diff --git a/lua/cargdev/core/function/notification_manager.lua b/lua/cargdev/core/function/notification_manager.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a2c165
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/cargdev/core/function/notification_manager.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+-- Custom notification manager to handle overlapping and improve UX
+local M = {}
+
+-- Track active notifications to prevent overlapping
+local active_notifications = {}
+local notification_queue = {}
+
+-- Function to show a notification without overlapping
+function M.show_notification(message, level, opts)
+  level = level or vim.log.levels.INFO
+  opts = opts or {}
+  
+  -- Default options
+  local default_opts = {
+    timeout = 3000,
+    title = "CarGDev Neovim",
+    render = "minimal",
+    stages = "fade_in_slide_out",
+    position = "top_right",
+    max_width = 50,
+    max_height = 8,
+    background_colour = "#000000",
+    border_style = "rounded",
+  }
+  
+  -- Merge options
+  for k, v in pairs(default_opts) do
+    if opts[k] == nil then
+      opts[k] = v
+    end
+  end
+  
+  -- Check if we're in alpha dashboard
+  local current_buf = vim.api.nvim_get_current_buf()
+  local current_ft = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_option(current_buf, "filetype")
+  
+  if current_ft == "alpha" then
+    -- If in dashboard, use a different approach
+    M.show_dashboard_notification(message, level, opts)
+    return
+  end
+  
+  -- Use nvim-notify if available
+  local notify_available = pcall(require, "notify")
+  if notify_available then
+    local notify = require("notify")
+    
+    -- Position notification to avoid overlapping
+    opts.on_open = function(win)
+      -- Calculate position to avoid overlapping with other notifications
+      local row = 2
+      local col = vim.o.columns - 60
+      
+      -- Adjust position if there are other notifications
+      for _, notif in ipairs(active_notifications) do
+        if notif.win and vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(notif.win) then
+          row = row + 10 -- Stack notifications vertically
+        end
+      end
+      
+      -- Ensure notification doesn't go off-screen
+      if row > vim.o.lines - 15 then
+        row = 2
+        col = col - 20
+      end
+      
+      vim.api.nvim_win_set_config(win, {
+        row = row,
+        col = col,
+        relative = "editor",
+        width = opts.max_width,
+        height = opts.max_height,
+      })
+      
+      -- Track this notification
+      table.insert(active_notifications, {
+        win = win,
+        message = message,
+        timestamp = vim.loop.now(),
+      })
+    end
+    
+    opts.on_close = function(win)
+      -- Remove from active notifications
+      for i, notif in ipairs(active_notifications) do
+        if notif.win == win then
+          table.remove(active_notifications, i)
+          break
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    
+    -- Show notification
+    local notification_id = notify(message, level, opts)
+    return notification_id
+  else
+    -- Fallback to vim.notify
+    vim.notify(message, level, opts)
+  end
+end
+
+-- Function to show notifications specifically for dashboard
+function M.show_dashboard_notification(message, level, opts)
+  -- In dashboard, show minimal notifications
+  local icon = "💬"
+  if level == vim.log.levels.ERROR then
+    icon = "❌"
+  elseif level == vim.log.levels.WARN then
+    icon = "⚠️"
+  elseif level == vim.log.levels.INFO then
+    icon = "ℹ️"
+  end
+  
+  -- Show message in status line or use echo
+  local short_message = message:sub(1, 50)
+  if #message > 50 then
+    short_message = short_message .. "..."
+  end
+  
+  -- Use echo for dashboard notifications to avoid overlapping
+  vim.cmd("echo '" .. icon .. " " .. short_message .. "'")
+  
+  -- Clear message after a delay
+  vim.defer_fn(function()
+    vim.cmd("echo ''")
+  end, opts.timeout or 3000)
+end
+
+-- Function to clear all notifications
+function M.clear_all_notifications()
+  for _, notif in ipairs(active_notifications) do
+    if notif.win and vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(notif.win) then
+      vim.api.nvim_win_close(notif.win, true)
+    end
+  end
+  active_notifications = {}
+end
+
+-- Function to show performance notification
+function M.show_performance_notification(message, level)
+  M.show_notification("📊 " .. message, level, {
+    title = "Performance Monitor",
+    timeout = 4000,
+    position = "top_right",
+  })
+end
+
+-- Function to show LSP notification
+function M.show_lsp_notification(message, level)
+  M.show_notification("🔧 " .. message, level, {
+    title = "LSP Status",
+    timeout = 3000,
+    position = "top_right",
+  })
+end
+
+-- Function to show file operation notification
+function M.show_file_notification(message, level)
+  M.show_notification("📁 " .. message, level, {
+    title = "File Operation",
+    timeout = 2500,
+    position = "top_right",
+  })
+end
+
+-- Function to show plugin notification
+function M.show_plugin_notification(message, level)
+  M.show_notification("🦥 " .. message, level, {
+    title = "Plugin Manager",
+    timeout = 3000,
+    position = "top_right",
+  })
+end
+
+-- Function to show startup notification
+function M.show_startup_notification(message, level)
+  M.show_notification("🚀 " .. message, level, {
+    title = "Startup",
+    timeout = 2000,
+    position = "top_right",
+  })
+end
+
+-- Function to handle startup messages
+function M.handle_startup_messages()
+  -- Clear any existing messages
+  vim.cmd("redraw!")
+  
+  -- Suppress startup messages
+  vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "I" -- No intro message
+  vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "c" -- No completion messages
+  vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "F" -- No file info message
+  vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "W" -- No "written" message
+  vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "A" -- No attention message
+  vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "o" -- No overwrite messages
+  
+  -- Clear any existing messages
+  vim.cmd("echo ''")
+end
+
+-- Function to setup notification system
+function M.setup()
+  -- Create autocmd to handle startup messages
+  vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("VimEnter", {
+    callback = function()
+      M.handle_startup_messages()
+    end,
+    once = true,
+  })
+  
+  -- Create autocmd to handle alpha dashboard
+  vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("FileType", {
+    pattern = "alpha",
+    callback = function()
+      M.handle_startup_messages()
+    end,
+  })
+  
+  -- Override vim.notify to use our custom system
+  local original_notify = vim.notify
+  vim.notify = function(msg, level, opts)
+    M.show_notification(msg, level, opts)
+  end
+  
+  print("Notification manager initialized")
+end
+
+-- Initialize notification manager
+M.setup()
+
+return M
diff --git a/lua/cargdev/core/init.lua b/lua/cargdev/core/init.lua
index c4ea358..c4f59b9 100644
--- a/lua/cargdev/core/init.lua
+++ b/lua/cargdev/core/init.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ require("cargdev.core.compatibility").setup()
 -- Load startup optimizations early
 require("cargdev.core.startup_optimization")
 
+-- Load notification manager for better UX
+require("cargdev.core.function.notification_manager")
+
 require("cargdev.core.options")
 require("cargdev.core.keymaps")
 
diff --git a/lua/cargdev/core/keymaps/general.lua b/lua/cargdev/core/keymaps/general.lua
index 4993227..df1894f 100644
--- a/lua/cargdev/core/keymaps/general.lua
+++ b/lua/cargdev/core/keymaps/general.lua
@@ -25,4 +25,8 @@ keymap.set("n", "<leader>pb", "<cmd>lua require('cargdev.core.function.performan
 
 -- LSP health and troubleshooting keymaps
 keymap.set("n", "<leader>pl", "<cmd>lua require('cargdev.core.function.performance_monitor').check_lsp_health()<CR>", { desc = "Check LSP health" })
-keymap.set("n", "<leader>pr", "<cmd>lua require('cargdev.core.function.performance_monitor').restart_lsp()<CR>", { desc = "Restart LSP" }) 
\ No newline at end of file
+keymap.set("n", "<leader>pr", "<cmd>lua require('cargdev.core.function.performance_monitor').restart_lsp()<CR>", { desc = "Restart LSP" })
+
+-- Notification management keymaps
+keymap.set("n", "<leader>nc", "<cmd>lua require('cargdev.core.function.notification_manager').clear_all_notifications()<CR>", { desc = "Clear all notifications" })
+keymap.set("n", "<leader>nn", "<cmd>lua require('cargdev.core.function.notification_manager').show_notification('Test notification', vim.log.levels.INFO)<CR>", { desc = "Test notification" }) 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lua/cargdev/plugins/alpha.lua b/lua/cargdev/plugins/alpha.lua
index d0ad993..e43a816 100644
--- a/lua/cargdev/plugins/alpha.lua
+++ b/lua/cargdev/plugins/alpha.lua
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ return {
     -- 📂 Set menu with improved icons and performance tools
     dashboard.section.buttons.val = {
       dashboard.button("f", "🔎  Find File (Safe)", "<cmd>Telescope find_files<CR>"),
-      dashboard.button("n", "📜  New File", "<cmd>ene<CR>"),
+      dashboard.button("n", "📄  New File", "<cmd>ene<CR>"),
       dashboard.button("g", "📝  Find Text", "<cmd>Telescope live_grep<CR>"),
       dashboard.button("r", "📚  Recent Files", "<cmd>Telescope oldfiles<CR>"),
       dashboard.button("c", "⚙️  Config", "<cmd>e ~/.config/nvim/init.lua<CR>"),
@@ -103,5 +103,42 @@ return {
 
     -- 🔥 Disable folding on alpha buffer
     vim.cmd([[autocmd FileType alpha setlocal nofoldenable]])
+    
+    -- 🚫 Suppress startup messages that can overlap with dashboard
+    vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("VimEnter", {
+      callback = function()
+        -- Clear any startup messages
+        vim.cmd("redraw!")
+        
+        -- Suppress specific startup messages
+        vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "I" -- No intro message
+        vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "c" -- No completion messages
+        vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "F" -- No file info message
+        vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "W" -- No "written" message
+        vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "A" -- No attention message
+        vim.opt.shortmess = vim.opt.shortmess + "o" -- No overwrite messages
+        
+        -- Clear any existing messages
+        vim.cmd("echo ''")
+      end,
+      once = true,
+    })
+    
+    -- 🎨 Improve dashboard appearance and reduce overlapping
+    vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("FileType", {
+      pattern = "alpha",
+      callback = function()
+        -- Set buffer options for better appearance
+        vim.opt_local.number = false
+        vim.opt_local.relativenumber = false
+        vim.opt_local.cursorline = false
+        vim.opt_local.cursorcolumn = false
+        vim.opt_local.signcolumn = "no"
+        vim.opt_local.foldcolumn = "0"
+        
+        -- Clear any messages that might overlap
+        vim.cmd("redraw!")
+      end,
+    })
   end,
 }
diff --git a/lua/cargdev/plugins/essential_enhancements.lua b/lua/cargdev/plugins/essential_enhancements.lua
index b89b22d..48fdb59 100644
--- a/lua/cargdev/plugins/essential_enhancements.lua
+++ b/lua/cargdev/plugins/essential_enhancements.lua
@@ -1,10 +1,46 @@
 return {
-  -- Enhanced notifications
+  -- Enhanced notifications with better positioning
   {
     "rcarriga/nvim-notify",
     event = "VeryLazy",
     config = function()
       vim.notify = require("notify")
+      
+      -- Configure notifications to avoid overlapping
+      require("notify").setup({
+        -- Position notifications to avoid overlapping with dashboard
+        stages = "fade_in_slide_out",
+        timeout = 3000,
+        background_colour = "#000000",
+        max_width = 50,
+        max_height = 10,
+        default_timeout = 4000,
+        top_down = false, -- Show newer notifications at the bottom
+        render = "minimal",
+        minimum_width = 20,
+        icons = {
+          ERROR = " ",
+          WARN = " ",
+          INFO = " ",
+          DEBUG = " ",
+          TRACE = " ",
+        },
+        -- Position notifications away from dashboard
+        on_open = function(win)
+          -- Move notification window to avoid overlapping with alpha dashboard
+          local config = vim.api.nvim_win_get_config(win)
+          if config.relative == "editor" then
+            -- Position notifications in the top-right, but not overlapping dashboard
+            vim.api.nvim_win_set_config(win, {
+              row = 2,
+              col = vim.o.columns - 60, -- Position from right side
+              relative = "editor",
+              width = 55,
+              height = 8,
+            })
+          end
+        end,
+      })
     end,
   },
 
@@ -126,7 +162,7 @@ return {
     end,
   },
 
-  -- Better completion menu
+  -- Better completion menu with improved positioning
   {
     "folke/noice.nvim",
     event = "VeryLazy",
@@ -156,6 +192,19 @@ return {
           },
           view = "mini",
         },
+        -- Route startup messages to avoid overlapping with dashboard
+        {
+          filter = {
+            event = "msg_show",
+            any = {
+              { find = "ideaDrop loaded!" },
+              { find = "noice.nvim" },
+              { find = "lazyredraw" },
+            },
+          },
+          view = "notify",
+          opts = { timeout = 2000 },
+        },
       },
       presets = {
         bottom_search = true,
@@ -163,6 +212,25 @@ return {
         long_message_to_split = true,
         inc_rename = true,
       },
+      -- Position command palette and other UI elements to avoid overlapping
+      cmdline = {
+        position = {
+          row = "50%",
+          col = "50%",
+        },
+      },
+      popupmenu = {
+        position = {
+          row = "50%",
+          col = "50%",
+        },
+      },
+      notify = {
+        -- Position notifications to avoid dashboard overlap
+        position = "top_right",
+        max_width = 50,
+        max_height = 10,
+      },
     },
   },
 
@@ -175,6 +243,8 @@ return {
         theme = "auto",
         globalstatus = true,
         disabled_filetypes = { statusline = { "dashboard", "alpha" } },
+        component_separators = { left = "│", right = "│" },
+        section_separators = { left = "", right = "" },
       },
       sections = {
         lualine_a = { "mode" },