARA Method, but as I watched more of your videos and added this template I have changed my mind and wanted to create something bigger. 😂 It might be that I just should start in small. 😅

[@reiko551]

Thanks a lot Marie for this video! I love this planner! I find it a bit difficult to grasp what is the difference between Outcomes and Projects because both of them might have well-defied series of tasks with a deadline. For example my GOAL is - "Become ML/AI Specialist" so I believe the possible Outcome ("how I will get there") take a "Deep learning Specialization" on Coursera, which consist of several modules so I would label them as Tasks. In this case taking this course is a Outcome or a Project? I am trying to think within the PARA framework.

[@emdwyer7331]

A great setup I've based my own database schema on. I've watched several of your videos now, and I'm still a little confused about Task dates. I notice Tasks have a Date column (Due Date?), and a Day column. In other videos, Day seems to be a multi-select of Mon-Fri for grouping on the weekly agenda within a kanban view. In this video, Day seems to be used for Today, Tomorrow, Later, etc. Are you able to explain how, once you've logged a task you firstly assign it a deadline within a week (to get visibility when you're planning our your week), then on a more granular level, assign the task to a specific day within the week? Do you usually set the Due Date for the task to the last working day within the week, then the Day column / grouping provides the flexibility to move the task around within the week? The problem is, in this video, Day isn't a multi-select on Mon-Fri, but for Today, Tomorrow, Later, etc -- so the setup seems different to other videos

[@JudithDeurvorst]

I would like that question asked as well. I just bought the template, and I got lost there.

[@matheusbrittofreitas]

Hey Marie, how are you? always a rock star on Notion. anyway, I have a couple question about formulas, I don't know if you use already those, I'm talking about, log(either 2 or 10) and pow, but my question is about lag, I'm doing a table that uses the log2 in one row, and pow2 in another row, fed by a relation to another table, but when I start to assign all the tables, my page/database start to freeze-up, sometimes takes more than 5 minutes to be back to normal. Did you experience some lag like this already, either using formulas or not?

[@MariePoulin]

I have not experienced a lag! I have noticed an occasional lag after Notion does a big update, but generally speaking have not experienced any freezing... might be worth reaching out to support?

[@matheusbrittofreitas]

Marie Poulin Kinda did, but they think that might be a database “system” reason, like their database, anyway, thanks for your time to reply to me, appreciated. And thanks for the notion content, from beginner to advance, you're always my go-to KZbinr to figure out something or get some inspiration.

[@pulkitagrawalCFA]

Thanks Marie. Your video was inspirational. I'm wondering if there is a way to tie this with PARA? The tasks could be outcomes and projects could be Goals. But the devil lies in details.

[@DandA604]

It’s no longer ‘pay what you want’ in your link to this template. It’s $30.00 👍🏼

[@hannorodger8072]

Hey Marie, such a great resource you have build there! How long does it take for you daily to work through your planning and reviewing your day in notion. I like to plan and review my work, but sometimes the planning is holding me back from the actual execution. Do you know this challenge and if yes, how did you overcome it?

[@hannorodger8072]

I can also recommend these guys for asking well prepared questions: yearcompass.com

[@ciaranryan7841]

Thanks for making this video Marie, it is really helpful. I also thought your PARA video was particularly great, and I have started to implement both. I am unsure though as to how goals and outcomes differ from projects. Maybe it depends on personal use case, but what would you say are the benefits of having goals as well as outcomes as well as projects? Do the benefits outweigh the cost/effort of maintaining all 3 databases? (I am very new to notion so maybe I have a bit to learn, but when trying to think of my own projects/goals/outcomes they seem to be much the same thing, with the goal/outcome just being the end result of the project, so that I would end up with extra databases that I would need to manage which creates more work...)

[@MariePoulin]

Ciaran Ryan great question - might be best to clarify in a video, but basically: Goals are the highest level thing. They’re like the big dreams. Outcomes are the measurable pieces that contribute to a Goals completion. Projects also have outcomes, which may also contribute to the completion of a goal, but not always. generally speaking, a project is anything that is made up of more than a handful of actions. It’s a Grouping of tasks that have measurable outcomes and support a greater goal. it’s basically going from the most zoomed out (big goal) to most zoomed in (task). you certainly could combine the goals and outcomes databases and use views to show them differently. I like the separation because it forces me to get specific and turn things into action. Like a Goal is unlikely to happen if I don’t create projects to support its outcomes. Not sure if that’s clear as mud? Haha

[@keenanburkepitts]

Happy New Year Marie! Is there an ETA when your Notion Mastery course will be available to the public this month? I'm new to Notion and migrating my life from Workflowy, Evernote, & GDrive. It's quite daunting but I've found your videos super helpful to digest use cases and best practices when using Notion. However, I still have some outstanding questions/confusion that I'm hoping you might cover/clarify in the course (IE, sprints, relating multiple databases & tags, etc). Thanks!

[@MariePoulin]

Keenan Burke-Pitts hey! I’ve been making it quietly available to anyone who asks via email, so if you really want to get your hands on it send me an email and I can send you the link :)

[@keenanburkepitts]

Great! Ty!!

[@Absimilard]

Great Video! I have a question about some resources. You names a few people from whom you drew questions (for your forecast e.g.) - can you list their sites or where to find those questions? Thank you again for your great and inspiring work!

[@MariePoulin]

They are linked in the episode description :)

[@Dougwun]

Fantastic video! I'd love to know what the difference between projects and goals is? I'm using this template but I'm struggling to differentiate between projects and goals, which is making it hard for me to fully buy in to the process and commit.

[@MariePoulin]

Douglas Adams goals are bigger and more high level - projects support your goals and have specific scope, timeline; etc: For example if you had a goal to reach a certain weight, you might have a project that is to create a new weekly meal plan. A goal may have multiple projects to support reaching it. you could certainly simplify if if you wanted to, but to me projects are the things I’m working ON, goals are what I’m working toward... not sure if that makes sense!

[@Dougwun]

@@MariePoulin I *think" so. I do actually have a goal of reaching a certain weight. In my case, rather a project, I have an outcome/key result of "Create a new exercise plan". Would you suggest making this a project instead?

[@theveganoils]

so good

[@k.helmstetter7122]

@marie poulin, a question for you. If you work from computer most of the day, and then have journaling and planning all on computer, how do you balance time NOT on computer? I like the organization and flexibility of Notion but hesitate for all-in because after time on computer during day, difficult to lean into more computer at night. Can you share your thoughts on how deep into the computer screen a day/evening can go? Thank you.

[@MariePoulin]

K. Helmstetter I fill out my journal in the evening on my phone in under 5 minutes :)

[@k.helmstetter7122]

@@MariePoulin Thanks. Keep it simple :). good reminder

[@melissapereira6957]

can you teach more about tables, like, how do you do these fancy tables ?

[@MariePoulin]

Curious what you mean by fancy? And you can buy the template which has it all pre built for you if you like (link should be in the description or go to templates.mariepoulin.com)

[@DominiqueHendersonCFP]

U R AWESOME!

[@MariePoulin]

Dominique Henderson It is you, sir, who are awesome.

[@rob3040]

So, I just purchased this template, and it's clear that the current one is different from the one being explained in this video. Might there be an updated tutorial?

[@MariePoulin]

Not yet but its definitely in the queue 🙈

[@TiiaAurora]

All these videos in which people were planning for 2020 make me really sad. Little did we know.

[@MariePoulin]

Tiia 😭

[@syafiqramli658]

Hi Marie, I tried to adapt the OKR Portion you shared into my own planner. But it is difficult to do so, especially in the areas for example my health, diet, and career related skill advancement. I feel OKR is much suited to be used for things that can easily quantify. Do you have any suggestions for me to arrange it for things that is more qualitative in nature? Especially how to measure the progress portion for the areas I mentioned? I do appreciate your insight on this matter.thanks

[@HazelWhicher]

hey marie! unrelated question - i'm nervous about doing video, but want to start, watched a few of your 100day project :) I wondered what software you're using at the moment to record screencasts with you in the bottom right hand corner of the screen? I'd really like to do screencasts like this.

[@MariePoulin]

Hazel Whicher awesome to hear this! Two options: 1. LOOM. Super easy, has a little circle in the bottom corner, ridiculously easy to use. 2. (This video here) Screenflow. Takes a bit more time to learn, a bit more complex but super handy for recording multiple things at once (even mobile, and layering screenshots, etc).

[@HazelWhicher]

Marie Poulin thanks Marie!

[@natalievijlbrief]

Marie, I have noticed you have not only a day and week database but also separate databases for month, quarter and year. Why did you choose not to make 1 database with tags for month/quarter/year?

[@MariePoulin]

Natalie Vijlbrief because I track very different information and fields for each :)

[@labulabuland]

Marie, why I can't click the video quality option? only 360p. Not because I'm not premium youtube user. this is different. because of this video setting?

[@MariePoulin]

Not sure, but i can see HD 1080 as an option...

[@sanjaysharma-it9wl]

I have already purchased this template will I get the updated version of template or not.

[@MariePoulin]

Yes you already have access to the updated version. Log in to gumroad where you purchased to grab the updated link. It's just the dates that have changed though..!

[@mayberonstoppable]

thanks! suscribed

[@petrakmetova9595]

How you were able to use pastel background colors?

[@daniel1130]

Hi, it look nice ! Do you use it with your "Tracking Goals + Practices" method or is it an alternative ? Because i wonder if it is compatible or if there is redondacy between "practices" and "outcomes" for example...

[@MariePoulin]

I have a separate "practices" database that is mostly for daily habit tracking, so I have Goals (big picture identity goals), Outcomes (milestones), Practices (things to do every day that support the goals). Definitely compatible!

[@daniel1130]

​@@MariePoulin Thank you !! I'm setting all this (goals, projects + State Of The Arts + my R&D methodo). I 've so much to do on Notion since i discover it lately. This app' and online contents have SO much dicrease my productivity right now 😂 !! "reculer pour mieux sauter" (google trad suggest "back off to better blow up")

[@DSGQR]

Good morning Marie. Any chance you could provide us with your formula in the "Progress" column? Thanks either way.

[@MariePoulin]

DSGQR it is in the templates inside of the description :)

[@DSGQR]

@@MariePoulin Oh.... uhhh... I knew that. 😂🙈

[@anaandrade6124]

Amazing

[@miguelstevens3042]

Great video as always! I do feel there's a thin line between outcomes and tasks, is there a sure way to differentiate between the two?

[@MariePoulin]

Miguel Stevens true enough - I do find that most objectives still have a number of smaller tasks that need to happen in order for that objective to have been reached. Not always. If the objective doesn’t break down further, I would simply put the same objective in as the task. Generally speaking an outcome is a measurable result, where the tasks are the actions required to make the result become true. Not all goals and objectives get this granular, sure, but the key is that if you live by the master task database, you need to ensure your next steps are visible in the task database.

[@JudeRushVA]

Miguel, for me, the outcomes are much clearer when I ask myself the question :"how will I know that I've achieved this goal? What will have happened when I'm there?" Those are my measurable outcomes, and the tasks are the steps I must take to get to those. Don't know if this is helpful, but hope so. :)

[@miguelstevens3042]

@@JudeRushVA So one goal has one outcome then? Since when the outcomes is done the goal is achieved? or does it work differently for you?

[@andriegilsson6623]

Is this updated every year?

[@noobz9013]

its needs more improvements, its just basic template but its good

[@jelen12321]

Hi! I purchased your template but it resulted in something difficult to handle. For example, how can I select done in the tasks? I have tried but it seems like a code or something. How can I do it more easily?

[@MariePoulin]

helena muciño you can change the formula to a checkbox property instead

[@neilsinclair1693]

Thanks, Marie - I have only been on Notion a few weeks and I do find it myself a little overwhelming. I am wanting to build out a more specific Business planning template for my clients. Can we please hook up on LinkedIn please to discuss options on how you could help me do that please. Regards Neil Sinclair

[@danallen698]

How would this work within the PARA framework? For example, I'm not sure where goals fit into PARA, although it feels like it really should somewhere. Thanks!

[@MariePoulin]

Dan Allen my goals live at the top of my areas page, and are also accessible on my start here dashboard, and in the Planning page which is linked to in areas, but also lives as it’s own doc in the sidebar because I use it all the time. The Planning page basically is what drives everything that happens within PARA, so while it tucks into the A, it’s mentally a separate thing for me, and important enough that it gets its own space (just like the Tasks database does)

[@dayanemedeiro]

I tried to buy the plan your year template today, but the website shows an error after entering the card details and clicking buy, is there any other link where I can make this purchase?

[@MariePoulin]

I think you managed to make the purchase, yes? :D Many thanks!

[@dayanemedeiro]

​@@MariePoulin Yes, thank your very much! The Template is great, is very helpful

[@caidenbond1988]

Haha you’re going to have a LOT to review in 2020

[@MariePoulin]

😂

[@caidenbond1988]

@@MariePoulin is that the crying emoji? Cause mine is 😂😭😭😭😂😭😭

[@sanjaysharma-it9wl]

Thanks Marie Poulin for your template. I have purchase it. Can you please tell me where to contact you if I have any doubt regarding the Template. Thanks

[@chainebuizbuiz4172]

it's very difficulte wtf what didn't you minimaliste

[@labulabuland]

✅N Keep

[@absoluttchamp]

Nice video, but you spend too much time on view options. That goes for other videos to. Staying on topic will keep your videos shorter and on point

[@MariePoulin]

absoluttchamp appreciate the feedback, but for every comment like this I have 20 more emails asking for more detail. you can’t win 😂

[@absoluttchamp]

@@MariePoulin No worries, but I think not getting to the point of the title is a common mistake done by many youtubers. Generally speaking; Skip long intros, Get to the point, then digress all you want. Just a tip from a very foggy mind.

[@josephnewton4170]

@@absoluttchamp I hit the 1.75x speed on most youtubers (using keyboard shortcuts). Try it out.