Ask HN: Do you send emails to yourself?

i do

Yes, journal@(my name).com

I do too, mostly book references

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

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.

Occasionally, mostly reminders

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.

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

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

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)

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.

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).

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 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.

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 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

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.

No. I use intray.eu for this.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.