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Whether you're a seasoned Notion user or just beginning your journey, you've likely experienced moments of overwhelm. This could stem from figuring out how to build what you want, managing information overload, or dealing with digital clutter that accumulates when you're still early in the process of developing your own systems.

In my 6+ years of using Notion, and 5+ years of teaching it in a professional context, I’ve learned a few “good practices” that can help folks build and better navigate the chaos of digital workspaces (especially those of us who might identify as being neurodivergent).

A Note About Neurodiversity

Neurodivergence is a bit of an umbrella term that encompasses various neurological differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and others. It refers to variations in brain function and behavioural traits that diverge from what is considered typical or "neurotypical" in society. This can include sensory disorders, learning disorders, or other conditions which present a variety of challenges when trying to perform tasks that require high executive functioning.

Executive functioning challenges like planning, organization, and prioritizing tasks are often more difficult for neurodivergent individuals and can demand a serious amount of focus and energy.

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When our digital spaces are cluttered, confusing, or contain too much information all at once, it’s a recipe for overwhelm, anxiety, disengagement, and burnout.

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Designing for Everyone

Whether you're designing a Notion workspace for yourself or for collaborative use, you're bound to encounter some unique challenges.

If you're creating collaborative Notion workspaces for a small team, you've likely noticed how differently people use the tool and express their preferences. You may be working with individuals who have varying technical skills, cognitive abilities, and working memory capacities.

When we talk about “neurofriendliness,” we’re typically referring to designs, environments, communication styles, or practices that are accessible and comfortable for people with diverse neurological conditions, including neurodivergent individuals (such as those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc.). In this guide we’re addressing how we might apply these neurofriendly principles to Notion workspaces.

By designing our digital workspaces to reduce cognitive load and enhance navigation, we improve the experience for everyone.

Many of these best practices and principles draw inspiration from the fields of Learning and Instructional Design.

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When we design workspaces that are neurodivergent-friendly, we make workspaces better for everyone.

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Common Challenges and Needs

While every individual is unique, here are some common neurodivergent (ND) challenges, needs and preferences:

Prefer flexible, non-linear organization that allows quick access to information and accommodates different thinking patterns.

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Easily overwhelmed or distracted by excessive visual information.

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Struggle with prioritization and feel overwhelmed by long lists.

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