You're on a walk and a great idea hits you. Or you're about to fall asleep and remember something important. Or you're in a meeting and need to capture a thought without disrupting the flow.
The problem? By the time you're back at your desk, the idea is gone.
The solution most people reach for is a notes app. But here's the thing - notes apps create a new problem. You now have another place to check. Another inbox. Another system to maintain.
The best place for an idea is somewhere you'll actually see it again. For most people, that's their email inbox.
Why email is the best place for your notes
Think about your morning routine. You sit down at your desk, open your laptop, and the first thing you do is check your email. Every idea, task and reminder that lands there gets seen, processed and acted on.
Your email inbox is already your productivity hub. So why not send your ideas there directly?
When a note lands in your inbox, it doesn't get lost. It sits there, waiting for you, alongside everything else that needs your attention. No extra app to check. No new habit to build.
Option 1 - The built-in way (slow)
You can always open the Mail app on your iPhone, tap compose, type your own email address, write a subject line, type your note and hit send. It works - but it's slow and clunky. Too much friction for capturing quick thoughts.
Option 2 - Note To Myself (fast)
This is exactly why I built Note To Myself. It removes all the friction from emailing yourself.
- Open the app
- Pick a note type - Idea, Reminder or Task
- Write your note
- Tap Send
That's it. Your note is in your inbox in seconds. No subject line to type, no email address to enter, no extra steps. Just the thought, captured and delivered.
Voice to text
Even faster - tap the microphone and speak your note out loud. It transcribes instantly in your language and sends it straight to your inbox. Perfect when your hands are busy.
Home screen widget
Add the widget to your home screen and you can send a note without even opening the app. One tap, type your thought, done.
Share extension
Reading something interesting in Safari or another app? Use the share button to send it straight to your inbox as a note. Works with links, text and images.
Try it for free
Most features are completely free. Up to 5 notes per day on the free plan.
Tips for making this work
Keep it short
Don't try to write a full document in the moment. Just capture the core idea in a few words. You can flesh it out later when you're back at your desk.
Use note types to stay organised
Note To Myself has three note types - Idea, Reminder and Task. Each one gets a different subject prefix in the email, so your inbox stays organised automatically.
Use scheduled sending for time-sensitive reminders
With Pro, you can schedule a note to arrive at a specific time. Heading into a busy weekend? Schedule a reminder for Monday morning so it's waiting for you when you start work.
The bottom line
Emailing notes to yourself on iPhone doesn't have to be slow or clunky. With the right tool, it takes less than 10 seconds from thought to inbox.
Your inbox is already where you work. Your ideas should live there too.