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Jun 8, 2026

Why your Notion setup isn't working (and how to fix it)

Most Notion databases are overcomplicated. Here's how to simplify and actually get things done.

You built a beautiful Notion workspace. Linked databases, rollups, formulas. But three weeks later, you're back to a sticky note. Sound familiar?

The problem isn't you. It's that most templates treat organization as a hobby. They focus on capturing everything, not on finishing anything. The fix is brutal simplicity: three views max. Today's tasks. This week's priorities. A single reference list.

Start by deleting every database you haven't touched in 7 days. Then ask: what is the one thing I need to know right now? That's your dashboard. Everything else is noise.

I use this exact approach in my own templates. It's boring. It works. And it takes 10 minutes to set up.