Introduction
Creating a progress bar in Notion is a great method to gauge and monitor your progress towards specific goals. It can serve as a source of motivation and help you stay on track while working. This article provides an overview of the fundamental steps involved in making a progress bar in Notion.
Creating a Progress Bar
Generally, there are two approaches to implementing progress bars in Notion. The first method involves copying and pasting the existing progress into your bar formula, while the second method entails creating your own progress using custom formulas. You have the flexibility to make any adjustments or modifications as per your requirements.
Step 1: Choose How You Want the Progress Bar Set Up
Before proceeding, it is essential to have a clear understanding of what you want to track. The progress bar formula utilizes various Notion properties. Here are some commonly used properties in bar formulas;
- Numbers; This helps you compare the number of tasks completed with the total number of tasks.
- Checkboxes; These are handy for keeping track of your habits.
- Dates; These enable you to calculate the days between two dates or after a specific date.
- Rollup; This feature allows you to monitor progress based on properties or pages in linked databases.
Step 2: Create Your Properties
Once you’ve determined the elements that require tracking, you can include the attributes intended for use in the database. For those who are new or not well versed in Rollups and Relations, it’s best to keep things straightforward. Focus on using date, checkbox and numerical properties to simplify the process.
This is how you set up properties in the progress bar:
- To begin, open a page where you want to include a progress bar, whether it’s an existing page or a new one.
- Next, locate the option labeled “Add Property” at the top and give it a click.
- Now, you’ll need to select the type of property that suits your needs. For instance, if you want to keep track of a project’s starting and ending dates, choose the “Date” property. On the other hand, if you want to monitor the percentage of completion and remaining work, opt for the “Number” property.
- After selecting the appropriate property type, provide a name for it and press “Enter.” Make sure that the name clearly reflects what it represents. Feel free to be creative with your choice.
- Please provide any desired options or additional information regarding the property. For instance, if you have a “Date” property, you can specify the format of the date.
- Feel free to repeat these steps to include any additional properties required in the progress bar.
Once you have completed the setup, you can utilize the properties within your formulas to effectively track progress using a progress bar. This feature enables you to closely monitor the advancements of your project. To incorporate a progress bar onto a specific page, it is advisable to work with two number properties; one for tracking completed items and another for total items. It is important to label these properties as “Completed” and “Total” respectively. Prior to proceeding, ensure that the appropriate numerical values are inputted into these properties.
Step 3: Set Up the Progress Bar Formula in Notion
Once you have configured your properties, it’s time to establish the formula. You have the option to either create a new formula or modify an existing one. Familiarity with the commonly used operators in progress bar formulas is essential. These operators include;
format(); This function converts numbers into text.
round(); It allows you to round decimals to whole numbers.
if(); This function determines the resulting values based on specific conditions being met.
slice(); It helps in removing a portion of your string text.
Follow these steps to set up the formula:
- To incorporate a progress bar into an existing page or create a new one, follow these steps;
- Navigate to the desired location and select “Add Property” from the top of the page. Then, click on the formula option to include a new formula.
- Input the formula that you wish to use for calculating task or project progress in the designated formula editor. The specific formulas may vary depending on the properties being utilized.
- Once you have entered the formula, click on “Save.”
- To add a progress bar block, select “Edit Property,” and then choose “Progress Bar.”
- Access the progress bar settings and opt for the “Formula” option for determining your bar value.
- Within the formula editor, include the name of your previously created formula property (from step 2).
- Customize and adjust the style and color of your progress bar according to your preferences.
- Finally, select “Save” to store your newly created progress bar.
By following the steps mentioned above, you can incorporate a progress bar into the page you have chosen. This progress bar will provide you with a visual representation of the task or project’s advancement, based on the formula you have specified.
Step 4: Select Emojis or Characters to Indicate Your Progress Visually
Notion progress bars offer customization options where you can include emojis and special characters. You have the flexibility to choose two characters; one for the “filled in” part and another for the “hollow part.” By incorporating special characters, you can modify the appearance and width of the progress bar according to your preferred text style.
- To begin, either open a page that already exists or create a new one that you want to work on.
- Next, locate the option labeled “Add Property” at the top of the page and click on it. This will allow you to add a new formula.
- Once you’ve accessed the formula editor, enter the specific formula that you wish to utilize for calculating task or project progress. Keep in mind that the formulas may vary depending on which properties are being utilized.
- After entering the formula, click on “Done” to finalize and save your changes.
- Now, within your workspace, you will be able to view and utilize a “Progress Bar” feature that can effectively track multiple goals or targets.
The page displays a progress bar that uses a special character or emoji to indicate the progress of a project. You have the option to customize the progress and appearance of the bar based on your branding and personal preferences.
Building progress bars from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially for beginners who are not familiar with how these formulas work. The formula used may vary depending on how the database is set up, as well as other design preferences.
Progress Bar Use Cases
Some common ways people use the progress bar feature in Notion include;
- Managing projects and tasks; Many users find it helpful to track their projects and tasks using progress bars in Notion. You can keep things simple by using number properties that you update manually. Alternatively, you can set up automatic progress bars using Rollups and Relations.
- Adding a gamified element to life; One interesting way to utilize Notion’s progress bars is by gamifying different aspects of your life. For example, you can use the “Gamify Your Life” template to monitor your progress towards achieving new levels or milestones.
- Setting and tracking goals; Notion allows you to establish goals and visually represent your progress through the use of progress bars. The goal tracker template is particularly useful for beginners as it simplifies the process.
- Monitoring habits; Habit tracking is also quite popular among users. You can create a habit specific progress bar by leveraging Relations and Rollups within Notion.
- Keeping track of reading lists; If you have a “To Be Read” (TBR) pile of books, a progress bar in Notion can help monitor your reading journey. It can display the number of books remaining as well as indicate how many pages you’ve already read. In this case, utilizing two number properties—one for total pages and another for pages read—would be ideal.
Keep Track of Your Goals With Notion Progress Bars
There are various designs available for progress bars that can be used in conjunction with your Notion templates. You can create efficient trackers and journals, as well as visually appealing ones. You have the choice between minimalistic or more bold designs.
Have you ever tried creating a progress bar in Notion? We’d love to hear about your experience! Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
