Turn a big goal into next actions

Create the goal

1. 1

   Open Goals and press + Goal

   Choose Goals in the sidebar and press + Goal. You can also use the Add task button’s menu and pick New goal.

2. 2

   Name it and set the plan

   Write the outcome in the name field, for example “Learn TypeScript”. Add a Description if success needs spelling out.

   Under Plan, choose Short-term or Long-term, a priority, and a Target date. If progress is measurable, set Measure progress in (for example “hours”) and a Target.

   Press Save goal.

Split it into sub-goals

Big goals are easier when each part has its own name. A sub-goal is a normal goal with a parent.

3. 3

   Create a goal and give it a parent

   Press + Goal again, name the part (for example “Finish the basics course”), and under Placement set Parent goal to the goal you just made. Save it.

   Repeat for each part. Sub-goals do not count towards the free plan’s limit of three goals; only top-level goals do.

Add tasks with estimates

4. 4

   Add a task to the goal

   Open the goal (or sub-goal) and use Add task in its Tasks section. Write a task you could start right now: “Read chapter 1” works, “Learn types” does not.

5. 5

   Give it a due date and an estimate

   Set a Due date for when you want to do it, and an Estimate (minutes), for example 25. The estimate feeds Today’s planned time and the Focus timer, so Today can tell you whether your day still fits.

   If the task repeats, choose it under Repeat (Daily, Weekly, Monthly or Yearly). Press Add task.

See it on Today

6. 6

   Open Today

   Tasks with a due date of today, or overdue, appear on your Today list. The most urgent one may be picked for Start here.

   Want a fixed slot for the goal instead? Use Block time on the goal card to put a time block on Today.