For a long time, making even simple decisions meant opening way too many tabs on my computer. By the time I was ready to decide, I was already mentally exhausted.
NotebookLM didn’t fix that overnight, and it didn’t replace my browser either.
But now, instead of bouncing between tabs and trying to hold everything in my head, I started pulling the crucial parts into one place and working from there.
Here’s how I use NotebookLM to transform my research, compare options, and make decisions without keeping dozens of tabs open in the background.
I paired NotebookLM with YouTube and learned faster than I ever did with note-taking apps
This unlikely duo upgraded my learning routine
Having more tabs made decisions harder
When I started shopping for a new phone, I did what most people do: open a dozen tabs. I read reviews, spec sheets, Reddit threads, and camera comparisons.
I could research endlessly, but when it came time to weigh options, I’d lose track of what I’d already learned.
That constant context-switching made decisions feel harder than they needed to be. Small details got lost, and I’d often reopen the same tabs to confirm something I’d already seen.
Instead of bouncing between tabs, I dropped a few trusted reviews and spec pages into NotebookLM to get a clearer picture.
When I started uploading key information into NotebookLM instead of leaving it across tabs, comparison became easier.
Having everything in one place meant I could weigh options instead of just reading about them.
How I kept my sources from becoming a mess
After I started adding sources, I realized they could get messy fast. A list of vaguely titled links in the sidebar wasn’t much better than a pile of open tabs.
So, the first thing I changed was how I labeled everything. I renamed each source in the left sidebar to reflect the content.
Titles like “Pixel 8 long-term review (battery)” or “Galaxy S23 camera specs” were far more useful than a generic publication title.
At a glance, I could tell what I was working with and why it was there.
NotebookLM’s integrated web search helped fill specific gaps.
The Fast Research option was handy for quick searches, while Deep Research made more sense when I needed a fuller picture from multiple sources.
When I stopped letting the sidebar turn into a dumping ground, the content became easier to navigate.
Using NotebookLM Data Tables to compare options
When NotebookLM introduced its new Data Table feature, I immediately recognized its value for shopping for phones.
Comparing options had always been the most challenging part of the process, but this feature finally provided a way to see everything at a glance.
I clicked the Data Table option in the Studio panel, and NotebookLM generated a table that organized each aspect into clear categories: key specifications, battery capacity, software support, pros and cons, and price.
Seeing these details laid out side by side made it easy to identify trade-offs. It became much simpler to notice where one phone consistently excelled and where the differences were minor enough to overlook.
What makes this feature even more helpful is that the table is customizable. If the default layout doesn’t match your needs, you can nudge it with a custom prompt.
Want to compare long-term software updates, charging speed, or camera consistency instead of raw specs? You can reshape the table around those priorities and let NotebookLM reorganize the same sources accordingly.
The table turned a messy comparison into something I could scan, without reopening a dozen tabs.
If you want to work with the comparison outside NotebookLM, you can export any data table straight to Google Sheets. Just click the table icon at the top of the table.
It’s an easy way to tweak columns, add your own notes, or share the comparison without starting from scratch.
I started asking better questions
After organizing my sources, I began framing prompts around the decision I was trying to make, rather than asking generic questions.
When I was comparing phones, it meant asking questions like where reviewers consistently disagreed, which complaints were common after weeks of use, and which trade-offs kept coming up across different sources.
Those questions were far more helpful than asking which phone was “best,” because they highlighted patterns rather than individual opinions.
It also helped me reassess my priorities. I assumed camera quality would be the deciding factor.
However, when I asked about missed shots, shutter lag, and consistency, it became clear that those issues mattered less to me than battery reliability and performance.
The questions narrowed the decision on their own.
Making decisions without drowning in tabs
NotebookLM didn’t eliminate uncertainty, but it helped me think more clearly.
By organizing sources, comparing options clearly, and focusing on the questions that mattered, I stopped confusing more research with better decisions.
That’s why I no longer feel stuck reopening the same tabs or second-guessing every option.
When the information is structured and the priorities are clear, making a decision feels less exhausting.
