Using a Private Page with a Personal Dashboard in Notion
When you work in a shared space, privacy can sometimes feel out of reach. But there’s an easy way to keep certain things private in Notion without breaking your flow.
Each workspace in Notion gives you a “Private” section that only you have access to. You can add notes, ideas, or anything that nobody else should see. No permissions needed–It’s only visible to you.
But how do we connect your Private section with your Personal Dashboard? With a single block.
Why Have a Personal Dashboard?
A Personal Dashboard is a single place to put everything you’re responsible for. You can connect any tasks, notes, performance metrics, or even SOPs to see it all from one place.
While that’s extremely convenient, privacy still needs to be available. That’s where a Private Section saves the day.
Sometimes you just need a place to brainstorm or jot down notes before they’re ready to be shared. With the Private Section + Personal Dashboard combo, you get a personal homebase and a private workstation.
Why Keep Pages Private?
Every time you join a new workspace in Notion, you’re given a new Private Section. This gives you a personal space that no one else can see, regardless of workspace permissions. You can even be part of multiple workspaces and build out private pages in each one.
This private section lets you work on pages in any workspace without worrying about complex permissions.
When you pair that with a Personal Dashboard, you can see everything in a single place and keep your information private.
How to Link Private with Your Dashboard
This is all it takes: 1 Synced Block.
A synced block is a two-way mirror that shows the same content in multiple places but keeps the original permissions intact.
One more time: it keeps the original permissions intact.
Meaning, if you start a synced block in your private page, duplicate that synced block to a different place, the original location’s permissions apply. Essentially, wherever the block is copy & pasted.
Here’s how it works:
- Create a Synced Block in Your Private Page
Start by making a synced block inside your private section with Ctrl + G or any other method. The permissions that apply to this block stay in place, so it’s only visible to you. - Paste the Synced Block in Your Dashboard
Now you can add this synced block to your Personal Dashboard to manage private information right alongside everything else you’re tracking. If someone else views your dashboard, all they’ll see is an empty block. - Share the Block When You’re Ready
When it’s time to make something public, the only thing you need to do is change permissions on that page. Until then, it remains entirely yours.
Keeping Privacy Consistent: Highest Access Wins
The core principle behind Notion permissions is: highest access wins. If you have a synced block that started in a private page, it keeps that same level of access until you explicitly share it.
This lets you draft ideas or notes, review them, and then decide when and who to share them with. No need for complicated permissions settings each time.
Why This Setup Works
Using a private page with synced blocks on your Personal Dashboard is the best way to balance privacy and organization in Notion.
- Want to brainstorm ideas privately? Start with a synced block in your private section.
- Need to access it from your dashboard? Paste it where you want it and it’ll stay private until you share it.
- Ready to make it public? Adjust permissions on that page or section, and it’s instantly visible to others.
With Notion, privacy and sharing go hand-in-hand.
Using this private page and synced block setup gives you even more control over what stays private.
It’s your backdoor to independent work in a share space.