{"id":1869,"date":"2022-02-07T08:52:54","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T14:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.bear.app\/?p=1869"},"modified":"2022-02-07T08:52:56","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T14:52:56","slug":"part-2-how-to-think-with-tags-create-a-habit-in-bear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.bear.app\/2022\/02\/part-2-how-to-think-with-tags-create-a-habit-in-bear\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 2: How to think with tags, create a habit in Bear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In How to think with tags part 1<\/a>, we started exploring the ideas behind tags as a tool and ways to build habits around them to get more organized and productive. Here in part 2, we\u2019ll build on those ideas as we dive further into Bear features to help you be more efficient and even automate your tag work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve spent a little time organizing notes and writing in Bear for different tasks, your tag system can get deeper and more granular. You can create multiple sets of tags, use tags with multiple words, quickly manage tags, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s say you create notes for any mix of work, school, home, and personal projects. Many people think about these aspects of their lives in different ways\u2014journals are usually organized by month and day, while work and school are often a series of projects instead of dates (but not always!). In Bear, these major parts of your life can become top-level tags that contain more descriptive tags within them. They work similar to folders on your computer, Google Drive, or Microsoft Office. We call these Nested Tags<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out a simple example of nested tags in action below, and how to create them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To create a nested tag, simply add a forward slash at the end of a tag, like #personal\/ideas. Bear\u2019s Sidebar will automatically adjust and show all top-level and nested tags as you create them. Learn more about nested tags<\/a> and some tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bear doesn\u2019t restrict tags to single words, which allows them to be more flexible and easier to identify. If you\u2019re big into writing fan fiction for the Star Wars universe, star wars fic<\/strong> is easier to read than starwarsfic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To create a multi-word tag (including nested tags), simply wrap multiple words with pound signs, like #star wars fic#<\/strong>. For nested tags, use #star wars fic\/my story#<\/strong>. Learn more about multi-word tags<\/a> and some tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Occasionally, a tag has to ride off into the sunset\u2014maybe it needed a new name, was no longer useful, or it made sense to nest under a new, broader top-level tag. Don\u2019t ask us to explain how tags learned to ride a horse, but we can<\/em> share some tricks to keep your Sidebar tidy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In part 1<\/a>, we touched on a handful of ideas to start building a habit for tagging and managing your notes in Bear. We started with using simple keywords for important parts of your life, then looked for ways to fit these tasks into your existing routine for maximum chance at stickiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s dig in for ways to make your workflow reliable and flexible, and even automate some of it to save time. We\u2019ll start with Apple\u2019s Reminders and Shortcuts, then get into some more app-agnostic options. These tips are built with the idea of a weekly tag review cycle but, of course, you can edit these to fit your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A popular way to stay on track managing your tags and recent notes is with repeating reminders. Apple\u2019s built-in Reminders app is a good option, in part because it has a unique advantage on iOS when combined with Siri and Shortcuts, an Apple tool for automating tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Shortcut to search Bear<\/strong>A place for everything, and everything in its place<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Separate major topics and projects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Multi-word tags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tags should spark joy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ways to stay on track<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Apple Reminders + Shortcuts on iOS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Download this simple Shortcut we created that opens Bear to a Smart Search<\/a> of notes from the last 7 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n