Notion templates are getting simpler, and that's good for everyone
The era of the 12-database mega-template is fading. Here's why smaller, focused templates are winning — and what it means for how you organize.
For a few years, the Notion template world rewarded complexity. The most-shared templates had twelve linked databases, a dashboard inside a dashboard, and a setup video longer than a sitcom. They looked impressive in screenshots. Most of us opened them once and never went back.
I think that's changing. The templates selling best right now do one thing. A budget. A weekly reset. A reading log. People aren't looking for a second job — they're looking for the smallest system that actually survives a busy Tuesday. When I rebuild a template now, my first question is: what can I delete?
There's a practical reason, too. Fewer databases means fewer places for a formula to break, fewer views to maintain, and less guilt when life gets messy. A template that forgives a skipped week is worth more than one that demands perfect upkeep.
If you're shopping for templates this month, try this filter: can you explain how it works to a friend in one sentence? If not, it's probably not the one. Simple isn't a downgrade. It's the whole point.