Notion's Dirty Little Secrets — Why I Kissed Notion Goodbye and Embraced a New Love

What happened to Notion? Why didn’t it live up to its hype?

Are you sick and weary of bumbling around? Are you drowning in sticky notes, to-do lists, and half-finished projects? Don't worry; I'm here to reassure you that you're not alone.

I counted on Notion for a long time to help me stay organized. Of course, everyone appreciates a nice Kanban board. But after some time, I found that Notion was hindering my productivity rather than facilitating it.

The sheer amount of open windows, pages, and databases overwhelmed me every time I opened it. It was like being in a digital collector's paradise.

So, I did what any sensible person would do: I quit.

You read it correctly; I stopped using Notion in favor of other time-management tools. That was the wisest choice I've ever made.

Hold your horses, and don't start hurling figurative tomatoes at me yet. Notion is a good app; don't get me wrong. It's great for keeping your life in order, and it includes many features that will be useful.

However, it is necessary to experiment every once in a while.

Leaving Notion was like breaking up with a long-term partner who had promised me the world. I realized, though, that it was time to move on.

So, I started looking for something novel that would help me get my life in order but not drive me utterly insane in the process.

I endured many trials and errors (and some tears) before finally grabbing the app that completely transformed my life. It was easy to understand and even enjoyable if that's possible. I felt safe with data when using this app. Instead, it saved me by making my life easier and more organized.

So, I'm here to tell you about the software that kept me from going insane while using Notion. It's not as fancy or flexible as Notion, but it does what I need without driving me crazy.

But before that, here's why I left Notion.

Slow Performance? Ain't Nobody Got Time for That

The sluggish functioning of Notion was one of its most annoying flaws. My database slowed to the point that it was virtually useless as it expanded.

This was a significant problem for someone like myself, who likes to have all of her work resources in one location, this was a considerable problem.

I could trace Notion's sluggish performance down to its data storage system. Notion saves data in a proprietary format, making retrieval times longer than with tools that utilize a standard database.

On the other hand, my new flame has a tried-and-true database architecture and performs at light speed. No longer do I have to endure slow page loads and sluggish databases. It's not much, but it's significantly impacted how much I get done.

Limited Integration Options? No Thanks.

Notion's lack of integration choices was one of my primary complaints about the program.

Don't get me wrong; Notion works well with other apps like Trello, Slack, and Google Drive. However, Notion's integration possibilities are restricted compared to other productivity applications.

Since I want to streamline my processes as much as possible, this was a severe problem for me. Even though I was supposed to utilize Notion as a time-saving tool, I spent much time on physical labor.

On the other hand, my new flame offers various customizable integrations. For example, Zapier, Integromat, and Airtable are popular productivity apps that work well with them. Because of this, I can streamline and automate most of my processes.

What's the Costing Structure? Needs improvement.

One of the most annoying aspects of using Notion is trying to make sense of its price structure. The free version of Notion is excellent for individual usage. However, a monthly cost is associated with using Notion for business or team communication.

Notion’s price structure could be clearer, which is a major drawback.

However, the price structure of my new flame is entirely open and honest. It has a free plan suitable for individual usage and a subscription plan that's reasonably priced and available about its pricing. Therefore, I am relieved that I will no longer be subject to surcharges.

The Grass Is Greener on the Other Side — Meet My New Love, RemNote

I seriously thought about it before finally leaping to my new love. Transferring all my data from Notion to my new tool was tedious. But in the end, it was well worth it.

All the great things of Notion are there in my new flame, plus lightning-fast speed, flexible integration, and a simple price structure. It's like finally discovering the one after several heartbreaks.

The tool I finally found that meets my needs, RemNote, is an undiscovered treasure of productivity software. It’s like unearthing a priceless relic that had been dormant for generations. That’s a stretch but bear with me.

The outliner function of RemNote's note-taking system is revolutionary. It's a throwback to the simpler days of note-taking and planning that brings us full circle. Except that, it's far more productive and eco-friendly with RemNote.

It's as if I've gone back to the 17th century when great thinkers and intellectuals relied on outliner notes to keep track of their thoughts and ideas. Writing these precise and lucid ideas and arguments down makes me feel like I'm channeling my inner Descartes.

But of course, RemNote has updated this age-old method for taking notes. It's user-friendly design and robust functionality makes it seem like you have a virtual assistant.

Also, it's essential to know that RemNote has a long and storied history that dates back to the dawn of the internet itself. It's like a time capsule; it only keeps improving as it ages.

Although I find great value in both applications, I increasingly use RemNote. The reasons are as follows.

Simplicity in Organization.

RemNote's superior organization method makes it stand out from Notion. However, the Notion's page and database approach may become complicated with extensive usage.

RemNote, on the other hand, employs a tree-like structure that permits flexible note rearranging and additional branches. Because of this, you may arrange your notes in a manner that makes sense to you and quickly discover the information you want.

Spaced repetition's efficacy.

RemNote's spaced repetition function is also noteworthy. You may improve your memory retention using the spaced repetition method, which involves repeating material regularly.

RemNote allows you to create spaced repetition study tools like flashcards and other study materials. Students and anyone who needs to memorize large amounts of material fast will find this function invaluable.

Simpler Coordination.

RemNote's user-friendliness in group projects is one of its best features. Collaborative capabilities are available in Notion; however, the collaboration tools in RemNote are simpler to use.

Sharing and collaborating in real-time on notes makes it simple to work on group projects or study together.

The Joy of Smart Reminders.

Another valuable aspect of RemNote is its "smart reminders." The time you've spent examining a given note or flashcard determines how often you'll get these alerts. You won't be notified about a message again for a time if you've already looked at it lately.

However, if you last looked at a particular note a while ago, RemNote will prompt you to do so. This function ensures that your review time is well spent and that you don't waste time going over material you already know.

The Fun of Embedding.

Finally, another great feature of RemNote is its ability to embed content. As a result, notes may have other applications or utilities included with ease using embedding.

Inserting a YouTube video or a Google Doc into your RemNote note is only two examples. This consolidates your data into one location, saving time and effort switching between programs.

Conclusion.

I've tried Notion and RemNote, which are much simpler to use. However, it has that particular something that turns life management from a job into fun for me.

It may be the bright design and fun fonts, but whenever I use RemNote, I feel like a productivity mastermind. I’m more drawn to RemNote and don’t want to switch anytime soon.

While I'm sure Notion is terrific for its users, the best way to stay motivated and on track (all while smiling) is by using RemNote.

What do you think, which one is better: Notion or RemNote?

Please signup to get all my upcoming stories in your inbox.

Feel free to become a member for full access to my content — and the entire Medium library! In addition, I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up through my link.