Productivity Series: Uses For Notes

Check out some of the things I use the Notes app for, and share some suggestions for other types of Notes you find useful.

You can also watch this video at YouTube (but with ads).

Video Transcript: Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com. Here's how I use the Notes App on my Mac and iPhone.
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So here's another video in my Productivity Series showing you how I use different apps and things you can do on your Mac and iPhone to stay organized and get work done. So for the Notes App I probably don't use it as much as some  other people do. I know people have sometimes hundreds of notes. They use it for all sorts of different things. I tend to put lots of information in files instead. But I do use the Notes App for some really interesting things that I thought I would share with you. So this is all in my Demo account. I try to recreate some of the lists I use in my real account. 
So, for instance, one of the things I've got is a list of home contractor notes of various people that handle things like HVAC, plumbers, somebody to clean the gutters, fix the garage door if it breaks you know, somebody to paint things. All of that. What I do is I put it all in this one Note here so I have easy access to it but also I can share this note and share it with my wife so that she has access to it at any time. So if I'm not around and she needs to call a plumber she knows to go right to this note and all the information is right there. 
Now another way I use Shared Notes is for trip planning. This was a trip from back in 2019. I'll share it with everybody else that's going on the trip and we can all add things here. Little links to hikes, to restaurants, to things to do. Put them all in here and we can all comment on them, say what we like, don't like. One of us could go in and organize it at some point. We can all share this stuff. That way you could tell somebody, hey I found a great thing for us to do. I added it to the notes. So when we actually go on the trip we have easy access to all of this. So it's easy to get directions, there are phone numbers, if we schedule something there's the time, and everything is right there all shared between us. 
I also create lots of packing lists. This may seem like it's something to do in Reminders. But in Reminders you check something off and it kind of disappears off the list. The great thing about doing it in Notes is first I can have it in sections and I could have Headings on top of those sections. I could have actual notes, you know, underneath each thing here. So I could type something else. I can kind of organize very easily this way. Also, as I check things off preparing for this trip, but after this trip is over I can easily Reset this whole list and get it ready for next time. 
Here's another such list. This is a backpacking list. So I've got a different one for going on a hike here in Colorado than for actually going overseas and doing something. 
I have another checklist for home security. When I go on a trip or leave for any reason I have all the different things here that I need to check before I leave. Like most people I'm probably are always worried I'm going to forget that one thing, like to lock the back gate or turn on the security camera or something like that. 
Another house oriented thing I've got is for the fuse box. With an old house I've got this big fuse box back there. It's got a bunch of numbers and really no labels telling you what the fuse goes to. So when I need to actually shut power off to a room, say to change a light switch of something, I will experiment and figure out which one it is and then I'll add it to this list. So eventually this list will include all of the fuse numbers. What makes this list really handy as a note instead of anything else, like a text file for instance, is that most often I need to access this on my phone. I need to get to it really quickly. The same for a lot of these. 
Here's another one that kind of fits that. Sometimes when we go to restaurants I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what I like on the menu and then we don't go there for a few more months. Then I can't remember what it was I got last time that I liked so much. So I'll actually put these things here. 
Then here's a note that I've got that I think a lot of people have. Like a movies and TV show recommended list. Right. Somebody tells you you've got to see this movie or you've got to watch this TV show . Even if you like their recommendation you know you're not going to get around to it for a while because you're already watching something. So you want to put these in a note, the real note is actually much more detailed with a lot more information, and then I can easily kind of make something bold or move it to the top of the list if it's something that I should really watch soon.
So those are some of the notes that I create that I find useful. I'd love to here from you to find out what type of notes you have.

Comments: 9 Responses to “Productivity Series: Uses For Notes”

Russ Winkler

3 years ago

List of neighbors, monthly premiums for various utilities (electricity, water, gas, trash), AppleCare Protection plan info, Cable modem/router info such as IP Address; My DNS(also in 1Password). List o Medicines, etc...

Sue H.

Car license plate, COVID-19 shots & booster info, cosmetic brands & description, list of medications, printer cartridge info

Vicki

Notes on my phone:
Our TSA Pre #- nice to have handy when making reservations
Ongoing shopping list of things we would like to find but are willing to wait for the perfect one. (rugs, lamps etc) with measurements needed
Insurance Policy numbers
Measurements for current home improvement projects
Bank account numbers and routing numbers
Neighbors names (the ones we really only know from taking walks)
Medication list
Doctor names and phone numbers and pharmacy

Dinorah

Hi Gary, Loved your Notes distinction and benefit over Reminders for like the packing list, but I don't see how to create a check-off list. I only see the bullets option. Can you tell me how to get it?
THANKS! Dinorah

Gary Rosenzweig

Dinorah: It is an option in the top toolbar. Looks like a circle with a checkmark in it. If you don't see it maybe you are using an old version of macOS, or are using a note that is part of another system, like Google.

Selina

I used the camera in the notes app to scan documents. Doesn’t take a photo but scans it, so it’s easy to read. This is what I use it mostly for.

nick

Use it for:
Shopping lists
Travel destinations and points of interest
Food places to visit, create a folder ex. Restaurants in Maui
Books to read
..and other things already mentioned
Under-used app in my opinion.
thx Gary

Randy Miller

I have started a specific foods list. For example I have been trying different beef sticks and jerky, so I list the brand and a brief comment, too spicy or really good. Then when I am at the store and see a display I can decide if I want that product. I am also going to use it for different cheeses.

Jasper

We share a menu plan in a table: 7 rows for days and two columns (this/next week). Meals are deleted as they’re eaten or pasted to next week. At the end of the week the columns are reversed by dragging the ‘…’ handle. We have an inventory of perishable foods, to plan meals. #tags will arrive with Monterey which can be added to recipe ingredients to pull up ideas for perishable foods; or by theme (e.g., #vegetarian; #spanish).

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Productivity Series: Uses For Notes

Comments: 9 Responses to “Productivity Series: Uses For Notes”

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