# Forever Notes: Ultimate Beginner's Guide  ## Introduction [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=0s) - Forever Notes is a new framework and system that can be used with [[Notes (Apple) | Apple Notes]] to set up a note-taking system for the future, requiring limited time to set up [(00:00:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=4s). - Many people are adopting this system as it helps create a framework around the basic [[Apple Inc. | Apple]] Notes application, turning it into a more advanced PKM Journal or research-type application [(00:00:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=15s). - The Forever Notes system helps structure notes in a better way and creates a system for taking notes on Apple Notes [(00:00:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=24s). - This video will cover the basics of setting up Forever Notes and provide insights into getting started with the system [(00:00:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=32s). - The video will not cover every detail, but it will provide a foundation for understanding the basics of Forever Notes [(00:00:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=39s). - The concept of Forever Notes is a layer over Apple Notes, designed to help organize and structure notes [(00:00:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=58s). - The idea of Forever Notes was developed with inspiration from the "Second Brain" concept and Ryder Carroll's [[Bullet journal | Bullet Journal]] [(00:01:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=67s). - The video is hosted by Franchesco Delesio on the Tool Finder [[YouTube]] channel [(00:00:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=46s). ## What is Forever Notes? [(00:01:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=71s) - The Forever Notes concept was created to allow users to stick with their [[Notes (Apple) | Apple Notes]] for longer and establish a system that can be used within [[Apple Inc. | Apple]] Notes, similar to those found in other apps like [[Obsidian (software) | Obsidian]], Roam, and [[Evernote]] [(00:01:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=72s). - The benefits of using the Forever Notes concept include having a homepage for Apple Notes, the ability to plan projects, manage a journal, and set goals and targets, all within the same app [(00:01:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=87s). - The Forever Notes system also enables users to break down goals and targets into milestones and tasks, which are nested in the same place, providing a structured framework [(00:01:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=105s). - Another benefit of the Forever Notes concept is that it is free and, for iOS and [[MacOS | Mac]] users, synchronized across devices [(00:01:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=112s). - The Forever Notes system aims to provide a more structured framework for users, and a full guide on how to use it will be provided [(00:02:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=121s). ## Getting Started [(00:02:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=134s) - To create a Forever notes experience in [[Notes (Apple) | Apple notes]], start by going to the settings, then General, followed by [[Computer keyboard | Keyboard]], and finally Text Replacement, to make necessary changes for easier searching [(00:02:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=169s). - The goal is to change the double asterisk into a single, larger asterisk, which will make it easier to search for items within the account [(00:02:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=176s). - It is recommended to create a folder called "Forever" to organize notes effectively [(00:03:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=193s). - Before starting the setup process, it's suggested to get comfortable and prepared, as the guide will be comprehensive [(00:02:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=149s). - The setup process will be demonstrated using [[Apple Inc. | Apple]] notes, and the guide will provide step-by-step instructions throughout [(00:02:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=141s). ## Building the Structure [(00:03:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=195s) - The idea behind Forever Notes is to store everything in an organized manner, allowing users to create more folders and save time [(00:03:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=195s). - The homepage is a simple page that serves as the central hub, and it's recommended to use double asterisks to create it and call it "Home" [(00:03:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=209s). - The homepage can be built up of anything that's easily accessible, including calendars, hubs, resources, and other items [(00:03:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=235s). - Users can either build a homepage from scratch or use a shortcut command to create a pre-made homepage [(00:04:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=245s). - The pre-made homepage includes a header image, projects, hubs, people, and resources, and can serve as a good starting point for users [(00:04:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=270s). - Tags are used to organize and categorize items in Forever Notes, and it's recommended to list them at the bottom of the homepage [(00:05:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=302s). - Tags can be used to organize items such as recipes, references, projects, and more, and can help users set up the structure of their account [(00:05:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=317s). - [[Virtual folder | Smart folders]] can be used to organize tags and items in a better fashion, and users can create collections based on their tags [(00:05:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=337s). - Tags only exist if they are kept as part of a single page, and users can create smart folder collections based on their tags [(00:05:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=349s). - Users can create smart folder collections based on their tags, such as an "Upcoming Trips" folder [(00:06:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=362s). ## Smart Folders [(00:06:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=370s) - To create a smart folder, press the folder icon and give it a name, such as "trips", then select "Make it a smart folder" and choose a tag, such as a selected tag, to filter the content [(00:06:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=371s). - In the smart folder settings, select a tag, such as "trip", and add additional filters, like specific years, to narrow down the content [(00:06:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=378s). - Once the criteria are set, press "Done" to create the smart folder, which will then display relevant content, such as notes with the selected tag [(00:06:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=395s). - [[Virtual folder | Smart folders]] can be sorted by various criteria, such as upcoming trips, and can be used to organize any type of content [(00:06:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=404s). - As more content is added, the smart folder will start to populate, and tags can be removed from the homepage to declutter it [(00:06:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=414s). - An alternative way to organize tags is to create a page called "tags" and add all created tags inside, keeping them separate from the homepage [(00:07:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=420s). ## Tags [(00:07:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=430s) - Collections can be used to organize various types of content, such as books, ideas, thoughts, and projects, and can also be used for people that you interact with often, providing a directory-like experience in your account [(00:07:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=436s). - Tags are used to structure your account and can be used in conjunction with other features, such as hubs and collections [(00:07:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=443s). - Hubs are a more grounded experience in your account and indicate that they are more of a resource, allowing you to create a central location for related content, such as a hub for fitness goals [(00:07:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=450s). - You can have as many hubs as you want, and they can be used for various topics, such as projects, work goals, and personal goals [(00:07:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=471s). - The journal area is a feature that allows you to create a personalized journal, and it can be set up by creating quarterly or monthly sections, or by using a shortcut to create daily entries [(00:08:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=502s). - The journal area can be customized to fit your needs, and it can be linked to other features, such as hubs and tags, to create a more organized and connected system [(00:09:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=548s). - The homepage can be customized by removing or adding elements, such as tags and hubs, to create a more streamlined and useful interface [(00:09:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=562s). - The hubs area can become more useful as you add more content and organize your account, allowing you to quickly access related information [(00:09:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=568s). ## Hubs [(00:09:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=570s) - A "health area" can be created and connected to the homepage by using the "add link" feature and giving it a title, such as "fitness goals", which can be formatted using double asterisks [(00:09:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=570s). - This creates an entry and a Hub that is connected to the homepage, serving as a good starting point for building out the Hubs area [(00:09:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=581s). - Additional Hubs can be created, such as a "calendar area", which can be used as a journal, and can be connected to other relevant entries, like "q1" which marks the start of the year [(00:09:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=590s). - The "q1" entry can be imported through shortcuts, which can be found in the description, and can be quickly accessed by pressing two right arrows [(00:09:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=599s). - The Hubs area can be organized and expanded by creating more entries and connecting them to the homepage and other relevant Hubs [(00:10:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=613s). ## Creating Note Links [(00:10:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=615s) - Creating a note link can be done by adding two asterisks and typing in the name of the note, such as "q1", which automatically creates a link note [(00:10:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=616s). - The link can be displayed as a raw link instead of a formatted one, and it can be linked to other notes, such as "January", which is part of "q1" [(00:10:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=637s). - Multiple notes can be linked together, such as "January", "February", and "March", which are all part of "q1" [(00:10:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=647s). - The link can be added by going to "add link" and typing in the name of the note, and it can be populated with other notes, such as "Q2" and its corresponding months [(00:11:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=666s). - The note link can be used to organize and connect different notes, such as goals, and can be used in conjunction with signifiers to modify details in the account [(00:11:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=698s). - Signifiers can be used to indicate different types of information, such as checklist items for milestones or dashes for other types of information [(00:11:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=714s). - The import function may not fully populate the note link properly, and it is recommended to start using the note link feature for things like goals and to take a look at the website for more information [(00:11:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=694s). ## Growing Forever Notes [(00:12:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=722s) - To structure notes, it is recommended to use a dash followed by highlighting elements and priority items, with events indicated by a single asterisk [(00:12:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=722s). - Notes can be linked to relevant details, such as a kitchen renovation, by adding a link to the relevant note [(00:12:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=758s). - Smart filters can be used to bring in tags, such as people mentioned, and additional people can be added manually [(00:12:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=772s). - To create a person, press the plus button, add the person's name, and then add details such as tasks, goals, and other elements [(00:13:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=785s). - People can be added to the homepage and linked to relevant notes, and icons and emojis can be used to add visual interest [(00:13:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=807s). - Setting up the homepage, tags, collections, hubs, journals, and signifies may take around 1 hour, and it is recommended to set aside this time to fully understand the system [(00:14:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=851s). - Once set up, it is easy to add new information, such as tags, at a later date, and features like [[Virtual folder | smart folders]] can be created for specific topics, such as books [(00:14:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=871s). ## Recommended [(00:14:40)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=880s) - The calendar is probably the most difficult place to set up in the Forever Notes system, requiring indication of the specific year, such as Q1 of 2024, which can be scratched if desired [(00:14:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=882s). - Some elements in the system may require building out from the provided online guide, which can be a bit choppy but still usable [(00:14:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=897s). - The journal element allows users to write entries for specific dates, such as January 1st, and can be accessed by searching for the date and clicking into it [(00:15:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=907s). - The journal function helps users see relationships between different notes and can be customized, but may require recreating entries each year and running a script [(00:15:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=942s). - Customizations can be made by adding the actual date behind the entry, linking it directly to the corresponding folder, and making adjustments as needed [(00:15:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=957s). - The Forever Notes system provides a structure for organizing notes, and users can find additional resources, such as screenshots and images, linked below [(00:16:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=987s). - The system connects calendars, projects, hubs, and people using [[Bank]] links to better organize notes, and the homepage serves as a central hub for this structure [(00:16:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=1010s). - The Forever Notes system is an interesting structure for organizing [[Notes (Apple) | Apple Notes]], and the provided guide and resources can help users set it up and customize it to their needs [(00:17:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-UzVDMiBuM&t=1021s).