Life Operating System

Comprehensive, free-form structure to start. We’ll build it step-by-step, starting with the core philosophy and moving into the practical databases

Core Philosophy: Daily Game Dashboard

Everything should funnel into a single, central dashboard that you see every morning. This is your mission control.

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Part 1: Foundation – Core Databases

We’ll create several linked databases. Notion’ Value comes from “Relations” and “Rollups” that connect these databases.

# 1. `Life Areas` Database (Your Feng Shui Compass)

This is your taxonomy. It defines the nine areas of your life.

Table or Gallery

Properties

* `Name` (Title): Wealth, Image, Relationships, Basics, Health, Projects, Wisdom, Career, Travel.
* `Icon` (Icon): A unique emoji for each area (e.g., 💰 for Wealth, 🧠 for Wisdom).
* `Description` (Text): A brief mantra or description of what “success” looks like in this area.
* `Priority` (Select): High, Medium, Low (This can change over time).

# 2. `Habits & Routines` Database (Daily Game Pieces)

This is your list of all possible positive actions.

Table

Properties

* `Name` (Title): “Morning Meditation”, “Review Budget”, “Read 30 mins”, “15-min Tidy”, “Express Gratitude”.
* `Life Area` (Relation to `Life Areas`): Links the habit to one of your nine areas.
* `Difficulty/Points` (Select): Quick Win (1pt), Standard (2pt), Major Milestone(3pt). This is for gamification.
* `Ideal Time` (Select): Morning, Midday, Evening, Anytime.
* `Description` (Text): Instructions or the “why” behind the habit.

# 3.`Daily Log` Database (Game Board)

This is where you play the game every day. You will create a new page for each day.

Calendar or Table (Timeline view is paid, but table is great for free).

Properties

* `Name` (Title): “Date” (e.g., “2023-10-27”)
* `Date` (Date): Actual date.
* `Habits Completed` (Relation to `Habits & Routines`): A checklist of habits you did that day.
* `Points Earned` (Rollup from `Habits & Routines`): Rolls up the “Points” from completed habits. Calculate a sum.
* `Daily Score` (Formula): `prop(“Points Earned”) / [Your Daily Point Goal]` – Shows a percentage.
* `Mood` (Select): 😊 Great, 🙂 Good, 😐 Meh, 😕 Tough, 😞 Poor.
* `Win of the Day` (Text): A small victory to end the day on a high note.
* `Lesson Learned` (Text): A reflection for improvement.

# 4. `Projects` Database (Quests)

This holds all your multi-step endeavors.

Board (Kanban) by Status, or Table

Properties

* `Name` (Title): “Finish Backyard Deck”, “Complete Marketing Course”, “Plan Family Vacation”.
* `Life Area` (Relation to `Life Areas`): Which area does this project serve?
* `Status` (Select): Not Started, `In Progress`, `Waiting`, `Completed`.
* `Energy Level` (Select): Low, Medium, High. (So you can match tasks to your energy).
* `Mode` (Select): `Prioritize`, `Research`, `Execute`, `Review`. (This is your workflow!).
* `Deadline` (Date): The due date.

# 5. `Tasks` Database (Action Steps)

These are the individual actions that make up your Projects and Habits. School assignments, vehicle maintenance, etc., live here.

Table, List, or a linked database filtered by Project

Properties

* `Name` (Title): “Buy lumber”, “Read chapter 4”, “Schedule oil change”.
* `Project` (Relation to `Projects`): Links the task to a parent project.
* `Life Area` (Relation to `Life Areas`): Can be inherited from the project or set separately.
* `Status` (Select): To Do, Doing, Done.
* `Due Date` (Date): Specific due date.
* `Mode` (Select): `Prioritize`, `Research`, `Execute`, `Review`. (This ensures you’re in the right headspace for the task).

# 6. `Resources` Database (Best Practices & Mentors)

This is your knowledge vault.

Gallery or Table

Properties

* `Name` (Title): “Book: Atomic Habits”, “Podcast: Huberman Lab”, “Mentor: [Name]’s strategy on X”.
* `Life Area` (Relation to `Life Areas`): Which life area this resource helps.
* `Type` (Select): Book, Article, Video, Podcast, Quote, Mentor Insight.
* `Key Takeaway` (Text): Most important lesson. **This is critical.** Don’t just collect, distill.
* `Status` (Select): To Read/Consume, In Progress, Completed, Archived.

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Part 2: Daily Dashboard – Your Mission Control

Create a new page. This will be your homepage. Use Notion’s `/callout` or `/heading` blocks to make it visually inspiring.

**Title: Your Life OS – [Today’s Date]

Section 1: Daily Game

* **Embed a linked view of the `Daily Log` database, filtered to `Today` only.**
* Next to it, create a simple **Gamification Tracker**:
* **Daily Goal:** “Earn 10 Points”
* **Today’s Score:** `prop(“Daily Score”)` (This will pull from the Daily Log)
* **Reward (if score > 80%):** “30 mins of guilt-free leisure”
* **Consequence (if score < 50%):** "No streaming services after 9 PM" (Choose something constructive but mildly unpleasant).

Section 2: Today’s Habits by Time Block

* Create three linked views of the `Habits & Routines` database, filtered by `Ideal Time`:
* **`/heading2` Morning Ritual** (Filter: `Ideal Time` is `Morning`)
* **`/heading2` Midday Boost** (Filter: `Ideal Time` is `Midday`)
* **`/heading2` Evening Wind-Down** (Filter: `Ideal Time` is `Evening`)
* Make each one a simple checklist.

Section 3: Mode-Based Workflow

* Use `/tabs` or columns to create your modes.
* **Tab 1: `PRIORITIZE`**: A linked view of the `Tasks` database, filtered by `Mode` = `Prioritize` and `Status` != `Done`. This is where you decide what’s important *today*.
* **Tab 2: `RESEARCH`**: A linked view of the `Tasks` and `Resources` databases, filtered by `Mode` = `Research`. For tasks that need learning.
* **Tab 3: `EXECUTE`**: The main event. A linked view of `Tasks` filtered by `Mode` = `Execute` and `Status` = `To Do`. This is your pure “doing” list.
* **Tab 4: `REVIEW & IMPROVE`**: A linked view of the `Daily Log` and `Projects` database. Here you check your daily results, see what projects are stuck, and update your systems.

Section 4: Quick Access

* A linked view of `Projects` (filtered by `Status` = `In Progress`).
* A “Waiting For” list (a linked view of `Tasks` or `Projects` filtered by `Status` = `Waiting`).
* Direct links to your `Resources` and `Life Areas` databases.

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Part 3: Gamification & Mindset

* **Weekly Review:** Every Sunday, create a “Weekly Summary” page in your `Daily Log`. Use rollups to calculate your total weekly points and average mood. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t.
* **Consequence System:** Key to transformation. Consequences must be:
* **Immediate:** Happen the same day.
* **Certain:** No excuses.
* **Slightly Uncomfortable:** Enough to motivate you, but not destructive (e.g., donate $10 to a cause you dislike, cold shower, extra 15 mins of cardio).
* **Reward System:** Rewards should be healthy, gratifying, and *not counter-productive* to your goals. (e.g., a special experience, a favorite meal, buying a book you wanted).

Migration to Paid/Team Version

When you’re ready to upgrade, here’s what you’ll unlock:

1. **Permissions:** Add your team with edit/view-only access.
2. **Advanced Analytics:** Use the **Timeline View** for your `Projects` and `Tasks` to see a Gantt chart of your life.
3. **File Uploads:** Attach relevant files (e.g., school assignment sheets, vehicle manuals) directly to your `Tasks` and `Projects`.
4. **Version History:** Crucial for a team to see who changed what.
5. **More Database Entries:** Free plan has a block limit; paid removes this.

This structure is a robust starting point. Notion’s Beauty is that you can tweak and adapt it endlessly. Start building this core, use it for a week, and you’ll naturally discover what needs to be added or changed.