If your week feels like one long blur of classes, assignments, group chats, and caffeine-fueled panic — you’re not alone. The student life is chaotic, but it doesn’t have to be. Enter Notion, the all-in-one productivity tool that lets you organize your entire academic life in one place.

Notion isn’t just another calendar or task app. It’s a fully customizable space where you can plan your week, track deadlines, manage projects, and even build your own digital planner. And once you set it up right, it actually makes studying less stressful and more intentional.

Here’s your full step-by-step guide on how to plan your week using Notion — especially designed for students.

Step 1: Understand How Notion Works

Before diving in, here’s a quick breakdown of how Notion functions:

• Pages: These are like notebooks or documents.

• Blocks: Every piece of content (text, to-do, image, table) is a block.

• Databases: Think of them as smart tables that can be filtered, tagged, and viewed in multiple ways (calendar, Kanban board, list, etc.).

Notion lets you mix structure and creativity — so you can build your perfect system without feeling boxed in.

Step 2: Start with a Weekly Dashboard Page

Your weekly dashboard is your home base. It should give you a clear snapshot of your upcoming week at a glance.

Here’s what to include:

• Weekly calendar (using a database)

• To-do list grouped by day or priority

• Habit tracker (optional)

• Quick links to class pages or assignment boards

• Motivational quote or goal for the week

You can build it from scratch or use a free student template. Just search “Notion weekly planner template” and duplicate one you like.

Step 3: Set Up a Weekly Calendar Using a Notion Database

A calendar in Notion is just a database with a calendar view. Here’s how to build it:

1. Create a new page → Select Table – Full Page.

2. Add properties like:

   • Task name

   • Due date

   • Class or subject (use a select/tag property)

   • Priority level

   • Status (to-do, in progress, done)

3. Once your table is built, click “+ Add a View” → choose Calendar.

Now, you can drag tasks across the week and sort them by class, urgency, or day. You can even add sub-tasks inside each calendar entry.

Step 4: Group Tasks by Day with a Kanban Board

Want a visual way to plan your week? Add a Board View to your database. Here’s how:

• Group by “Day of the Week” or “Status”

• Create columns like “Monday,” “Tuesday,” etc.

• Drag and drop your tasks into each day

It’s like Trello but fully integrated into your planner. This makes it easy to spread out workload and avoid overloading one day.

Step 5: Add a To-Do Section That Lives Outside the Calendar

Not everything you need to do has a due date. Add a simple to-do list at the top of your dashboard for things like:

• “Buy lab notebook”

• “Email group partner”

• “Print reading materials”

Just type /todo in Notion and start adding tasks. You can even color-code them or turn them into a separate checklist block per day.

Step 6: Track Recurring Tasks or Habits

Want to build better study habits? Add a mini habit tracker to your weekly dashboard. Create a table with:

• Columns for each day of the week

• Rows for each habit (e.g., “Study 30 mins,” “Sleep before midnight,” “No phone in lecture”)

You can tick off each habit as you complete it — it's low effort but super effective for keeping momentum.

Step 7: Link to Class Pages and Assignments

Notion becomes really powerful when you link your weekly planner with other pages. Create a page for each class with:

• Lecture notes

• Assignment deadlines

• Reading lists

• Important links

Then, connect your class name property in your calendar database to these class pages. That way, you can click on a task and jump directly to related class notes or files.

Step 8: Automate Weekly Resets

At the start or end of each week, take 15 minutes to do a weekly reset. On your dashboard, create a section called:

• “Next Week Plan” or “Weekly Reset Checklist”

Include:

• Review last week’s tasks (what did/didn’t get done)

• Update your calendar for upcoming deadlines

• Plan top 3 goals for next week

• Reset your habit tracker

This reflection keeps your system alive — and keeps you from waking up on Monday clueless.

Step 9: Make It Yours — Aesthetic + Function

Notion doesn’t have to be boring. You can add:

• Emojis for headers

• Cover photos or inspirational quotes

• Aesthetic fonts using the “Turn into Heading” option

• Custom icons for each subject

Your dashboard should feel like a workspace you want to use. The more you personalize it, the more likely you’ll stick to it.