How to Make a Notion Calendar Start on Monday

Getting your Notion calendar to start on Monday instead of the default Sunday can make a world of difference for those of us who like to kick off our week with a fresh start. Whether you're managing projects, tracking habits, or just trying to keep your week organized, aligning your calendar with your personal rhythm is a game-changer. Let's walk through the steps to customize your Notion calendar and make it work for you.

Why Start the Week on Monday?

First things first, why should you even bother switching your calendar to start on Monday? For many people and businesses, Monday marks the beginning of the workweek. It's when tasks are assigned, meetings are scheduled, and the productivity grind kicks into high gear. Aligning your calendar with this rhythm can make planning more intuitive.

From a psychological standpoint, a Monday start can help delineate the boundary between work and personal time, especially if your weekends are reserved for downtime. Plus, if you're collaborating with international teams, starting the week on Monday can align your schedule with global business norms, making coordination smoother.

Now, let's get into the practical steps of making your Notion calendar start on Monday.

Setting Up a New Calendar

If you're starting fresh with a new Notion calendar, you're in luck. The process is straightforward. Here's how you can set up a calendar that kicks off on Monday:

1. Create a New Page: Open Notion and create a new page. You might want to name it something simple, like "Weekly Planner" or "Project Calendar."
2. Add a Calendar View: On this new page, add a database using the calendar view. Notion will automatically create a calendar with the default settings.
3. Adjust the Start Day: Here's where the magic happens. Unfortunately, Notion doesn't have a simple toggle to change the start day. But don't worry, there's a workaround.

While Notion doesn't offer an official feature to change the start day directly, you can simulate a Monday start by adjusting how you input and view your data. Let's explore this workaround in more detail.

Adjusting Your Calendar View

To create the effect of a Monday-start week, you can manipulate the calendar views and entries to align with your preference. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Rearrange Your Entries: Instead of the calendar view, use a table view to organize your tasks or events by date. You can manually adjust entries to start from Monday.
2. Group by Week: Use the grouping feature to categorize your entries by week numbers. This can help visually shift the focus to a Monday-start week.
3. Use Filters: Utilize filtering options to display only the days you're interested in, essentially creating a week view starting from Monday.

While these steps require a bit of manual setup, they allow for a great deal of flexibility. Once you've got the hang of it, you can customize other aspects of your Notion workspace in a similar manner. But if you're looking for a way to streamline this process, tools like Spell can enhance your document and data management experiences with AI, making adjustments quicker and more intuitive.

Benefits of a Customized Calendar

Customizing your calendar to start on Monday isn't just about aesthetics. It can significantly enhance your productivity. Here's how:

• Improved Focus: By starting your week on Monday, you align your tasks and goals with the workweek, improving your focus and efficiency.
• Better Planning: A Monday-start week allows for better planning and review sessions. You can use Fridays for wrap-ups and reflections.
• Enhanced Collaboration: For teams, having a shared calendar that starts on Monday can improve coordination and scheduling.

With these benefits in mind, let's explore some additional tips to make the most out of your Notion calendar.

Integrating Other Tools

Notion is incredibly versatile, and it shines when used alongside other productivity tools. Consider integrating your Notion calendar with other platforms you use:

• Google Calendar: Syncing with Google Calendar can provide real-time updates and reminders, ensuring you never miss an important event.
• Trello or Asana: If you use Trello or Asana for task management, integrating them with Notion can create a seamless workflow.
• Zapier: Use Zapier to automate repetitive tasks, such as creating new calendar entries from other apps, saving you time and effort.

By leveraging these integrations, you can create a more cohesive and efficient work environment. And if you're interested in streamlining document creation and management, Spell offers AI-powered solutions to help you draft, edit, and collaborate with ease.

Using Templates for Efficiency

One of Notion's superpowers is its ability to use templates. Creating a weekly planner template that starts on Monday can save you time and ensure consistency:

1. Create a Template: Design a weekly planner template with sections for tasks, goals, and notes, starting each week on Monday.
2. Include Recurring Tasks: Add recurring tasks or reminders to your template to avoid re-entering them each week.
3. Customize as Needed: Adjust your template as your needs evolve. Notion's flexibility allows for easy modifications.

With a well-crafted template, you can quickly set up your week, ensuring that you're always starting from a point of clarity and organization.

Managing Multiple Calendars

If you juggle different projects or roles, you might find yourself managing multiple calendars in Notion. Here's how to keep things organized:

• Separate Workspaces: Consider creating separate workspaces for different projects or roles to avoid clutter.
• Color Coding: Use color coding to differentiate between calendars, making it easier to identify entries at a glance.
• Consolidate Views: Use linked databases to consolidate views from multiple calendars into one, providing a comprehensive overview.

These strategies help maintain clarity and focus, especially when dealing with complex schedules. And for those times when you need to whip up a document or report quickly, Spell can be a real lifesaver, letting you produce polished content effortlessly.

Dealing with Time Zones

If you work with teams or clients across different time zones, managing your calendar can become a bit tricky. Here are some tips:

• Set Time Zone Labels: Use labels to denote the time zone for each entry, avoiding confusion.
• Use World Clocks: Incorporate a world clock widget to quickly check the time in different locations.
• Schedule Accordingly: Be mindful of time zone differences when scheduling meetings, ensuring convenient times for all participants.

Handling multiple time zones effectively can improve communication and collaboration, making your workflows smoother and more efficient.

Reviewing and Reflecting

A Monday-start calendar offers a great opportunity for weekly reviews and reflections. Here's how you can incorporate this into your routine:

1. Weekly Review Session: Set aside time each Friday to review your week, note accomplishments, and plan for the next week.
2. Reflect on Goals: Reflect on your goals and adjust them as necessary based on your progress and priorities.
3. Adjust Your Calendar: Make adjustments to your calendar entries based on your reflections, ensuring alignment with your objectives.

This practice helps you stay on track, maintain focus, and continuously improve your productivity and organization.

Final Thoughts

Switching your Notion calendar to start on Monday might seem like a small change. It can significantly impact your productivity and workflow. By aligning your schedule with your workweek, you create a more intuitive and efficient planning process. For those looking to enhance their document creation and management, Spell offers AI-powered solutions to help you draft, edit, and collaborate effortlessly, turning hours of work into minutes.