Tasks & Time Blocks: Plan Your Day Without Guilt
Most task managers make you feel guilty. You set times, you miss them, you feel bad. Keepsake takes a different approach: time blocks are sequential, not scheduled. You work through them one by one. If something takes longer, everything shifts — no guilt, no rescheduling needed.
The time block philosophy
Sequential, not scheduled
Time blocks are a queue. You do the first one, then the next, then the next. No fixed times means no missed appointments with yourself.
Finish early = free time
If you finish a 2-hour block in 90 minutes, you've earned 30 minutes of freedom. There's no guilt because you're ahead of schedule.
Need more time = just shift
If something takes longer than expected, the remaining blocks shift automatically. Tomorrow's tasks stay tomorrow's tasks — no cascade of rescheduling.
Tip
This approach is inspired by how makers actually work: in focused chunks, one thing at a time, with natural breaks between tasks.
Create a task
From QuickNotes with T+
Type your task in the QuickNote bar and add T+0 (today), T+1 (tomorrow), or T+7 (next week) at the end. Press Enter — done.
From the Day view
Click the + button in the Day view to create a task directly. You can set the title, date, and estimated duration.
From a contact profile
Create a task linked to a person directly from their contact profile. The task will show in your Day view and on their profile.
Shortcut
T+0 = today, T+1 = tomorrow, T+7 = next week
The Day view: your daily cockpit
See your day at a glance
Tasks appear as cards in sequence. Each card shows the task title, duration estimate, and any linked contacts or tags.
Drag to reorder
Change the order of your blocks by dragging cards up or down. The sequence updates instantly.
Mark as done
Check off completed tasks. They move to a "Done" section at the bottom so you can see your progress throughout the day.
Tip
Start each day by reviewing your Day view. Take 2 minutes to reorder tasks based on your energy and priorities. Morning you knows better than last-night you.
Time estimates (optional)
Add an estimate
When creating or editing a task, set an estimated duration: 15min, 30min, 1h, 2h, etc. This is just a guess — not a commitment.
See your day load
The Day view shows the total estimated time. If you've planned 12 hours of work for an 8-hour day, you'll know to cut something.
Track actual time (optional)
Some users like to note how long things actually took. Over time, this helps you estimate better — but it's completely optional.
Tip
Don't obsess over estimates. They're just rough guides. The goal is awareness, not accuracy.
Reschedule and postpone
Drag to another day
Drag a task card to a different date in the sidebar calendar. It moves instantly — no confirmation dialogs.
Postpone to tomorrow
Use the quick action to push a task to tomorrow with one click. Perfect for end-of-day cleanup.
Move to backlog
Not sure when you'll do it? Move the task to your backlog. It stays there until you're ready to schedule it.
Tip
It's okay to postpone tasks. The guilt comes from rigid systems, not from the postponing itself. Keepsake is designed around the reality that plans change.
Link tasks to contacts
Mention with @
Type @name in the task title or description to link it to a contact. The task appears on their profile timeline.
Create from a profile
When viewing a contact's profile, create a task directly. It's automatically linked to that person.
See pending tasks per contact
Contact profiles show all pending tasks linked to that person. Great for preparing before a meeting or call.
Tip
Linking tasks to contacts is powerful for relationship management. "Call @John about the proposal" creates both a task and a relationship touchpoint.
Related guides
Capture Ideas Instantly with QuickNotes
Learn how to use QuickNotes to capture thoughts, ideas, and reminders in seconds. Works offline, syncs automatically, and connects to your contacts.
Contact Profiles: Your Relational Memory
Learn how Keepsake's Contact Profiles work as your relational memory. Track interactions, set reminders, and build a complete picture of every relationship.
Organize Everything with Tags & Pages
Learn how to use Tags & Pages in Keepsake to organize notes, tasks, and contacts into flexible projects. No upfront setup — projects emerge naturally from your content.
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