SealdayA voice message to your future self
A voice note to your future self works best at 30 seconds to two minutes. Say the date, describe the room you are in, talk about what you are worried about and what you hope for, and end with a question. Hearing your own voice later does more than rereading your own words.
Coming soon to iPhone
Why record your voice instead of writing?
Voice carries mood. A letter says "I was tired". A recording lets you hear how tired. It also holds things you would not think to write down: the background noise, a laugh that interrupts a sentence, the way you pronounced a name. Most people find it the part of a capsule they enjoy most on open day.
It is also faster. If you dislike writing, a minute of talking can replace a page. Mixed capsules are the best of both: a short letter to give structure, and a voice note to give life.
How long should the message be?
At the limit on the free plan the app says "That's 30 seconds" and offers 5 minutes through Plus. Short is not a limit to work around. A tight 30 seconds is better than a drifting three minutes.
| Length | Good for | In Sealday |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 30 seconds | A single thought, the sound of a room | Free plan limit is 30 seconds |
| 1 to 2 minutes | A message about this month and a question | Plus allows up to 5 minutes |
| 3 to 5 minutes | A story, a toast or a message for a child | Plus |
What should I say?
Here is a 30-second script that works for most people.
- Say the date and where you are: "It's the 3rd of March, I'm in the kitchen".
- Describe one ordinary thing in the room or on your mind.
- Say what you are worried about and what you hope for.
- Make a guess about the open date.
- End with a question for yourself and a greeting: "Hi, future me".
Which prompts help when I freeze?
- Tell me what today was like.
- What would I hear if I walked outside right now?
- Who is the person I most want to talk to at the moment?
- What am I avoiding?
- What would I be embarrassed to say out loud, and is it really so bad?
- Say hello to someone in your life, as a voice for later.
- Hum or sing a few bars of the song on repeat.
- Read a favorite line from a book or a message.
How do I record and seal it in Sealday?
Open a capsule, tap Record, speak and tap Stop. You can play the take back, re-record it, remove it or tap Use this to keep it. The microphone is on only while the recorder is recording, and the app asks for permission with the line "Sealday uses the microphone only while you record a voice note for a capsule."
Then add a letter or a few guesses if you want, review the summary and hold the seal. The recording is encrypted on your iPhone with the rest of the capsule and is time-locked to the open date, as described on the time lock page. The editor is covered in letters, photos and voice.
How do I send a voice note to someone else?
Photos and voice go in a sealed file, and a file needs Sealday Plus. A free link carries a letter and guesses only. The recipient opens the capsule on the date you chose, and nobody can open it early, including you. See send a capsule to a friend for the steps.
A recording for a child, a parent or a friend is a fine gift for a birthday or a wedding. Keep it under two minutes and say their name at the start.
Which moments deserve a recording?
Sound does a job photos cannot. A busy street, a kettle, the dog in the next room: these things change, and nobody thinks to record them until they are gone. Ten seconds of the room is enough.
| Moment | What to say | Open date |
|---|---|---|
| Starting a new job | What you hope and what scares you | Six or twelve months |
| Before a big move | What the street sounds like | One year |
| A birthday | How you feel about your age | Next birthday |
| A hard week | What you would like to hear in a year | One year |
| A trip | Ambient sound and a story from the day | The anniversary |
What should I avoid saying?
Speak the way you would to a friend you trust. You can listen to the take before you keep it.
- Passwords, account numbers or addresses that will change.
- Anything that identifies other people in a way they would not want.
- Long apologies you have not said to the person yet.
- Instructions that depend on the situation staying the same.
How do I keep a recording safe?
Export a vault file from You > Backup and restore. It holds voice notes and photos in sealed form, and keeping it does not weaken the lock. Store it in iCloud Drive and a second place. Re-export after any new recording you would hate to lose, since each export includes everything and importing skips duplicates. See backup and restore for the routine.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a voice note in Sealday be?
Thirty seconds on the free plan and up to five minutes with Sealday Plus.
Does Sealday listen to me all the time?
No. The microphone is on only while you record a voice note for a capsule.
Can I re-record a voice note?
Yes. After recording you can play it back, re-record it, remove it or tap Use this to keep it.
Can I include a voice note in a capsule for a friend?
Yes, as a sealed file, which needs Sealday Plus. A free link carries only a letter and guesses.
Where is my recording stored?
In encrypted files on your iPhone. Nothing is uploaded, and Sealday has no servers that receive it.
Can I add a photo to go with the recording?
Yes. A capsule can hold a photo, a voice note, a letter and guesses together. Free capsules take one photo and Plus allows up to 30.