How I planned my silent retreat in Notion (projects in action)
A step by step of project planning in Notion
In a recent newsletter, we contemplated silence as a way back to ourselves.
I shared that I go on silent retreats every year as a reset, to recharge and return to the seat of my being. In today’s newsletter, you’ll see my step-by-step process to plan for a retreat inside Notion.
The template I use for all my project planning is by Thomas Frank and it’s called Ultimate Brain. (not affiliate)
Starting from scratch
As soon as I get the idea to go on my next retreat, I start a project page in Notion, starting with Thomas Frank’s Project Template in Ultimate Brain.
Here’s what a blank project looks like :
I then choose a name for my project, and connect it to an area or a goal. A silent retreat would fit into my Spirituality area. If you are unfamiliar with areas, it’s based on the PARA method by Tiago Forte, as well as Getting Things Done by David Allen.
Choosing the next action
In the task section, I brainstorm the next action I need to take to start the project. I have a dedicated post about the next action concept.
In the case of a silent retreat, the very first action is to consult a list of retreat centers in my area. I link my note in a linked project property. I can then choose what retreat center I want to go to and the next action would be to call to make reservations.
Using the notes section for project planning
It is in the notes section that I list all the details of my trip.
I list the address of the retreat center, the price and payment methods, the dates, and any reading materials or video courses I want to do during my retreat.
I always set up a packing list, that I duplicate each year, add or subtract to according to the specifics. But starting with a canvas is a real help.
Accessing the project from the PARA dashboard
Ultimate Brain is kind of a complex template.
I wanted to have a bird’s eye view of my current projects, areas and resources, inspired by Tiago Forte’s PARA method, so I set up a clean-looking dashboard in Notion. It helps detract from the complexity of Ultimate Brain.
In this streamlined dashboard, only my current projects are displayed, using a linked view of Thomas Frank’s project database.
Clicking on Projects UB gets me to a list of all my projects where I can toggle them from active to archived. I can also do this individually in each project using the properties section.
Project management can be as simple or complex as the project demands
Here I shared a very simple project process, but depending on the scope, your mileage may vary. Feel free to experiment with granularity, and keep in mind that sometimes, simple is best.
If you are interested in trying Thomas Frank’s Ultimate Brain template, head over to his website (not affiliate).