Todo.txt

Todo.txt is a plain text method of managing your task list that follows a few simple rules.

The anatomy of a todo.txt task is as follows:

x (A) 2025-06-13 2025-06-12 write to do list +chores @home due:2025-06-13

where

• x marks the task as complete
• (A) is the priority from A-Z, with A being the highest
• the first date is the task completion date (optional)
• the second date is the date the task was written (optional but needed if you want to use completion date)
• +chores is the project tag
• @home is the context tag
• and due: is the date the task is due

Some todo.txt apps also allow for the use of rec: for recurring tasks, eg rec:1w for a task due once a week.

It is good practice to give every task a project, a keyword that groups together similar tasks or tasks working towards a particular goal, and a context, where you expect to complete the task.

Following advice from Josh Hallenback, I only use priorities A-D, and ignore the rest. Each priority has a specific meaning.

• (A) tasks I am currently working on. Maximum of three at any time.
• (B) tasks I intend to work on today
• (C) tasks I intend to work on in the next week
• (D) tasks that are scheduled more than a week out or are waiting on something.

All other tasks are uncategorised

Links: Productivity and Organisation]

Planted: Thursday 19 June 2025
Last tended: Monday 23 June 2025