Ask HN: Do you send emails to yourself?

I have a self-hosted mail server and with a bunch of aliases. e.g.

- bookmark@example.tld

- todo@example.tld

- cal@example.tld

Each of the aliases is processed by procmail and performs certain action:

- creates a bookmark on the owncube.com

- adds a record to my TODO list

- creates event in calendar

Used to... now I slack myself - email inbox is major source of anxiety, for me, given how many unread/junk emails I get.

Sometimes. Usually just URLS with tutorials or something I need real quick. Firefox has a great little button on the hamburger menu on the search bar that pulls up your email client with the url in the body and the page title in the title of the email.

I still do send emails to myself for safekeeping.

I also use specialized apps e.g. Apple Notes, Trello, etc. but usually I find email interfaces are easier, searchable, and I don't have to remember which app I stored that note in.

Yes I do, but now I have 100's of todos and ideas which lets face it will never amount to much :(

For general note taking I use OneNote, but sometimes if a work idea comes to me after work hours I find it is better to email my work address with the idea than most of the alternatives. It better separates the "spaces" in that sending that email means it is no longer my problem that night or that weekend. I don't keep work apps on my personal devices, and it's much better than booting up a work device to add it to a note taking app or a TODO list (or Kanban board or whatever), as it keeps me from falling into other work or checking work email in time that should be away from work.

Constantly. Emailing myself is the easiest way to "bookmark" something - be it a web page or a random thought - that I want to transcribe to my long-term notebooks.

I used to. But not since I started using OmniFocus, which has an email address I can send things to. So I kind of still do, but it's specifically an email which goes to an application and not to a regular mailbox. I use my kindle email address similarly for PDFs.

I would send, primarily, links to future reading, or reminders of tasks I need to do. Especially from work (I've often worked in areas where a phone was not permitted for various reasons).

Yes: when I'm browsing on mobile, I send myself links to topics to look into further on desktop (where it's easier to have a bunch of tabs and applications open at the same time).

This way, I can reserve weekly blocks of time for processing these interesting links all at once instead of being side-tracked every time I encounter an interesting new rabbit hole.

All the time! I mostly take pictures on my iphone and email them to myself.

It bothers me that the iPhone's "send to" (or whatever it's called) does not put my email in the "recent email addresses" choices even though I'm always emailing myself.

I use a modified GmailThis bookmarklet to send myself URLs frequently: https://github.com/DangerousPenguins/GTDPI

Just click the bookmarklet, optionally add any search terms and click send.

Sometimes. I'm also adding note taking capabilities to a little web app of my creation. The challenge has been reducing the time from thought to saving. The most promising solution at the moment is a browser plugin that talks to the app.

Nikki Glaser talks about this on Joe Rogan, which is not safe for work -

Nikki Glaser Details Her Porn Habits - https://youtu.be/ey60IhkJF3E?t=484 (NSFW)

Yes, sometimes. Depends on the content to be sent.

I also send messages to myself on Slack.

I used to very regularly, but nowadays I use the macOS notes app since it's synced between all of my devices. I may also text myself links/quick notes, but I don't really email myself anymore.

It is so common for me that I often accidentally send messages to myself that are intended for others (which clearly is better than the reverse). It’s my main reminder/notepad/etc method.

I find it much quicker at times to email myself individual photos from my phone when I need them, as opposed to plugging the phone in and going through the directories.

Same, if I need to save something really quick that I'm gonna need for later, I send it via e-mail (e.g. note, URL, screenshot/photo etc.)

I usually just save them as a draft in the email application.

I use my mailbox as a first-line todo-list, next to just e-mailing with people. So yes, I do send myself e-mails, very often.

Yes, I used to, when I worked in an office I would send myself stuff to my personal address. Now, not at all.

Yip, reminders from my phone.

No. I use intray.eu for this.

I use the “saved messages” feature of Telegram, which syncs across my devices.

No. I use apple notes and reminders on all of my devices.

No, but I do send myself messages on Telegram.

All the time. I send myself reminders and todos.

I do too, mostly book references

Occasionally, mostly reminders

Yes, journal@(my name).com

I also reply

i do