5 ways I use NotebookLM to improve my productivity and workflow

I've recently delved into AI tools that assist me with getting my work done. Things like structuring my workflow, totaling my invoices, researching for an article — these are tasks that I've delegated to AI services, since it saves both time and effort. I can now concentrate on writing better stories without worrying too much about auxiliary and mundane tasks. One such tool that I recently started using for this purpose is NotebookLM. A few of my colleagues here at XDA swore by NotebookLM, so I decided to give it a try. Initially, I thought it wouldn't be too helpful, considering my line of work doesn't involve a lot of research. It seemed more like a tool tailor-made for students.

Well, after using NotebookLM for about a month, I couldn't have been more wrong. Over the past month, I've created multiple notebooks within the tool, which not only make my work easier but also help me streamline my workflow. As a result, I've been saving a substantial amount of time every day, which has led to improved productivity. If that sounds like something you want to do as well, here are some effective ways I use NotebookLM to make my job easier. The best part is that you can adapt these tips to your specific line of work, making them applicable to everyone.

5 Create a comprehensive research database

Don't miss out on any information

At any given time, I am generally working on multiple articles and topics. These may be related or completely different, so it does get confusing at times when researching for points to write about. I create multiple notebooks in NotebookLM, one for each topic I'm writing about. Then, I paste any number of resources inside the notebooks that can help me understand the topic better.

For instance, I often write about 3D printing and the various types of objects that can be printed. These are collections of objects that I may have come across while browsing the internet. So, every time I see a 3D model I can include in an article, I save the webpage and add it to a separate notebook. Once I have all of them in one place, I ask NotebookLM to synthesize all the information. I can then ask questions like "How long does it take to print the laptop stand?" or "What are the hardware requirements to host the XYZ app?"

4 Generate FAQs for complex topics

Understand complications

When writing about certain topics, I need to ensure that I elaborate on the information in the simplest possible manner so that readers can understand it better. This is where I take help from Notebook LM. I paste the basic synopsis of my article into a notebook and ask it to generate FAQs that people may have.

Once I have the questions, I address them within the article — making it easy for beginners to understand every step. I also refer to research papers at times, so I can also feed them into NotebookLM and get a summary of the most important points.

3 Listen to summaries instead of reading them

Create an informative podcast

Speaking of summaries, NotebookLM can generate audio overviews that you can listen to instead of reading large chunks of information. I find this helpful when I'm bored with spending time in front of a screen and want to consume information in a different way.

So, I use the overviews as podcasts when I'm working out or taking a stroll. This way, I can better understand the topic while also completing other tasks. If your work involves extensive research and analyzing complex topics, you will certainly appreciate this feature. My dad's a professor, and when I introduced him to audio overviews, he said it would aid him in delivering better lectures.

2 Automatically generate timetables and structures

Let AI do the work for you

Apart from writing, I also help a few brands with their marketing campaigns. I have a few clients with whom I meet regularly, and I make it a point to take notes during our calls. These meetings typically cover deliverables, timelines, required resources, and other relevant details. Uploading this data to NotebookLM helps me ease my workflow by giving me better clarity.

For instance, I could ask, "How many ads do I need to create for this campaign, and how much time do I have to make each of them?" This avoids manual calculations. I can then generate a schedule to create these ads by giving NotebookLM info about my schedule, when I have free time to dedicate to this, etc.

1 Integrate with Obsidian

Convert your notes into actionable data

I mentioned how I take notes during all my meetings. Recently, I switched to Obsidian to take all my notes, and I can now sync all of them with NotebookLM. All I have to do is export my Obsidian notes as Markdown files and then import them into NotebookLM.

You can then use AI to fetch information from your notes. If you have lots of pages of notes and you want to retrieve actionable information from them, this is an excellent tool. You can ask questions like, "What are the key products of brand X that were discussed with the CEO?"

Don't waste time on mundane tasks

Once you start using NotebookLM, you'll wonder why you didn't discover it earlier. As mentioned, I ignored it for some time, thinking it was only useful for students. However, you can make some amends and make it work well for you, irrespective of your line of work. If you're a software engineer, you can have an outline of your project or the algorithm, and ask NotebookLM for help with the syntax or commands. Those working in finance can effectively integrate laws and formulas to facilitate better calculations. The idea is to create multiple notebooks that can help with specific tasks to make your life easier.