How to Use Widgets in Notion to Enhance Your Workspace

Notion is a powerful productivity tool that allows you to create and customize your workspace. One of its standout features is the ability to display dynamic information through widgets. Widgets are small applications embedded within your Notion pages that provide live, updated data on various topics such as calendars, tasks, weather, and more. In this article, we’ll explore how to use widgets in Notion to boost your productivity and create a workspace that works for you.

What Are Widgets?

Widgets in Notion are mini-applications that display dynamic content within your workspace. They offer real-time updates and help streamline your workflow by eliminating the need to switch between different applications. Notion supports a range of built-in widgets and also lets you embed custom widgets from third-party providers such as Indify, Apption, or WidgetBox. With recent updates, Notion has improved its embedding capabilities, including better support for OAuth authentication and responsive mobile views.

Adding Built-in Widgets

To add a built-in widget in Notion, open the page where you want to display it and click on the "+" button at the top right corner of the page. This opens a list of available blocks. Scroll to the "Embeds & More" section and select the type of widget you want to add. Here are some common built-in options:

Calendar Widget

The Calendar widget now seamlessly integrates with your Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar directly within your workspace.

1. Select Calendar from the "Embeds & More" section.
2. Follow the updated authentication prompts to connect your Google or Outlook account using OAuth for enhanced security.
3. Once connected, your calendar will display in real time, allowing you to manage your schedule without switching apps.

Kanban Board Widget

The Kanban Board widget is an excellent tool for visualizing and organizing projects and tasks.

1. Select Board from the "Embeds & More" section.
2. Notion now offers improved drag-and-drop functionality, letting you easily set up columns for different task stages such as To Do, In Progress, and Completed.
3. Simply drag and drop tasks between columns to track progress effortlessly.

Google Drive Widget

For those who use Google Drive for file storage and collaboration, embedding your documents directly into Notion can be a game changer.

1. Select Drive from the "Embeds & More" section.
2. Authenticate your Google account using the updated streamlined process.
3. Choose the file or folder you’d like to display, and interact with your Google Drive content without leaving Notion.

Creating Custom Widgets

In addition to built-in widgets, Notion allows you to create custom widgets by embedding external content. This enables you to integrate third-party tools and services right into your workspace. Custom widgets can include project management tools, chat applications, weather updates, or social media feeds.

1. Open the page where you want to add the custom widget.
2. Click on the "+" button to open the list of available blocks.
3. Scroll to the "Embeds & More" section and select Embed.
4. Copy the embed code from the external tool or service you want to include.
5. Paste the embed code into the embed block in Notion.
6. Your custom widget will load within your workspace.

Notion continues to refine its embedding capabilities, so if you encounter any issues with embedded content, checking Notion’s updated documentation is always a good idea.

Conclusion

Widgets in Notion are a powerful way to enhance your workspace and display dynamic information effortlessly. Whether you're keeping track of your calendar, managing tasks on a Kanban board, or embedding custom tools, Notion’s widgets provide a versatile solution to streamline your workflow. By utilizing these features effectively and taking advantage of updated integrations, you can create a more productive and efficient workspace tailored to your needs.