How I maintain a daily log using Apple Shortcuts, ChatGPT and Notion

14 Apr, 2025

The Why

I want the easiest most frictionless way to log my daily activities. I find that opening my phone or typing introduces way too much friction. These kind of habits only work if it is simple to use and don't introduce much overhead.

The advantages doing it this way are

• All local code, no need to maintain an iOS app.
• Works using ChatGPT based transcription. This is super critical for me because I want to be able to speak freely and I want it to be accurate. The local transcription model is not good enough.
• Stores data on "cloud" in Notion and does not require a server to run/maintain.

What you need

• An Apple device
• ChatGPT key

How I plan to use it

I create unstructured logs of my day when required. I just thought dump into it by invoking Siri and recording my voice. The key point to realise here is that I will be using ChatGPT again to query these logs for some insight. The logs should just be structured enough to be understood by a ChatGPT model.

I'll update this blog later with another shortcut that can allow you to query these logs using ChatGPT.

The How

So this requires three steps:

1. Create a Notion Database
2. Get access to a ChatGPT API key
3. Create an Apple shortcut
4. (optional) profit

Create a Notion Database

To be honest I don't quite know what Notion is or what it does. I only know that they are a company that allows me to create a sort of rudimentary personal database and allow me to programatically access it. Its perfect for my little side project. I'm obviously not affiliated with them if you were wondering.

I created a Notion account, created a "database". I now created a new integration. Note down the secret from here -- you will use this secret later to access this database from your Apple Watch.

Go back to your database in Notion and integrate your database with your new integration. You can do this by clicking the three dots on the top right -> connections -> choose your newly created connection here.

Note your database name that you will later use to reference in the shortcuts. Look at your URL when you are viewing your Notion database on your browser.

www.notion.so/9f3c20491daa701283ccf41387cd93ea?v=9f3c20491daa701384ed111d8cd2cfe8

It probably looks like this. Your database name is:

9f3c20491daa701283ccf41387cd93ea

Create the shortcut

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/5bdac5c175f7490b99577acf083d8241

Click this and edit it. You have to paste three things into this shortcut to make it work.

1. Paste your ChatGPT API key into the first text box. Replace with your key that looks like sr_<something>.
2. Paste your Notion database name into the second text box, replace <notion_database_name>.
3. Paste your Notion secret into the third text box, replace <notion_secret>. This secret will look something like ntn_<something>.

Try it out

That's it. You can now use this shortcut by referencing it's name on Siri. Make sure to check "Show on Apple Watch" if you want it on Apple Watch.

Invoke Siri (you can do this from your Macbook or iPhone or Apple Watch), speak out the shortcut name. Press record, say something and stop it. It should transcribe what you said and put it into your Notion Database. Go to your notion Database link to verify that your transcription is present.