You only have two hands and one brain

Hi there, beautiful soul!

Let me tell you a story…

For two and a half years, I navigated the dynamic world of a fast-growing startup—later evolving into a scale-up—as the solo Product Designer. Being Design-Team-Of-One is an intense journey marked by constant shifts, tight deadlines, and the challenge of juggling multiple projects and tasks.

In this fast-paced environment, time management became more than just a skill; it was a survival strategy. I quickly realised that traditional to-do lists, scattered notes and even Jira (especially Jira) couldn't keep up with the complexity of my responsibilities. I needed a system—something robust yet flexible, capable of evolving with the demands of my role.

That's when I turned to Notion. What started as a simple note-taking tool soon transformed into my personal command center. I began by creating dashboards tailored to my workflow, allowing me to visualise my tasks, prioritise projects, and track progress effortlessly.

Organising my workflow in Notion didn't just help me stay on top of my tasks; it brought clarity amidst chaos. It allowed me to break down complex projects into manageable chunks, set realistic deadlines, and maintain a bird's-eye view of my work. This system became my secret weapon, enabling me to deliver high-quality designs consistently, even under pressure.

Here is how my main work board was set up:

Properties to add:

• Name (Text): Name of the task.

• Status (Status): "To Do", "In Progress", "In review", etc.

• Project (Relation): If a task is a part of a bigger project.

• Completed (Checkbox): If a task is a part of a bigger project, it helps to track the progress.

• Jira Link (URL): Links to the tickets in Jira.

• Description (Text): Brief summary of requirements.

• Date (Date): Date when to do the task.
  ETC.

Looking back, those years taught me the value of structured workflows and the power of tools like Notion to enhance productivity. It wasn't just about managing tasks; it was about creating systems that supported my growth as a designer, helping me stay organised, focused, and always a step ahead.

That’s all for this week! Stay tuned for more insights - learn how to have a Notion workspace that works for you, not against you.

Lisa
P.S. Have a specific challenge in your design workflow? Hit reply—I’d love to hear about it!

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