Voice commands

Written By Manos Mastorakis

Last updated About 2 hours ago

Voice Commands in Routine let you capture tasks, schedule meetings, add journal entries, and manage your workspace using natural language, completely hands-free. The AI voice assistant understands context, follows up on previous commands, and converts your spoken thoughts into structured Routine objects. This feature enables true brain dumping: speak everything on your mind, and Routine organizes it into the right places automatically.

πŸ”ˆ Functionality

With Voice Commands, you can:

  • Create tasks by speaking naturally

  • Schedule meetings with specific times and durations

  • Add entries to your journal

  • Modify commands in real-time (e.g., "split that into two tasks")

  • Adjust details like meeting length or task properties

  • Capture multiple items in a single voice session

  • Let AI parse dates, times, and contexts automatically

  • Keep your hands free while brainstorming or on the go

The assistant understands follow-up commands and context from earlier in the conversation, so you can refine as you speak.

πŸ’­ Why use voice commands

Traditional voice assistants create reminders or calendar events in isolation. Voice becomes a first-class input method, not just a gimmick. Routine's Voice Commands:

  • Create real Routine objects (tasks, events, journal entries) that integrate with your workflow

  • Understand context and follow-up modifications ("actually, make that meeting one hour long")

  • Allow you to brain dump multiple items in one session

  • Parse natural language into structured data (dates, times, people, priorities)

  • Place items in the correct location (inbox, calendar, journal) automatically

  • Work hands-free, ideal for driving, walking, or when inspiration strikes

πŸŽ™οΈ How to use voice commands

  1. Trigger the voice assistant:

    • Long press the main Routine button (dashboard/console)

    • The microphone activates and listens

  2. Speak naturally:

    • "Book a meeting with John tomorrow at 4:30 p.m."

    • "Remind me to buy a new tennis racket and balls"

    • "Add to my journal that I took breakfast with Mary this morning"

  3. Make follow-up adjustments:

    • "Actually, split the task into two separate ones"

    • "Make the meeting with John one hour long"

  4. Review what was created:

    • Meetings appear on your calendar

    • Tasks land in your inbox

    • Journal entries are added to today's journal

    • Everything is ready to plan, schedule, or refine

Example voice commands from the above scenario.

The AI handles parsing, creating, and placing each item correctly.

πŸ—£οΈ Use cases

Voice Commands are especially useful for:

  • Brain dumping β†’ capture everything on your mind without typing or clicking

  • Driving or commuting β†’ add tasks and meetings hands-free

  • Walking or exercising β†’ capture ideas when inspiration strikes

  • Morning planning β†’ speak your priorities for the day

  • Post-meeting capture β†’ quickly log action items and follow-ups

  • Accessibility β†’ hands-free productivity for users who benefit from voice input

  • Rapid inbox triage β†’ speak through a list of tasks faster than typing

Voice Commands turn fleeting thoughts into structured productivity data instantly.