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Basic Usage

Learn the fundamental operations of TaskChute Plus for daily task management.

Daily Workflow Overview​

TaskChute Plus follows a simple daily workflow:

  1. Plan your day by adding tasks with time estimates
  2. Execute tasks one by one, tracking actual time
  3. Review your day to improve future estimates
  4. Repeat the cycle for continuous improvement

Core Operations​

Opening the Task Panel​

Hotkey Method (Recommended):

  • Press Option+T (⌥T) to instantly open today's task list

Ribbon Method:

  • Click the TaskChute Plus icon in the left ribbon

Command Palette:

  • Press Cmd+P (Ctrl+P on Windows)
  • Type "TaskChute" and select "Show today's tasks"

Creating Tasks​

Quick Task Creation​

  1. Open the task panel
  2. Click "Add Task" or the + button
  3. Fill in the basic information:
    • Task Name: Descriptive title
    • Estimated Duration: Your best guess in minutes
    • Scheduled Time: (Optional) specific time or leave blank

Creating Tasks from Notes​

  1. Create or edit any note in your vault
  2. Add the #task tag anywhere in the note
  3. The task will automatically appear in TaskChute Plus
  4. Use the task panel to set timing and manage status

Example note with task:

# Project Planning Meeting

#task

Need to plan the Q4 roadmap with the team.

## Agenda
- Review current progress
- Define Q4 objectives
- Assign responsibilities

Managing Task Status​

Starting a Task​

  1. Find your task in the appropriate time slot
  2. Click the Play button (▶️) or double-click the task
  3. The task status changes to "Running"
  4. Timer starts automatically
  5. Only one task can run at a time

Pausing a Task​

  1. Click the Pause button (⏸️) on the running task
  2. Task returns to "Pending" status
  3. Time tracking pauses
  4. You can resume later or start a different task

Completing a Task​

  1. Click the Checkmark button (✅)
  2. Task status changes to "Completed"
  3. Actual duration is recorded
  4. Task moves to the completed section
  5. You can add completion notes if desired

Time Slot Organization​

Tasks are automatically organized into time slots:

Morning (6:00 AM - 12:00 PM)​

  • Perfect for deep work and important tasks
  • Fresh mental energy
  • Minimal distractions

Afternoon (12:00 PM - 6:00 PM)​

  • Great for meetings and collaborative work
  • Administrative tasks
  • Email and communication

Evening (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM)​

  • Learning and development
  • Planning tomorrow
  • Personal projects

Night (10:00 PM - 6:00 AM)​

  • Generally avoid scheduling tasks here
  • Use for emergency or special circumstances
  • Consider your sleep schedule

Understanding Task Information​

Each task displays key information:

Time Display​

[Estimated: 30m] → [Actual: 45m]
  • Shows your estimate vs. reality
  • Helps improve future estimates
  • Green = under estimate, Red = over estimate

Status Indicators​

  • ⏸️ Pending: Not started yet
  • ▶️ Running: Currently active (timer running)
  • ✅ Completed: Finished
  • ⏭️ Moved: Rescheduled to another day

Task Priority​

  • Tasks are ordered by scheduled time
  • Unscheduled tasks appear at the bottom of each time slot
  • Overdue tasks are highlighted

Essential Daily Practices​

Morning Planning (5-10 minutes)​

  1. Open TaskChute Plus with Option+T
  2. Review yesterday's completed tasks
  3. Add today's tasks with realistic estimates
  4. Organize tasks by time slots
  5. Start your first task immediately

During the Day​

  1. Work on one task at a time - always have a running task
  2. Track actual time - be honest about interruptions
  3. Update estimates if a task will take much longer
  4. Move tasks if your schedule changes
  5. Take breaks between time slots

Evening Review (10-15 minutes)​

  1. Complete your final task
  2. Review actual vs. estimated times
  3. Note what went well and what didn't
  4. Plan tomorrow's priority tasks
  5. Archive completed tasks

Task Actions and Shortcuts​

Right-Click Context Menu​

Right-clicking any task opens additional options:

  • Edit Task: Modify name, estimate, or schedule
  • Duplicate Task: Create a copy for recurring work
  • Move to Tomorrow: Reschedule to next day
  • Delete Task: Remove completely
  • View Note: Open the associated note (if exists)

Keyboard Shortcuts​

While task panel is active:

  • Space: Start/pause selected task
  • Enter: Complete selected task
  • Delete: Delete selected task
  • Arrow Keys: Navigate between tasks
  • Escape: Close task panel

Drag and Drop​

  • Drag tasks between time slots to reschedule
  • Drop files on the task panel to create linked tasks
  • Reorder tasks within time slots by dragging

Common Patterns​

Pomodoro Technique Integration​

  1. Set task estimates to 25 minutes
  2. Work in focused 25-minute blocks
  3. Take 5-minute breaks between tasks
  4. Complete 4 tasks, then take a longer break

Time Blocking​

  1. Schedule specific tasks at specific times
  2. Group similar tasks together
  3. Leave buffer time between meetings
  4. Protect your deep work hours

Energy Management​

  1. Schedule hard tasks during high-energy periods
  2. Use low-energy times for routine tasks
  3. Match task difficulty to your energy level
  4. Take breaks when energy drops

Troubleshooting Common Issues​

Tasks Not Updating​

  • Refresh the task panel (close and reopen)
  • Check if the task note was modified
  • Ensure the #task tag is present

Timer Not Working​

  • Only one task can run at a time
  • Check that you clicked "Start" not just selected the task
  • Restart Obsidian if the timer appears stuck

Tasks in Wrong Time Slot​

  • Check the scheduled time setting
  • Drag the task to the correct time slot
  • Unscheduled tasks appear at the bottom

Next Step: TaskChute Methodology - Understand the principles behind effective time-based task management.