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Note-Taking

Capture thoughts, context, and insights alongside your activities.

Why Take Notes?​

Notes in Cadence serve multiple purposes:

  • Remember context: What happened during an activity?
  • Capture feelings: How did you feel?
  • Track insights: What did you learn?

Notes transform simple time tracking into a rich journal of your life.

Text Notes​

Adding Text Notes​

The simplest way to add notes:

  1. Tap an activity on your timeline
  2. Type your thought in the note field
  3. Notes save automatically

Pro tip: Keep notes concise but meaningful. Future you will appreciate the context!

Best Practices for Text Notes​

Good notes:

  • "Great energy after morning run!"
  • "Meeting went well - team aligned on Q1 goals"
  • "Felt distracted, need better focus tomorrow"

Less useful notes:

  • "Good" (too vague)
  • "Meeting" (obvious from the activity)
  • Extremely long paragraphs (save for reflections!)

Editing Notes​

To edit or delete a note:

  1. Tap the activity with the note
  2. Edit the text or clear it entirely
  3. Changes save automatically

Note Organization​

Connecting Notes to Activities​

Every note is attached to a specific activity and time slot:

  • View notes chronologically on your timeline
  • See all notes for a specific activity type
  • Review notes in the Reflection screen

This creates a rich, contextual history of your days.

Searchable Notes (Coming Soon)​

Full-text search across all notes is in development! Soon you'll be able to:

  • Search for specific topics or keywords
  • Find patterns in your thoughts
  • Recall when you learned something
  • Discover connections between ideas

Privacy & Security​

Encryption​

All notes are encrypted using AES-256:

  • End-to-end encryption: Notes are encrypted on your device
  • Your keys only: Only you can decrypt your notes
  • Secure storage: Encrypted data stored in Supabase
  • No access: Even Cadence employees can't read your notes

Advanced Note-Taking Strategies​

Daily Highlights​

At the end of each day, add a note to a special "Reflection" activity:

  • 3 positives: What went well?
  • 1 challenge: What was difficult?
  • 1 learning: What did you discover?

This creates a powerful daily reflection practice.

Energy Tracking​

Use notes to track your energy levels:

  • "High energy - productive morning"
  • "Low energy afternoon slump"
  • "Recharged after walk"

Over time, you'll identify energy patterns and optimize your schedule.

Gratitude Notes​

Add gratitude to relevant activities:

  • "Grateful for team support in meeting"
  • "Thankful for beautiful weather on run"
  • "Appreciated quiet time to read"

Small gratitude notes boost well-being and positivity.

Problem Solving​

Use notes to work through challenges:

  • "Stuck on X problem - need to think differently"
  • Later: "Had idea for solving X during walk"
  • Later: "Implemented solution - worked perfectly!"

Track your creative problem-solving process.

Combining Notes and Reflections​

Short Notes → Long Reflections​

Notes are quick captures. Reflections are longer, synthesized thoughts:

During the day: Add quick notes to activities End of week: Review your notes Edit & save: Personalize the AI-generated reflection

This creates a powerful journaling practice with minimal effort.

Weekly Review Practice​

  1. Sunday evening (or Monday morning):

    • Open Reflection view
    • Read through your week's notes
    • Notice patterns or themes
    • Generate and save a weekly reflection

  2. Monthly review:

    • Review all weekly reflections
    • Identify longer-term patterns
    • Celebrate progress
    • Adjust activities or habits

Accessibility Features​

Future Accessibility Features​

Coming soon:

  • Read notes aloud: Hear your notes with TTS
  • Dictation improvements: Better punctuation and formatting
  • Custom vocabulary: Teach Whisper your unique terms

Tips for Different Use Cases​

For Work​

  • Note key decisions in meetings
  • Capture ideas during focus work
  • Record blockers or challenges
  • Track energy and productivity

For Health​

  • Note how you feel after exercise
  • Track meal satisfaction
  • Record sleep quality thoughts
  • Capture meditation insights

For Creativity​

  • Record creative ideas as they emerge
  • Note inspiration sources
  • Track creative energy and flow states
  • Document creative process

For Personal Growth​

  • Capture insights from reading
  • Note "aha moments"
  • Record gratitude and positives
  • Track habit progress thoughts

Troubleshooting​

Can't add notes​

  • Check activity: Make sure you've logged an activity first
  • Internet required: Notes sync to cloud (offline support coming!)
  • Storage: Ensure device has free space
  • Update app: Check for the latest version

Notes not syncing​

  • Internet connection: Check Wi-Fi or cellular
  • Sign in: Verify you're signed into your account
  • Force refresh: Pull down on timeline to sync
  • Restart app: Close completely and reopen

Next Steps​

  1. Start simple: Add 1-2 notes per day
  2. Review regularly: Check notes in Reflection view
  3. Deepen practice: Add more detailed notes as it becomes natural

Note-taking transforms activity tracking from data collection into self-discovery!