If you’re on TikTok, Pinterest, or YouTube, you’ve definitely seen it: aesthetic dashboards, pastel icons, clean productivity templates, and “reset” routines powered by… Notion. Gen Z didn’t just adopt Notion—they turned it into a digital lifestyle.
But why exactly is Gen Z so obsessed with Notion? And how do I, someone who loves the tool but refuses to use it like everyone else, do things differently? Let’s break it down.
The Notion Obsession: Aesthetic Meets Functionality
For Gen Z, productivity is personal—and visual. Notion isn’t just a note-taking app; it’s a canvas. You can build planners, vision boards, school schedules, finance trackers, or even mood boards—all in one space.
Notion gives Gen Z the two things they crave most:
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Customization: Every page can be uniquely styled to reflect your personality. Think pastel color schemes, serif fonts, gifs, and widgets.
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Control: In a world that feels chaotic, Notion offers an illusion (and sometimes a reality) of order. Everything has a place, and you get to design it.
Plus, it feeds into that perfect mix of productivity and self-expression. You’re not just planning your week—you’re curating a life aesthetic.
It’s Also the TikTok Effect
Let’s be honest—Notion blew up thanks to content creators. A 10-second video showing off a “That Girl” morning routine or a digital vision board with dreamy music is all it takes to get people to download the app.
Templates went viral, creators started selling them, and suddenly Notion became more than a tool—it became a trend.
But Here’s the Thing: I Don’t Use It Like That
While I get the appeal, my Notion looks… different. No fancy cover images. No 20-tab dashboards. No pastel color-coding system. My vibe? Minimalist, functional, and a little messy.
Here’s how I use it differently:
1. The Anti-Aesthetic Dashboard
I keep it simple: black text, white background, no emojis. My goal is clarity over cuteness. I don’t want to want to open Notion; I want to need to. Removing the distractions helps.
2. Quick Capture Over Perfect Pages
I use Notion like a digital brain dump. If a thought pops up, it goes into my “Inbox” page—no sorting, no formatting. Once a week, I clean it up. That’s it.
3. Dynamic, Not Static
Most aesthetic templates are static. They look good in screenshots but don’t grow with you. I build systems I can adapt. Weekly reviews, toggle check-ins, linked databases. It’s not sexy—but it works.
Notion as a Mirror of Mindset
At the end of the day, how you use Notion says a lot about you.
Gen Z loves it because it’s flexible, creative, and encourages reflection. But for some of us, “aesthetic” can become another pressure point. That’s why using Notion in a way that actually serves you is the real flex.
Whether you’re building a color-coded academic planner or a no-frills GTD system, the beauty of Notion is that it can be whatever you want it to be.
And maybe that’s the most Gen Z thing of all.