TLDR;
This video features a discussion with Matt, who shares his "forever notes" system built within Apple Notes. He explains how he transitioned from using Apple Notes as a simple collection of individual notes to a structured system using linking. Matt also discusses the other apps he uses, including To-Doist, Arc, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Keynote, Webflow, Airtable, Free Form, RightFont, and Apple Passwords, and how he integrates AI into his workflow to enhance productivity and creativity.
- Matt developed the "forever notes" system within Apple Notes by utilizing linking to create structure and organization.
- He uses a variety of apps to manage different aspects of his work and personal life, including task management, web browsing, design, and data management.
- Matt integrates AI into his workflow to streamline tasks such as email management and illustration creation.
The Genesis of Forever Notes [0:31]
Matt discusses his background in productivity and his experimentation with tools like Notion and Obsidian. While he found these tools powerful, they often felt like overkill for his needs. He sought a simpler solution that still allowed for customization. The introduction of linking in Apple Notes opened up a new way for him to think about the app, transforming it from a collection of individual notes into a structured system. He created a home page or dashboard with links to frequently used notes. Inspired by Patrick from New Perspectives and his "forever journal" concept, Matt expanded on this idea to include monthly, quarterly, and yearly notes, allowing him to look back at previous years within his current journal view.
Development and Community Feedback [3:03]
Matt published his "forever notes" system in September of last year, after using it in various forms for about six months. He emphasizes that the system is a framework, designed to be adaptable to individual needs. Interestingly, some users have requested even more structure and guidelines for using specific components of the framework. Matt continues to develop the system, incorporating ideas and shortcuts from the community.
Apps for Productivity and Creativity [4:48]
Matt details the apps he uses alongside Apple Notes to manage his daily routines and projects. He relies on To-Doist for task management, highlighting its ability to integrate with email by automatically generating titles and descriptions for forwarded emails. For web browsing, he prefers Arc due to its support for Chrome extensions and its profile feature, which allows him to easily switch between different businesses and projects. As a designer, Matt utilizes the Adobe Creative Suite, Figma for web and presentation design, Keynote for presentations, Webflow for website prototyping, and Airtable for data management, particularly in his vegan cake business. He also uses Apple Free Form for visual creativity, RightFont for font management, and Apple Passwords for password management.
Integrating AI into the Workflow [9:39]
Matt shares his perspective on AI, acknowledging both its potential and the concerns it raises for his profession. He uses AI in To-Doist to generate descriptive names and short descriptions for tasks created from forwarded emails. Recently, he used AI to analyze existing illustrations and provide instructions for creating new ones, which helped him overcome creative block and streamline the illustration process. The AI provided a list of instructions, such as using a specific character's body and applying different clothes or hairstyles, which he found to be a great starting point.