Complete Guide: StoicAdvice API Integration with Apple Journal

Transform your daily reflection practice by automatically importing Stoic wisdom into Apple Journal. Perfect for iPhone users who want to build a consistent journaling habit with meaningful prompts.

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Why Use StoicAdvice with Apple Journal?

Native Journal Experience

Integrates perfectly with Apple Journal's design and features. Your Stoic reflections feel natural within your daily journaling practice.

Instant Habit Building

Automated daily prompts make it effortless to maintain a consistent journaling practice. Ancient wisdom delivered exactly when you need it.

Rich Media Support

Apple Journal's multimedia capabilities let you add photos, locations, and voice notes to your Stoic reflections, creating richer journal entries.

What You'll Need

Device Requirements

  • iPhone running iOS 17.2 or later
  • Apple Journal app (pre-installed)
  • iOS Shortcuts app (pre-installed)

Account Requirements

  • Free StoicAdvice account
  • Your personal API key
  • 5 minutes for setup

Step-by-Step Integration Guide

1

Get Your StoicAdvice API Key

First, you'll need to sign up for StoicAdvice and generate your personal API key.

  1. Visit app.stoicadvice.com and create your free account
  2. Complete the email verification process
  3. Navigate to the "API Access" page
  4. Generate a new API key and copy it to your clipboard
  5. Keep this key secure - you'll need it for the Shortcut setup

Pro Tip: Your API key is free forever and gives you access to daily Stoic journal templates. Premium features unlock personalized content.

2

Download the StoicAdvice Shortcut

We've created a pre-built Shortcut that handles all the technical details for you.

  1. Open this link on your iPhone:
    2. Get StoicAdvice → Apple Journal Shortcut
  2. Tap "Get Shortcut" to add it to your Shortcuts app
  3. When prompted, tap "Add Shortcut" to confirm
  4. The shortcut will appear in your Shortcuts library

What it does: This shortcut fetches your daily Stoic template from the API and creates a formatted entry in Apple Journal with quotes, prompts, and reflection questions.

3

Configure Your API Key

The shortcut will automatically prompt you to enter your API key the first time you use it.

📱 Easy Setup (Recommended)

  1. Run the "StoicAdvice Journal" shortcut by tapping on it
  2. The shortcut will ask you to "Enter your StoicAdvice API key"
  3. Paste your API key from Step 1 and tap "Done"
  4. Your API key is now saved and the shortcut will work automatically

🔧 Manual Setup (If needed)

If you skip the import question, you can manually configure the API key:

  1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone
  2. Find the "StoicAdvice Journal" shortcut and tap the three dots (•••) to edit it
  3. Look for the first "Text" action with an empty content
  4. Tap on it and paste your API key from Step 1
  5. Tap "Done" to save the changes

Pro Tip: The import question only appears the first time you run the shortcut. Once configured, it will work automatically every time without asking for your API key again.

4

Test Your Setup

Before setting up automation, let's make sure everything works correctly.

  1. In the Shortcuts app, tap on your "StoicAdvice Journal" shortcut to run it
  2. The shortcut should fetch today's Stoic template and open Apple Journal
  3. You should see a new journal entry with today's quote and prompts
  4. If something doesn't work, double-check your API key in Step 3

What your journal entry will look like:

Daily Stoic Reflection - January 12, 2025

Quote of the Day:

"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." — Marcus Aurelius

Morning Reflection:

What aspects of today are within my control? What am I grateful for this morning?

Evening Reflection:

How did I practice Stoic principles today? What can I learn from today's challenges?

5

Set Up Daily Automation

Make it completely automatic so you never forget to journal.

  1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap the "Automation" tab at the bottom
  2. Tap the "+" button to create a new automation
  3. Choose "Time of Day" from the Personal Automation options
  4. Set your preferred time (e.g., 7:00 AM for morning journaling)
  5. Choose "Daily" for frequency
  6. Tap "Next" and then "Add Action"
  7. Search for "Run Shortcut" and select it
  8. Choose your "StoicAdvice Journal" shortcut
  9. Turn OFF "Ask Before Running" for seamless automation
  10. Tap "Next" and then "Done"

Automation Complete! Your iPhone will now automatically create a new journal entry with fresh Stoic wisdom every day at your chosen time.

Troubleshooting & Tips

Common Issues

"Shortcut failed to run"

Double-check your API key is correctly pasted. Ensure you have internet connection.

"No journal entry created"

Make sure Apple Journal has permission to receive data from Shortcuts in Settings > Privacy & Security.

"Automation doesn't run"

Check that "Ask Before Running" is disabled and your iPhone is unlocked at the scheduled time.

Pro Tips

Multiple journal times

Create separate automations for morning reflection (7 AM) and evening review (9 PM).

Customize your template

Edit the shortcut to add personal touches like location data or mood tracking.

Backup your setup

Share the configured shortcut with yourself via AirDrop or save to Files as backup.

Ready to Transform Your Journaling Practice?

Join thousands of users who've built consistent reflection habits with StoicAdvice and Apple Journal. Ancient wisdom meets modern technology.

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