Automate Your Personal Journal: Track Daily Life with IFTTT and Smart Devices

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to forget the small moments that make up our days—from commutes and gym visits to new songs or gadgets discovered online. Smart devices paired with IFTTT (If This Then That) make it effortless to log these automatically, creating a rich personal journal without extra effort.

As a tech enthusiast who's integrated IFTTT into my routine for years, I've seen how these 'recipes' connect services like Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, and smart home gear such as Philips Hue, Logitech Harmony, and Amazon Echo to capture life's highlights reliably.

What Is IFTTT?

IFTTT is a free platform that lets you build simple 'if-then' recipes triggered by events across apps and devices. Available via web or app, it supports hundreds of services, making automation accessible for everyone—no coding required.

To get started, open the IFTTT app, tap the recipe icon, and select the '+' next to 'My recipes.' Browse popular channels or search for services, pick a recipe, and follow the prompts. Creating custom ones is just as straightforward.

Track Your Travels and Commutes

Driving is a daily staple for many. IFTTT with devices like the $89 Automatic car adapter (plugs into your OBD-II port on post-1996 cars) logs trips seamlessly.

Key Recipes:

• Travel Journal: Logs Foursquare check-ins to a notebook.
• Daily Driving Summary: Emails a nightly recap of your trips.
• Map Your Location to Evernote: Creates map notes of your whereabouts.
• Check-in at Work: Notes arrival/departure times in Evernote.
• Text Partner on Arrival: Notifies loved ones when you're home safe.
• Car Diagnostics: Alerts for vehicle issues.

Automatic Connected Car Adapter

Boost Your Health Tracking

Devices like Fitbit Alta, Jawbone UP, Withings scales, and Philips Hue provide real-time data on steps, heart rate, sleep, and more. IFTTT turns this into actionable insights.

Motivation Boosters:

• Fitbit Goal Alerts: Notifies if you miss daily targets.
• Tweet Achievements: Shares successes publicly.
• Gym Visit Log: Tracks visits and duration via GPS in a Google Sheet.

Sleep Optimization:

• Log Sleep to Evernote/Google Sheets from UP or Fitbit.
• Bedtime Lights Off: Dims Philips Hue automatically.
• Silence Phone at Bedtime.

Long-Term Trends:

• Withings Measurements to Sheets: Logs weight, body fat, etc.
• Weekly Fitbit Activity Summary.
• Blood Pressure Alerts to Doctor.

Withings Body Smart Scale

Capture Fun Moments: Music and Shopping

Never miss a favorite tune or hot product again.

Music Lovers:

• YouTube Likes to Deezer/Spotify Playlists.
• Alexa Plays to Spotify/Musixmatch.
• Spotify Likes to Tweets; SoundCloud Uploads to Facebook.

Product Discovery (Product Hunt):

• Upvoted Products to Evernote/Google Sheets.
• Share Votes via Tweet/Facebook.
• Weekly/Daily Hot Products Roundup.
• Alexa Shopping List to Evernote/Reminders.

Amazon Tap

Build a Lifelong Journal

From health wins to daily drives and discoveries, IFTTT and smart devices preserve your story automatically. Start today to reflect, share, and improve your life with data-driven memories.