Yes, it is possible to send messages to yourself on Facebook Messenger. Facebook allows you to message yourself as a way to save notes, reminders, links, photos, or anything else you want to keep track of within your Facebook Messenger account. Messaging yourself can serve as a quick way to jot something down for future reference or create a collection of items you want easy access to. Here are some key things to know about messaging yourself on Facebook Messenger:
How to Message Yourself
Messaging yourself on Facebook Messenger is simple:
- Open the Facebook Messenger app on your mobile device or desktop.
- At the top of your messages list, click on the “New Message” icon (it looks like a pencil and paper).
- In the “To” field, type in your own name and select your profile when it pops up.
- Type a message in the text box as you normally would when messaging any friend.
- Hit send.
The message will now show up in your messages list like any other conversation.
Benefits of Messaging Yourself
There are a few key benefits to using Facebook Messenger to message yourself:
- Save notes or reminders: Jot down quick notes about things not to forget or reminders about events, tasks, or appointments coming up.
- Bookmark content: Save links, photos, videos, or other content you want to view later.
- Store ideas: Use it as a place to dump random thoughts, creative ideas, or inspiration that may come to you throughout the day.
- Availability: The notes, reminders, and content you share with yourself are available wherever you are via the Facebook Messenger app.
- Organization: Keep things organized in one place rather than scattered among different apps or notes.
Essentially, think of messaging yourself as an easy way to save or recall anything you might normally write down on a piece of paper or sticky note.
What You Can and Can’t Do
While messaging yourself can be useful, there are a couple limitations:
- You can only message your main Facebook profile. You cannot message Pages you manage or other profiles.
- Other people cannot see the messages unless you intentionally screenshot and share them.
- Messages remain private between you and your account.
Aside from those restrictions, you can use self-messaging on Facebook Messenger the same way you would with any other friend.
Step-by-Step Guide
Here is a more in-depth walkthrough of how to send a Facebook message to yourself:
1. Open Messenger
First, open the Facebook Messenger app on your smartphone or tablet, or access Messenger through the Facebook website. Messenger is available as a standalone app for iOS and Android devices, or at www.messenger.com on desktop.
2. Click “New Message”
Once Messenger is open, tap the pencil icon at the top right to start a new message. On desktop, click the message box that says “New Message” at the top left.
This will open up a new message window.
3. Type Your Name
In the “To” field of the new message window, type in your first and last name. As you begin typing your name, your profile should appear as a suggested recipient.
Select your name to address the message to yourself.
4. Type Your Message
With your own name selected, you can now type a message in the text box as you normally would. Write yourself a note, reminder, or anything else you want to save for later.
Your message will show up on the right side of the screen in the blue chat bubble.
5. Hit Send
Once you’ve typed your message, tap the send button (the arrow icon on mobile or the blue send button on desktop).
Your message is now sent and will show up in your messages list!
Uses and Examples
Here are some examples of ways you can use the ability to message yourself on Facebook Messenger:
Saving Random Thoughts and Ideas
Messaging yourself is great for jotting down random thoughts, creative ideas, inspiration, or anything else you want to save for future reference. For example:
- Idea for a new business: food truck that sells grilled cheese sandwiches with different themes and ingredients.
- Podcast topic idea: successful women entrepreneurs.
- Check out this cool article on home decor trends: [link]
- Chorus lyric idea: “When the walls come down”
Using Messenger as a place to dump your random ideas, creative thoughts, and inspiration means you always have them at your fingertips.
Creating Task Lists and Reminders
Messenger can also serve as a to-do list manager. Send yourself messages outlining:
- Tasks for the week
- Groceries to buy
- Bill payments coming up
- Projects to work on
- Gifts you need to buy for upcoming birthdays/holidays
- Any other reminders
Adding due dates or dates to your reminders can help you stay organized. And crossing the messages off as you complete tasks gives you a sense of accomplishment!
Collecting Links, Photos, Videos
See an interesting article, photo, video, or other content you want to view later? Message it to yourself! For example:
- Link to recipe for chicken parmesan
- Photo of an outfit you might want to buy
- Videoclip demonstrating workout routine
- Website for an upcoming trip you’re planning
This helps you bookmark all the content you want to revisit without having to jump between apps or search your browser history.
Leaving Yourself Encouraging Notes
In addition to task reminders, you can also use self-messages to leave yourself some words of encouragement. For example:
- “You’ve got this!”
- “Stay positive, better days ahead!”
- “Keep pushing, you can accomplish your dreams!”
Coming across the occasional motivational note from yourself can give your mood a boost!
Pros and Cons
Let’s explore some of the key pros and cons of using Facebook Messenger to message yourself:
Pros
- It’s fast and convenient within the Messenger app you likely already use.
- Notes and reminders sync across mobile and desktop.
- Content is private and secure; not shared with anyone else.
- Helps consolidate ideas, tasks, and content in one place.
- Works offline once messages are loaded.
- Can include links, photos, videos, audio messages, etc.
Cons
- No way to organize or tag messages (it’s one long message thread).
- Easy to overlook old messages as new ones come in.
- No calendars, reminders, or file uploads like more robust note apps.
- You may receive notifications alongside regular conversations.
Overall, it’s a handy free option if you just want a casual place to jot down notes and reminders. But users who want more advanced organizational systems may prefer a dedicated note-taking app.
Facebook Messenger vs. Other Note Apps
How does using your Facebook messages stack up against dedicated note-taking and to-do list apps? Here’s a quick comparison:
| Facebook Messenger | Google Keep | Evernote | Todoist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native apps | Android, iOS, Web | Android, iOS, Web | Android, iOS, Web | Android, iOS, Web |
| Organize notes | No tagging or folders | Labels and color-coding | Notebooks and tags | Projects and tags |
| Media support | Photos, videos, audio | Photos, drawings | Photos, audio, documents | None |
| Reminders | No native reminders | Reminders | Reminders | Reminders and due dates |
| Collaboration | No | Shared notes | Shared notebooks | Shared projects |
| Other features | None | Drawing tools | Document scans | Calendar view |
As you can see, dedicated note and to-do apps like Google Keep, Evernote, and Todoist offer more robust tools for organizing, tagging, reminding, and collaborating. Facebook Messenger is more of a casual option for jotting down miscellaneous notes and reminders.
Tips for Effective Self-Messaging
If you want to use Facebook Messenger effectively as a self-messaging tool, here are some tips:
Give Each Message a Subject
Start messages with a clear subject line, like “Grocery List” or “Trip to Hawaii Brainstorming.” This makes each note easy to identify at a glance.
Organize Long Notes with Line Breaks
For longer notes, use line breaks and bullet points to organize thoughts into sections. This creates visual separation.
Highlight Important Items
Use asterisks, dashes, or other symbols to highlight action items or important info you need to remember. For example:
*- Call doctor for checkup appointment*
This makes key items stand out.
Use Tags Strategically
You can tag yourself to essentially create category hashtags like #todo or #ideas. For example:
@[Your Name] #todo Pay electric bill
Then you can search for specific tags later.
Delete Outdated Messages
Go back and delete old notes you no longer need so your message thread doesn’t get too cluttered. Keep things clean.
Pin or Favorite Key Messages
For recurring notes like grocery lists, pin or favorite them so they stay at the top of your message thread for easy access.
Conclusion
Messaging yourself on Facebook Messenger can be a quick and easy way to store notes, reminders, content, and more that you want to keep private and be able to access from anywhere. While it lacks some of the organization and reminder tools of dedicated apps, it excels in simplicity and convenience.
With smart use of subject lines, tags, highlights, line breaks, and occasional deletion of outdated messages, you can optimize Facebook Messenger as a self-messaging tool tailored to your needs. So next time you have a random thought or need to leave yourself a reminder, turn to your Messenger app and send the note to yourself. It keeps all those little details in one place and makes sure they don’t slip through the cracks.