Notion Automation Tips: Build Auto Spaced Repetition Tasks with Function Variables

The Old Method and Its Problems

Previously, if you wanted to build spaced repetition tasks in a Notion database, the best approach was to use the database's "Recurring Template" to periodically generate tasks:

However, this approach had two problems:

1. Even if the previous task wasn't completed, the next task would still be automatically generated
2. Periodically generated tasks would clutter the database

But now that Notion's Automation and Buttons support function variables, we can finally build more efficient and smarter spaced repetition tasks.

Demo

1. Customizable "interval days"

After clicking the "Check-in" button, the "Next check-in date" will be updated to the date after the specified interval days. For example, in the image below, the initial check-in dates are all December 14, with interval days of 1, 2, and 3 respectively. After clicking "Check-in", they become the 15th, 16th, and 17th:

2. After checking in, a check-in sub-item is automatically created

3. You can track the total number of check-ins

In the "Gallery" view, it looks more like check-in cards

4. Shows the next check-in date

Most importantly, since we directly modify the date of this check-in task, no extra check-in tasks are generated, preventing the calendar view from becoming bloated and messy.

5. A separate calendar view displays all generated check-in sub-items, making it easy to review what you checked in on each date

Implementation

All the above actions are encapsulated in a single button. Let's break down this button step by step.

Define Variables

Variable 1

Since we need to generate a check-in record as a sub-item of the current check-in task, and we want the sub-item's title to match the parent item, I defined a variable that assigns the parent item's name to it.

Variable 2

Since we want to add the interval days to the "Next check-in date" after each check-in, we need to define another variable with the following value:

This involves two functions (for more on formula usage, refer to the Formula 2.0 deep dive):

• dateAdd
• toNumber

Variable 3

Since we want the total check-in count to increase by 1 each time the "Check-in" button is clicked, the simplest approach is to define an "add one on completion" variable as shown below:

Create Check-in Sub-item

1. Since we want the check-in sub-item's title to match the parent item, we need to set the sub-item's title to Variable 1.

2. Since we want the sub-item to be placed under the parent item, we need to set the sub-item's Relation to the current page (i.e., the parent item page that triggered the action).

3. Set the sub-item's check-in date to the action's trigger date.

Edit the Parent Item

1. Set the next check-in date to Variable 2

2. Set the completion count to Variable 3

With this setup, you can achieve the spaced repetition check-in effect described at the beginning of this article.

Spaced Repetition Template

• Template link: Click here

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