You know those times when you want to quickly add a task to Notion while you're in a meeting or working on something?
However, especially when you're screen-sharing, it can be cumbersome to open Notion, then open your task management page, and so on.
This time, we'll introduce a convenient method to instantly add tasks to Notion using the launcher app "Raycast"!
🎬 Director: Rei
✍🏻 Writer: Minokurumi
1. What is Raycast?
Raycast is a launcher app for Mac. It's a recent arrival, and it's gaining attention for being free yet highly functional.
While "Spotlight Search" offers similar functionality as a launcher app, it can only search for items on your device like apps and files. Raycast, however, can search for websites and Notion pages in addition to apps and files.
💡What you can do with Raycast (excerpts)
・Search for files in Finder
・Google search
・Emoji search
・Clipboard history
→ A feature that stores copied data and allows you to retrieve it from history.
・Snippets
→ A feature that allows you to register boilerplate text for descriptions or emails and easily recall it.
Alfred is another popular launcher app, but Raycast is free to use and boasts excellent UI/UX, making it easy to use. It's recommended even for those new to launcher apps.
2. What is the "Hypersonic" extension?
Raycast offers a rich variety of extensions, allowing integration with various apps like Google Maps, ChatGPT, and Spotify through the "Raycast store."
The "Hypersonic" extension, which we'll introduce today, is a Raycast extension specifically designed for task management in Notion. It allows you to instantly add tasks to your database.
The key benefit is being able to add tasks instantly with a shortcut, even when you're in a meeting or working. Since you don't need to open Notion and select a page, you can quickly add tasks even when screen sharing, for example.
Furthermore, the task addition method we'll introduce at the end allows you to add minimal information such as dates and tags in an instant.
3. How to instantly add tasks to Notion with Raycast
From here, we'll explain how to instantly add tasks to Notion using "Raycast" and "HyperSonic."
📝For this guide, we'll assume you already have a task management database in Notion and will show you how to link to it.
3-1. Setup Method
1. Download Raycast from here and install HyperSonic.
2. Launch Raycast, type "HyperSonic" into the search bar, and open "My Tasks."
3. You will see a tutorial screen. Follow the instructions and press the specified commands from top to bottom.
4. Finally, connect your Notion account with "command + shift + A" and authorize the request.
5. Select "Choose pages to share with Hypersonic" and click "Select pages." Then, select your task database.
※ If you don't have a task database in Notion, you can create a new one by selecting "Use a template provided by the developer."
6. Select the properties that correspond to the task's "Title," "Date," and "Status," respectively.
You can also set one tag at the time of task creation using "Select," so if your database has a Select/Multi-select property, choose it here.
Once all settings are complete, click "Submit" in the bottom right corner to finish.
3-2. Set up Hotkeys
Next, we will set up a shortcut key (hotkey) to launch Hypersonic itself.
1. Launch Raycast and open "Settings" from the icon in the bottom right.
2. Open the "Extensions" tab and type the desired shortcut command into the "Hotkey" field for "My Tasks."
That completes the setup. Now, when you enter the configured command, "My Tasks" will launch directly.
3-3. How to add tasks
Now, let's add tasks to Notion.
Adding Tasks
Call up Raycast with your set hotkey, enter the task, and press Enter.
Adding Date Information
Click on the added task and press "command + D" to enter date information.
Adding a Tag
Click on the added task and press "command + L" to apply the tag of the property you initially set.
Marking a Task as Complete
Select the task and press Enter.
4. Faster ways to add tasks
An even more recommended method is to enter date information and tags together when adding a task. By typing the following after the task, you can add the task with the date and tag already set.
Date Information
Enter the following after the task name:
・today
・tomorrow
・a date such as 9/1
etc.
Tag
Type "l:" (lowercase L + colon) followed by the tag name.
(Example) l:Writing
This method allows you to add tasks with minimal information instantly, making Raycast even more convenient. Once you get the hang of it, give it a try!
Summary
That's how to instantly add tasks to Notion using Raycast and Hypersonic!
Raycast is an easy-to-use app, even for those who have never used a launcher app before, so give it a try.
Notion's ultimate task management template "Todotion" is here!
The 2-hour "Notion Master Course" is now available, where you can learn Notion from scratch through videos!
The book "Notion Life Hacks", which introduces 36 ways to use Notion, is also now on sale!
