How to Email Yourself a Note on iPhone: 3 Methods Compared

Whether you're in a meeting, at the grocery store, or just thinking of something important, the ability to quickly email yourself a note on iPhone is invaluable. It's a simple yet powerful productivity technique that helps capture ideas before they slip away.

In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through three different methods to email yourself notes on iPhone, compare their speed and ease of use, and help you choose the best approach for your workflow.

Why Email Yourself Notes?

Emailing yourself notes has become a fundamental part of modern productivity systems. Unlike keeping notes in your phone, emails hit your inbox where you process them as part of your daily workflow. This makes it easier to integrate captured ideas into your task management system or projects.

Many professionals use "email to self" as a trusted capture tool for their GTD (Getting Things Done) workflow. When you email yourself, the note lands in a standard location (your inbox) where it can be easily processed, archived, or turned into actionable items.

Method 1: Using the Built-in Mail App

The Native iOS Solution

The simplest way to email yourself a note is using Apple's built-in Mail app. This method requires no additional apps and works on any iPhone.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open the Mail App: Tap the Mail icon on your home screen or in the App Library.
2. Tap Compose: Press the compose button (pencil and paper icon) in the lower right corner.
3. Enter Your Email: In the "To:" field, enter your own email address. You can set up a favorite contact or just type it manually.
4. Add Subject (Optional): Type a brief subject line that summarizes your note. This helps you find it later.
5. Write Your Note: In the body of the email, type your memo or thought.
6. Send: Tap the Send button (arrow icon) in the lower left.

Pros:

• Available on every iPhone without additional setup
• Integrates with your existing email workflow

Cons:

• Takes 30-45 seconds due to the compose window loading
• Requires typing your email address (unless you set up a contact)
• Less ideal for quick thoughts due to the multi-step process

Method 2: Using SimpleMemo

The Fastest Approach

SimpleMemo is a specialized app built specifically for the "email yourself" workflow. It's optimized for speed and simplicity, allowing you to capture and send a note in under one second.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Download SimpleMemo: Get it from the App Store and grant the necessary permissions.
2. Add Your Email: Open settings and enter your email address once. SimpleMemo remembers this.
3. Open SimpleMemo: Tap the icon to launch the app (or use it from your Lock Screen).
4. Type Your Note: The text field is immediately ready. Start typing without waiting.
5. Tap Send: Hit the send button. Your note arrives in your inbox within seconds.

Advanced Features:

• Lock Screen widget for ultra-fast access
• Voice-to-text support for hands-free notes
• Automatic subject line generation
• Email templates for frequently sent note types
• Integration with Siri Shortcuts

Pros:

• Incredibly fast -- 0.3 seconds from app open to send
• Lock Screen widget for instant access without unlocking
• Purpose-built for this exact workflow
• Lightweight and minimal interface reduces friction

Cons:

• Requires installing an additional app
• Smaller developer than Apple (though highly reliable)

Method 3: Using Siri Shortcuts

The Customizable Option

For advanced users, Apple's Shortcuts app allows you to create a custom "email yourself a note" workflow. This gives you maximum flexibility but requires some setup.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open Shortcuts App: Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
2. Create New Shortcut: Tap the "+" icon to create a new shortcut.
3. Add "Ask for Text" Action: Search for and add this action to prompt for your note.
4. Add "Send Email" Action: Add the email action and configure it with your email address.
5. Link Text to Email Body: Connect the text input to the email body.
6. Add to Home Screen: Tap the three dots, select "Add to Home Screen," and customize the icon.
7. Use: Tap the shortcut icon to trigger the workflow.

Pros:

• Completely customizable to your specific needs
• Can add additional actions (time stamps, location, formatting)

Cons:

• Requires setup time and technical knowledge
• Slightly slower than SimpleMemo (2-3 seconds)
• May require Shortcuts permissions that feel invasive

Detailed Comparison Table

Feature	Mail App	SimpleMemo	Siri Shortcuts
Speed (app open to send)	30-45 seconds	0.3 seconds	2-3 seconds
Setup Time	None	2 minutes	15-20 minutes
Lock Screen Widget	No	Yes	No
Voice Support	Limited	Yes	Yes
Requires Installation	No	Yes	No
Customization	Minimal	Moderate	Extensive
Best For	Occasional use	Frequent daily use	Advanced users

Which Method Should You Choose?

Pro Tips for Email-to-Self Workflows

1. Set Up an Email Filter

Create a filter in your email client that automatically tags or folders emails from yourself. This keeps your main inbox organized and lets you batch-process your captured notes.

2. Use Consistent Subject Lines

When you email yourself notes, develop a labeling system. For example: "[IDEA]", "[TODO]", "[QUESTION]", or "[URGENT]". This makes it easier to scan and organize your captured thoughts later.

3. Review at Consistent Times

Don't let emailed notes pile up in your inbox. Dedicate time each morning or evening to review and process notes sent to yourself. This is core to maintaining productive email workflows.

4. Combine with Task Management

Use email-to-self as the capture step in a larger system. Email, then Review, then Task Management, then Execution. Tools like Zapier or Make can automate converting your self-emails into task manager entries.

5. Archive Processed Notes

Once you've processed a note (added it to your task list, calendar, or project), archive it. Keep your inbox clean and focused on genuinely new captured items.

Integrating Email-to-Self with Your Productivity System

The "email yourself a note" technique works best as part of a larger productivity system. It serves as the "capture" step in Getting Things Done (GTD), which follows this flow:

1. Capture: Use email-to-self to quickly grab ideas, tasks, and thoughts
2. Clarify: Review emails and determine what each one means
3. Organize: Sort into your task management system
4. Execute: Complete the actions
5. Review: Weekly review to ensure nothing falls through the cracks

SimpleMemo excels particularly at the "Capture" phase because of its speed. When you can send yourself a note in under one second, you're much more likely to actually capture ideas before they disappear.

Final Thoughts

Emailing yourself notes is a proven technique used by productivity experts, students, writers, and professionals across industries. The best method depends on how frequently you use it and your personal preferences.

If you're currently using the Mail app method and find it slow, I'd encourage you to try SimpleMemo. The time savings over a week of regular use is surprisingly substantial. For power users who want deep customization, Shortcuts remains the most flexible option.

The most important thing is choosing a method and using it consistently. Any of these three approaches will improve your ability to capture and process ideas throughout your day.