10 everyday uses for random reminders

You meant to send a friend a hello, return to a half-finished project, or step away from your screen. None needs a calendar appointment. A random email reminder brings the thought back during hours you choose.

Pick one message you would be glad to receive. Copy it as written or make it sound like you. Each idea below includes a starting schedule.

1. Take a small break

Message: “Look away from the screen. Is this a good moment to stand up?”

Try one reminder per day in a window when you usually work. Keep it optional: a nudge should fit around your day.

2. Check in with someone

Message: “Who would you like to hear from? Send them a quick hello.”

Try once per seven-day interval. The reminder goes to your inbox; you decide whom to contact and what to say.

3. Capture an idea

Message: “Write down one idea before you talk yourself out of it.”

Try twice per seven-day interval. Keep a notebook or a single notes document nearby so the next step is small.

4. Notice something good

Message: “What is one thing you appreciated today?”

Try once per day in a late-day window. A sentence is enough. Skip it when it does not feel useful.

5. Make space to read

Message: “Have five minutes? Open the book you wanted to finish.”

Try three times per seven-day interval, within a window you normally have to yourself.

6. Return to a personal project

Message: “What is the smallest next step on your side project?”

Try once per seven-day interval. Choose a window when you could actually act on the message, rather than when you are busiest.

7. Write a short journal entry

Message: “What has your attention right now?”

Try twice per seven-day interval. Varying the timing gives you a way to write at different points in your routine.

8. Appreciate a colleague

Message: “Did someone make your work easier this week? Let them know.”

Try once per seven-day interval on weekdays. Send the thank-you yourself so it stays specific and personal.

9. Revisit a note to yourself

Message: “You do not have to finish everything today. Pick one thing.”

Try twice per 30-day interval. Write something you would like to encounter again, whether it is encouragement, a question, or a useful perspective.

10. Review what you can stop doing

Message: “Which recurring task no longer deserves a place in your week?”

Try once per 30-day interval. Include your reminders in that review: pause the ones that have become noise.

Recipes to start with

Choose Email and use your own text for these examples. Each recipe is one event, so all three fit within the free plan. New dashboard schedules use your browser timezone. The examples below assume it is America/Toronto; check the timezone in your schedule summary and use hours that fit your day.

Daily nudge

Write: “Stand up and look away from your screen.”

Choose Random window, Once, and Day. Leave every day selected and set the window to 10:00–16:00. With America/Toronto shown in the summary, this schedules one email per one-day interval during those local hours. Narrow the window if part of your day is usually busy.

Weekly check-in

Write: “Send someone a quick hello.”

Choose Random window, Once, and Week, with every day selected and a 12:00–18:00 window in America/Toronto. You get one email per seven-day interval. It reminds you to reach out; it does not message your friend for you. The weekday can vary between intervals.

Reflection prompt

Write: “What felt worth your time this week?”

Choose Random window, Once, and Week, with every day selected and a 18:00–20:00 window in America/Toronto. The email gives you a question to return to once per seven-day interval. Write a sentence in your own notes when it arrives. Choose a fixed schedule instead if you want the same evening each week.

Set up your first reminder

1. Sign in to Untimely and create an event.
2. Choose Email and write the message you want to receive.
3. Choose a random window, interval, frequency, and allowed days.
4. Check the timezone in the schedule summary before saving. New dashboard schedules use your browser timezone. If you create an event through the API, include an IANA timezone such as America/Toronto; without one, random windows use UTC.
5. Review the event after a few deliveries. Adjust its schedule or pause it from the event page.

Create your first reminder with your own message. The free plan supports three events; Pro adds generated email content. See current pricing for plan details.

Use a fixed-time reminder when the time itself matters. Read random reminders versus scheduled alerts, or explore the random reminder app.