Notion Masterclass: Build a Personal Dashboard from Scratch

In this video you will learn how to make your own personal dashboard in Notion from scratch.
This video can be used as a standalone tutorial, but it's also part of Notion Fundamentals, my free beginner's series that teaches all the basics of Notion.
🏠 NOTION FUNDAMENTALS HOME PAGE:
thomasjfrank.com/fundamentals/
☝️ Head there to find example files, written versions of each lesson, and more.
😎 CREATOR'S COMPANION (My mega-template for content creators):
thomasjfrank.com/creators-com...
✒ COMPANION ARTICLE (and free dashboard template):
thomasjfrank.com/how-to-build...
🔧 FREE TEMPLATES (task manager, note-taking, and more):
thomasjfrank.com/templates/
🛠 MORE COURSES AND RESOURCES:
thomasjfrank.com/courses/
💪GET STARTED WITH NOTION:
thomasjfrank.com/usenotion/ - (this is my referral link)
🐦 SOCIAL STUFF:
Instagram ➔ / tomfrankly
Twitter ➔ / tomfrankly
⏱ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
00:06 - What is a Dashboard?
01:05 - Backfilling
01:14 - Lesson Start
03:02 - Creating a Blank Page (Creators Companion Sneak Peak)
03:57 - Creating Headers
04:25 - Creating Multi-column Layout
04:40 - Importing Picture
05:56 - Adding Contents Under Headings
07:12 - Difference Between "Mention Page" and "Link to Page"
08:27 - Adding Habit Tracker
11:31 - Adding Note-Taking System
14:56 - Changing "Table View" to "List View"
16:27 - Adding Web Links
17:11 - Adding Reference material
18:44 - Adding Quick Links Bar
20:38 - Adding Callout Block
21:24 - Adding a sync block
22:08 - Adding Daily Task List
23:46 - Adding Weather Widget using Indify.co
25:40 - Conclusion
26:20 - Free Access to Free Notion Templates
👐 BUSINESS:
Notion questions: Tweet me (@TomFrankly) or email me at [e-mail]
Sponsorships: Please contact my agent at [e-mail]
🎞 SPECIAL THANKS
Video clips supplied by Getty Images

[@mikhail_from_afar]

Having started using Notion not so long ago, this man to me looks like a wizard. Capabilities of Notion seem even greater now

[@nickmcintosh5609]

These Notion videos (and your templates) are absolutely fantastic man - you've saved me headaches and heartbreak trying to get my head around Notion - can't wait for the course for creators! Thanks heaps and keep up the amazing work

[@annwalker8907]

You are an excellent teacher. Very grateful for what I have learned in the course. Before I found your videos, I has spent days watching videos and trying to figure out Notion and I was about to pull my hair out. Your quality training saved me (and my hair). Thanks.

[@ved.shankar]

Hey Thomas. I've been following your content since 2014 (exactly when you started off pushing hard on College Info Geek) Loved every piece of content (KZbin, podcasts, blogs, etc.) you have shared and learned a lot from you over the years :) You definitely have a fan in me, amongst thousands of others I am sure!

[@margaritamariarestrepo1306]

After hours of searching, this has been the clearest tutorial of Notion I've found. Thank you so much!

[@maykasahara5515]

This is just the best Notion tutorial ever, I've learnt so much from it. Fantastic work! Thank you Thomas!!

[@ivyhuang987]

This is the best tool of my life of 2023! This is great!! Can’t wait to see the outcome and learning more about notion!

[@cookiencream5539]

How did you know we needed this! I just used your notebook and habit tracker template on notion and it's the best, Thomas!!!!

[@vieiradan]

Just finished watching the playlist ''Learn how to use notion''! I'm surprised to realize that there is just so much about notion and it is so useful! I'm glad to start a new year and being able to manage all the tasks and goals with notion. Thanks, Thomas!

[@freelasenegocioshomeoffice]

""Sometime I wanna be able to do the project right away even if I don't fully understand what is going on"" Exactly what I did with the masterclass and it was worth it! It was very complicated to learn, explanation was too freaking fast lol.. took me more than 4 hours to finish the project but I was able to absorb and retain way more than I expected.

[@sg7031]

I've known about your work with College Info Geek since 2016, my first year of undergrad. Amazing how far you've progressed. You the man, dawg, thanks for keeping it real, you have a fan in me

[@benjenkins2415]

Notion can be daunting. Thanks for the detailed walkthrough and the tips & tricks. Really great stuff.

[@davtoria]

I was so lost trying to organize my life and business with Notion. This video help me a lot. Thanks you!!

[@robertash656]

Fantastic tutorial, I have made my own dashboard, but you have given a lot more choices and ideas, as well as thinks to make it a lot better

[@ErwanCht]

Thank you so much ! I needed to improve my work flows with notion and create my own dashboard. I spent the day on it, tried several versions and I'm quite happy with the result ;)

[@twentyfive1331]

Awesome tutorial, the best I've seen on Notion. Thank you very much! Also, you are a wonderful musician, very pleasant music. Good luck to you, friend!

[@wincychan5040]

This is an easily understandable tutorial. I found it super helpful to guide me on how to start to use Notion. Thank you very much, Thomas!!

[@katelingates-gonzales7086]

Yet here I am so lost, confused, and overwhelmed. lol I'm brand new to Notion.

[@onlytanofficial]

Cool!!! This opens up my new world of using Notion. Thanks for sharing.

[@freelasenegocioshomeoffice]

Just finished this one and wow so many updates already! this is crazy!

[@maiasolaris3255]

It would be great to see a tutorial to relate the notes with the task template, thank you so much for your time doing this videos!

[@lauren2232]

thanks for the vid - great for learning the ropes and then applying to your own aesthetic

[@root2588]

Thank you for your absolutely useful and insightful work!

[@ClimbSnipes]

Awesome video Thomas

[@marya4632]

Wonderful! Thanks so much Thomas!

[@robsonfrancisco3719]

Thanks Tom! I'm trying to balance my life and achieve my goals! This template of yours will definitely help😁

[@isabellasong1246]

this is so helpful and hands-on walk-thru really helps me getting it! Thank you thomas!! Could you please please do another masterclass video on your budget tracker please? thanks in advance! have been hating using all the budget tracking app on the market !

[@iMagdiAdam]

Thanks man , there is so many things i needed in this video , thanks again

[@jonathanowen9917]

Extremely helpful tutorial on how to create a digital journal and workspace. Thanks 😁

[@user-cu4tp9hl8q]

pretty awesome thanks bro. your tuts are very helpful

[@sujanchristite]

Wow your amazing. I made my first PD page in Notion. Thank you.

[@mazaika_ferment]

wicked tutorial!! Thanks! Took me a few takes, but now I can create a dashboard! Cool!

[@desciexplorer]

Amazing content, thank you Thomas! I've seen you integrated the Habit Tracker into the Dashboard as a page link. I was wondering if it could be possible to have your "Daily Habits Tracker" inside the Daily Tasks. Ideally the daily tasks list would include your recurring tasks from the habit tracker and your one-time tasks of the day (like going to the grocery shop). The days inside the daily tracker are not databases so I'm not sure that can be automated. Thank you!

[@joshfranklin7032]

Hey Thomas! Just found your content on KZbin while trying to figure out how to most efficiently run and manage a team to successfully flip a house. I just learned about Notion and I am doing your crash course but would love to consult with you on the best and most functional (real estate-minded) Notion organization. My goal is simplicity and function. Thank you for all the incredibly helpful content. Josh

[@DemetriPanici]

I love building out a Notion dashboard! This setup is really great!

[@deottiveyoutube4919]

This was much needed thanks

[@CrackaLackTV]

Notion is so amazing. Very advanced and also complicated.

[@vitaliy.sergeev1]

A crossover we all deserved!

[@nientranai1669]

thank you so much really appreciate it

[@digitalranger7646]

Thank you so much!

[@gwynethjones7323]

Thank you for mentioning Backfill :-) Solid character

[@benjah221]

Wow… so good!

[@roxtendo]

Thank you so much for your explanation, it really helps to improve my notion and youtube flow. Btw. did anyone ever noticed that your "hello there" and your appearance is totally in Obi Wan Kenobi Style? Love it!

[@HereIgotimo]

What a Tool. Nice Presentation! Wow.

[@BerlinExplorer]

Really not bad the video, i have to say that i will follow up your other videos to better understand how to use Notion, because i think you made it better then them. Is only a bit difficult to follow you on everything when you have the app in front of you for just one day. But anyway, thank you to providing this video, this is really helpful! :)

[@juanian]

Despacio cerebrito... Thanks for sharing all this work!

[@shkpotter9844]

super valuable content

[@lucienwang9634]

You are a good explainer! Love from China.

[@rambazamba895]

Excellent, Thomas!! About your Master Task Database (All Tasks) and your Video Project Tracker: Do you embed your Video Tasks INTO to the Master Task Database? If so, how? Thank you!

[@JohnTrefethen]

Thanks for the great support Thomas. Do you have a video about creating the master task DB that you reference in many of your dashboard videos?

[@MetalicaruSPro]

AMAAAAAAZING!

[@proyectodigital7915]

Thomas makes a perfect balance between brains and good looks :D

[@jasonanthony5376]

These tutorials have been great! One question: your toggled "All Tasks" list view at 11:30 is perfectly aligned. My checkboxes are all over the place, depending on the length of the task title. How can I re-format this?

[@brindaasri]

I feel so much free and calm.. like a weight lifted off after dumping everything from my mind to notion... phew...❤

[@toroblanco5070]

Now you'll forget most of it and would not be able to find what you need.

[@sardorabdirayimov]

amazing video

[@Taskade]

Amazing guide, hope you will do one for Taskade in the future! :)

[@heeerooo5124]

Thanks!💖😎

[@marianadavila7149]

Great content! Wanted to ask, is there a way in which we could get insights to our own notion templates? Like, if we had the habit tracker, could we be able to see our performance in charts, trends, see insights, set our own goals/KPIs,etc so we can identify almost for sure in what we need improvements (even in our personal lives haha)? If yes, how :) and also, just wondering, is it possible too to create our formulas somewhere? For example, In case we wanted to define conditional KPIs. Thanks in advance, i repeat, great content congrats :)

[@markr8604]

In terms of setting up a business page dashboard... This is probably up there in top 2 for me. This personally will provide me with say 90% of what I need. Do you run 1-1 workshops?

[@homeofcreation]

That quote from Bruce Lee only works for people that are not married. Excellent Tutorial, crystal clear!!! Must watch series.

[@enocveloz]

this have come to a place were is crazyness to me!

[@user-vx8rr5ru6d]

Hi, thx for this video, can you tell me more about the backfilling concept in education?

[@kentjensen4504]

These materials are amazing, except the add inbox to Tasks bit was incomprehensible to me. Does the video need to be updated to fit the current templates?

[@francocaram7945]

You're the best Thankss

[@NumairShahzada]

Hey Thomas, great video. Very helpful tutorial. Just wondering, the Daily Tasks in the Ultimate Tasks section is different from the Daily Tasks you added to the Dashboard, I didnt see you connect the two. Can you tell me how I could go about doing that?

[@effortlesscharm1161]

I am LOVING this series thomas! Over the weekend I'll be building mine too Thank you! Ps: Which software do you use to record your screen? Is it OBS?

[@mayman8415]

It is Loom

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Yep, OBS Studio for the screen recording. I use a Canon c70 to record my face and my editor puts it all together in Premiere Pro

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

I've only used Loom for the Ultimate Tasks build guide. Funnily enough, it's the most popular video on this channel, which probably proves how little the extra production value matters haha. Recording tutorials with Loom is MUCH easier than the way I do it, which is why I also use Loom when recording support videos for my customers. But for TF Explains, I like going the extra mile to record the face cam separately so I have flexibility to move it around in post.

[@IntegralEarthling]

@@ThomasFrankExplains Thank you for that extra explanation! Very valuable for whoever is wanting to do some content creation where aditional content can be added to another Video. Love it!

[@shannonlopez982]

I am a huge fan of your notion fundamentals. I currently am using your ultimate task template (absolutely loving it). This one seems similar. Can you explain one versus the other benefits? Do I need both.? Just in the beginning stages of learning. Your videos are truly amazing and extremely helpful.

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Ultimate Tasks is mainly just a task and project management system. This tutorial is for a dashboard that serves as a sort of home base for everything - so that includes Ultimate Tasks, but also my note-taking system, content management system, etc. Of course, you could always just turn the Ultimate Tasks dashboard into a more general purpose dashboard as well! The template I've provided with this video is more useful as an example than as a ready-to-go piece of software (unlike Ultimate Tasks, which is intended to be used as-is)

[@MijnWeekendVlog]

So complicated but so awesome

[@yomnaelghadban5822]

Thanks so much for this video!

[@viorelpostica8670]

Hi Thomas, as I see some guitar in back I would like to ask you what you think about using notion in music, so guitar learning? It could be a good idea for a video

[@BlueClarification]

It would have been helpful to explain how to use the templates too. Did all the things you do in the video, but I just got links to public pages. And they are a lot. Is there an easy way to convert those public pages to personal pages? I need to duplicate every one?

[@aaronthemann8384]

I just wanna say thank you very much for showing us how to make a dashboard it's been a very big help and I was hoping to share a screenshot of my dashboard to you but I guess there's not a function to do this on the chat

[@rolandstierli5207]

Hi Thomas, thanks a lot for all the templates. I have a question how can you link +New Note Inbox too a Task?

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

To clarify - are you asking how to link notes to tasks? To do that, you could create a Relation between your Notes and Tasks databases. I have a whole video on Relations planned, but you can see this concept in action in my task manager tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWPHfYuad5misNU - I relate Projects to Tasks, but it's the same basic concept.

[@blakemccorkle18]

I want to be able to have the functionality of the Ultimate task but have it separated from the Team Notion that I have. I could make a tag that acts as a forcing function and then filter it out on the Team section views but this seems like an unoptimal path. I'm currently messing around with simply duplicating the entire All Task database, call it something like Quests (it's mainly for home/chores) - this way I could have it in my private workspace but I'd be interested in your take on this - it's nice to keep home/work separated but I wish there was a simple "new task" button I could press for anything, and it would go in the right section. (Also, I'm not sure my teammates care about knowing "Do Laundry" quest, even though they'd have to change filter for the Tag to see it)

[@ChristyDuvalRN]

Awesome video and interesting concept about backfilling. Can you provide the name of the research article?

[@Farquad123]

Is there a video on creating the note taking system??

[@Ammar_k1]

Dude, I would love to see how you edit your KZbin videos! Great content!👍🏽

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

You're in luck! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6W9ZmCknrangtk You may also enjoy: thomasjfrank.com/creator/how-to-be-a-youtuber-the-ultimate-guide/

[@juergenschubert3247]

Great content. Jost wonder how you would archive to get a view of a DB to only show first 10 rows from a special sort order. Sort order is easy with a view but no how to limit to the first 10 lines? Any idea

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Hey Juergen! You can do this by clicking the three-dot menu on a database view, going to Properties, and then choosing a Load Limit. You'll always have the option of loading more rows, but this will define a limit for how many rows are loaded initially. Then your filter/sort criteria will determine the load order. Hope this helps! 😀

[@MJ-by8yp]

thanks

[@romainlatry3613]

Thanks a lot for this one ^^ Quick question: do you have in any of your templates one where we could align project, tasks and habits to our main goals of the year (month, week, etc)

[@romainlatry3613]

+ and be able to follow progression towards these goals as we complete tasks for instance ? That could be useful. Cheers

[@JasonJamesMoore]

Thomas, thank you for this excellent content. I'm having an issue with the tasks inbox linked DB. The due/overdue state circles are kind of cut off on the right side. The full circle doesn't show in list view.

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Can you make that property's column wider?

[@JasonJamesMoore]

@@ThomasFrankExplains I can in the table view, but it doesn't effect the list view where the problem is.

[@superchargecoach]

What is your definition of the “Inbox”? Is it the place where you enter all your tasks or is connected in someway to your email Inbox? Thanks for the clarification💯 Keep up your amazing work - I LOVE your videos!!!

[@kentjensen4504]

Now I'm having the same problem with Notes. Has Notion changed their database system, names for things, etc?

[@Nexus_pt]

I'm gratefull you´re back periodically!! Just when i´m re-starting my channel workflow with your templates!! Greetings from Portugal. PS - will you release an advanced formulas course?

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

I definitely have a formulas video (maybe more than one) planned for once Fundamentals is done. Likely won't charge for it! Right now I'm just charging for Creator's Companion and may add in a course element to it in the future.

[@sarabjketo]

Which app do you use to record your screen? Can you make a video to show us how do you make this kind of videos? I love this masterclass 💖💖

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Yep, I made a video showing everything a few weeks ago! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6W9ZmCknrangtk

[@grammarboxbyME]

Tranks a lot for the useful tutorial. May I ask you which screen recording software you use? Thanks for your quick reply and have a great weekend 😎

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

I record my screen with OBS Studio, using MouseHighlight for the mouse and Carnac to display my keystrokes. I have a separate camera (Canon C70) that I use for the face cam, and my editor Tony puts it all together using Premiere Pro.

[@grammarboxbyME]

@@ThomasFrankExplains thanks a lot for your answer. you and your editor really do an awsome and inspiring job and help me a lot in my work as a teacher.

[@cosmicdragon]

I love the “project” category and how that can make sub tasks in the overall database. I was wondering if there’s a way to have a higher categorization, I’m trying to make something called “Goals” (general aspirations for life). It would be nice to have that work the way projects works now as an overview but then inside that goal might be a project and in that might have sub tasks. Is that possible in notion and could you give me some tips perhaps?

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Yep, that's possible and also built into my Ultimate Brain template! Here's the section of my overview video that shows how I have them implemented: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKSbiISeZ9Bghdk

[@PhilomathJ]

❓ Please tell me, how to hide the linked database view name such as you do at 9:16 in the video? ❓

[@BadlandCreations]

As I try to follow along with the video, at 7:05 when you paste the URL and are able to "Link to page", I am met with a message saying - "The page with the original synced block has been deleted. View deleted page" is there a workaround or am I too late to follow this guide

[@seantapia1342]

Is there a way to create your own background or text color?

[@suvn89]

Are all your databases kept in a separate section outside of each of your dashboards?

[@pirateomega435]

I’m on an iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard and when I try to pull Notes next to Tasks I don’t get the indicator to allow me to place it there. I can only reorder the list. Help!

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Unfortunately dragging blocks to make multiple columns doesn’t yet work on the iPad app! You’ll need to use a computer, or you can duplicate my template and use the pre-made columns in it.

[@1972Tiggi]

Hi, is there any way to get the tasks to roll over to the next day if uncompleted? That way I don't have to update the dates on them all. Many thanks for all your videos, super helpful!

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Unfortunately not within Notion natively, though I also don't know of any other task management app that does this. I could see it being problematic if not implemented well - for instance, you might see a hard deadline roll over and think you're ok, when in fact you need to explain to a team member or superior why you're late and ask for an extension. Knowing the original due date for a task is very useful. That said, you likely could use the Notion API to achieve this, and might even be able to do it without code using Automate.io or Integromat!

[@1972Tiggi]

@@ThomasFrankExplains no worries, thanks for replying

[@LouC-tg8tn]

Hello when I click on "Link to page" Like you did in 9:13 it justs copy and pastes the link but doesnt show the database? Anyone know what to do?

[@pauldesir3908]

I hope notion’s paying you man.

[@MaxWeir]

In the lastest version of Notion I was unable to create the Daily Tasks card list, it now asks to sync to a database, but your example didn't do that?

[@jorgeamaral8537]

Could explain what do mean "replace the public links?" I imagined that once I duplicate the template to my workspace everything would be referenced to my space.

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

When you duplicate a template, only pages within that template are duplicated as well. With most of my templates, all links are going to internal pages, so that's exactly what happens. But with this template, the links are to pages outside of the template itself. The purpose of this particular template is just to give you the layout that you can work from right away. I would have to bundle all my templates together in order for a full duplication to happen (something I'll do someday, but it's far from ready)

[@BlueClarification]

@@ThomasFrankExplains I see....

[@jvandijk9004]

How do you make the Inbox, tomorrow and 7 days links at the top of your today view?

[@ThomasFrankExplains]

Those are manually-created links. Just type out the text you want, highlight it, and there will be a link menu option. See the section on editing with the toolbar here for more: thomasjfrank.com/a-guide-to-editing-and-formatting-text-in-notion-notion-fundamentals/

[@jvandijk9004]

@@ThomasFrankExplains Thanks!

[@madeleineforsberg8091]

How can you add a course as a "project"

[@gs_f]

At 10', why a duplicate ? I don't understand: this will create two different instances of the database, and if an item is added from the copy, the main database will not be populated?

[@petercarpenter1827]

I tried to add. Pic as you did to the right, but it won’t cover the two lines. So end up with reference shoved in to the left. Messy