How I use iOS Shortcuts Automations to log actions

SHORTCUTS AUTOMATION BASED TRACKING/LOGGING

  1. When I open either Messages, Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger, I get a notification that asks if I want to log with whom and why I am messaging. If the messaging (and the day it took place) is worth noting, I tap the message and run a shortcut that presents me with a list of most common people/groups I message. The list includes “other” option. If I choose that, I get to input the name of the person. Then the shortcut asks the topic/content of the message and creates a log in Airtable that includes the name of the messaging app I used.
  2. Whenever I open the phone “app”, I get a notification that asks if I want to log the phone call. If I click the notification, I run a shortcut that is basically a copy of the messages-shortcut. I usually log just the most important calls.
  3. Whenever I want to limit my social media use, I turn on a shortcut that lets me use Twitter/Facebook for 90 seconds after I open the app(s) and then presents me with the current day view of Things (todo) app. 
  4. Like I mentioned in my description of the Overcast app shortcut, whenever I open Overcast it logs the podcast I’m currently listening.
  5. Whenever I open Audible app I get a notification that asks me if I want to log the book I’m listening or my progress. To share the book I have to use Audible’s ”Share my Progress -function and a “Audible book info” shortcut from the share sheet. That creates a json-dictionary-file with books information parsed. If I have already exported the book I’m listening, the shortcut gets the json-dictionary-file for the book and asks me manually give the chapter and the location I’m at. It’s better than nothing but not as handy as Overcast’s sharing function.
Scroll to Top