{"id":691789,"date":"2026-07-14T20:46:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T20:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/691789\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T20:46:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T20:46:24","slug":"i-use-notebooklm-every-day-and-these-are-my-5-favorite-tips-and-tricks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/691789\/","title":{"rendered":"I use NotebookLM every day, and these are my 5 favorite tips and tricks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NotebookLM<\/p>\n

Shimul Sood \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been using NotebookLM<\/a> for a long time now, long enough to remember when it was just a handy place to dump documents and ask questions. Every new update<\/a> made it a little more capable, and before I knew it, opening NotebookLM had become second nature whenever I needed to untangle a messy idea or dive into a new topic.<\/p>\n

That said, NotebookLM probably isn\u2019t the AI tool<\/a> you open every day. With so many chatbots, research assistants, and writing tools competing for your attention, it\u2019s easy for one app to get lost in the mix. But over the past year, NotebookLM has grown well beyond a simple research companion. Today, it can help you understand documents, organize information into tables, generate audio overviews, and even create short video summaries<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Obviously, not every feature has earned a permanent spot in my workflow, but a handful absolutely have. These are the ones I keep coming back to, and the ones I think you\u2019ll end up using every day, too.<\/p>\n

What’s your favorite NotebookLM feature\/tip?<\/p>\n

186 votes<\/p>\n

Short video overviews<\/p>\n

20%<\/p>\n

Slide decks<\/p>\n

25%<\/p>\n

Discover sources<\/p>\n

15%<\/p>\n

Audio overviews<\/p>\n

25%<\/p>\n

Customizing chats<\/p>\n

10%<\/p>\n

Other (let us know in the comments)<\/p>\n

5%<\/p>\n

Reading the same paragraph again? There\u2019s a better way<\/p>\n

\"NotebookLM<\/p>\n

Shimul Sood \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all had that moment when a document feels impossible to get through. You reread the same page and somehow end up even more confused. That\u2019s exactly where NotebookLM\u2019s video overviews have become useful for me. Once I\u2019ve added my sources to a notebook, I head to the Studio panel, pick Video overview, and within a minute, the tool turns them into a short video that breaks everything down into something that\u2019s actually easy to follow.<\/p>\n

I first started using it for my Psychology thesis. Some topics are so dense that, by the fourth reread, I\u2019m just staring at words instead of making sense of them. Seeing those concepts explained visually makes everything click much faster, and it\u2019s become one of my favorite ways to revise before exams.<\/p>\n

Then I realized it wasn\u2019t just useful for studying. My mother loves trying new recipes, but she has zero patience for scrolling through lengthy blog posts. Ironically, she\u2019d much rather watch recipe reels on Instagram. So I started turning detailed recipes into video overviews instead. Now she gets a quick visual walkthrough she can follow while cooking, without wading through paragraphs of instructions.<\/p>\n

Video overviews don’t just summarize information; they make it easier to process.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what I like most about Video overviews \u2014 they don\u2019t just summarize information; they make it easier to process. Whether you\u2019re studying for an exam, researching a story, or simply learning something new, it\u2019s the feature I reach for the moment a document stops making sense.<\/p>\n

The feature that lets you skip the boring part<\/p>\n

\"NotebookLM<\/p>\n

Shimul Sood \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Another feature I\u2019ve started appreciating is Slide Decks. I simply upload my source material, whether that\u2019s PDFs, documents, or even YouTube videos. Then I choose Slide Deck and tell NotebookLM how I want the presentation to look. Since it only works with the information I provide, the final deck stays grounded in my research.<\/p>\n

Since it only works with the information I provide, the final deck stays grounded in my research.<\/p>\n

Now, I don\u2019t make presentations often enough to use this feature every day. My nephew, on the other hand, always seems to have one school presentation or another coming up. Whenever he\u2019s in a pinch, he sends me his notes and research. I upload everything to NotebookLM, and within minutes, we have a well-structured presentation ready to refine rather than build from scratch.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong, I don\u2019t do this every time. I want him to learn to put together a presentation on his own, rather than relying on AI for every assignment. But when he\u2019s racing against a deadline or needs something at the last minute, it\u2019s pulled me out of a bind more than once.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s where I think Slide Decks shine. If presentations are a regular part of your job or studies, this feature can handle the time-consuming first draft while still letting you decide the structure, tone, and overall format.<\/p>\n

The shortcut that doesn\u2019t cut corners<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one update that\u2019s saved me the most time, it\u2019s the new way NotebookLM handles sources, a feature called Discover Sources. Earlier, I had to do all the research myself, gather every article and PDF, add them to a notebook, and only then could I start working. Now, I can simply open a notebook, type in the topic I\u2019m exploring, and let NotebookLM find a solid starting point.<\/p>\n

This has been a genuine time-saver whenever I\u2019m racing against the clock. NotebookLM finds relevant sources for me<\/a>, but here\u2019s the part I actually appreciate: it doesn\u2019t force them into my notebook. I get to review everything, pick what I want to import, and ignore the rest. That means I\u2019m still the one deciding what goes into my research.<\/p>\n

For me, that\u2019s the sweet spot. AI helps me skip the tedious part of finding information, but I still decide what makes the cut. It saves me time without making me feel like I\u2019ve handed over the entire job.<\/p>\n

The easiest way to give your eyes a day off<\/p>\n

\"Creating<\/p>\n

Shimul Sood \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit it: I\u2019m an unapologetic doomscroller. Well, maybe not unapologetic because I\u2019ve tried just about every trick to spend less time mindlessly scrolling through reels. Some worked for a day or two, but most didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Then I started using NotebookLM\u2019s audio overviews a little differently. Instead of reaching for Instagram every time I had a few spare minutes, I\u2019d upload my notes or research and generate an audio overview from the Studio panel, which turns them into a podcast. It gave me a way to learn something new without staring at yet another screen. The result is a natural, back-and-forth conversation between two AI hosts that feels surprisingly close to something you\u2019d actually choose to listen to. On newer versions, you can even set how long you want it to run, or join in and ask the hosts a question mid-episode, which is worth a try if your account supports it.<\/p>\n

The hosts sound so natural that it’s easy to forget you’re listening to AI.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve found myself playing these while going for a walk, tidying up the house, or even during a quick grocery run. The back-and-forth between the hosts keeps things engaging, and they sound realistic enough that it\u2019s easy to forget you\u2019re listening to AI.<\/p>\n

\"notebooklm<\/p>\n

Tushar Mehta \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

My only complaint is that the conversations can sometimes take the scenic route. They\u2019ll occasionally spend a little too much time setting up a point before getting to it. But that\u2019s an easy fix. If I feel like I\u2019ve got what I came for, I simply stop the audio and move on.<\/p>\n

Even with that minor gripe, audio overviews have become one of my favorite NotebookLM features. They\u2019ve helped me swap a few minutes of doomscrolling for something I actually learn from, while also giving my eyes a break from screens. Honestly, that feels like a pretty good trade.<\/p>\n

Your notebook can\u2019t read your mind until you tell it how<\/p>\n

\"Customize<\/p>\n

Shimul Sood \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The last trick that\u2019s made a big difference is customizing each notebook before I start working. This completely changes the kind of responses I get.<\/p>\n

I keep separate notebooks for different parts of my life.<\/p>\n

I already keep separate notebooks for different parts of my life. One is dedicated to work, while the other is reserved for my university assignments. That alone keeps my research organized, but I take it a step further by assigning each notebook a specific role. Before I ask my first question, I tell NotebookLM exactly how I want it to respond.<\/p>\n

To do that, I click the configuration button at the top of the Chat panel, select Customize notebook, and then describe exactly what I need. It only takes a few seconds, but it changes the entire conversation that follows. For work, I usually ask it to be concise, factual, and easy to skim because I\u2019m often sifting through dozens of sources while writing. For university, I take the opposite approach. I ask it to explain concepts in simple language, use real-world examples, and walk me through the ideas step by step, almost like a patient tutor.<\/p>\n

The best part is that you can make it work however you want, whether that\u2019s preparing for a job interview, planning a vacation, or turning every response into bite-sized bullet points that are easier to skim. Once you start telling NotebookLM how you want it to help, the answers feel far more tailored.<\/p>\n

My best NotebookLM tips \u2026 for now<\/p>\n

\"notebooklm<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

These are the NotebookLM features I keep coming back to, simply because they\u2019ve become part of how I work, study, and even learn things outside of both. They\u2019ve saved me time, helped me understand complicated topics faster, and, every now and then, even convinced me to spend a little less time staring at a screen. Worth flagging that I\u2019m on the paid tier, so a couple of these features and limits will differ if you\u2019re on the free plan.<\/p>\n

That said, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve mastered NotebookLM, or any AI tool for that matter. Every time I use it, I discover a new feature or a different way to approach the same task. That\u2019s probably the fun part about using AI right now \u2014 it\u2019s constantly evolving, and so is the way we use it.<\/p>\n

Who knows? A few months from now, this list might look completely different. But for now, these are the features that keep pulling me back, and there\u2019s a good chance at least one of them will do the same for you.<\/p>\n

Thank you for being part of our community. Read our\u00a0Comment Policy<\/a> before posting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Shimul Sood \/ Android Authority I\u2019ve been using NotebookLM for a long time now, long enough to remember…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":691790,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[554,733,4308,844,60006,86,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-691789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-artificial-intelligence","tag-ai","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-artificialintelligence","tag-google","tag-notebooklm","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=691789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/691789\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/691790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=691789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=691789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=691789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}