Chapter 1: Introduction to My Task Management System

In the past couple of years, I've developed a task management system that has significantly enhanced my productivity, accountability, and organization.

After sharing my TickTick configuration in an article that gained considerable attention last month, I felt compelled to delve deeper into how I utilize this app daily. TickTick serves as my central command center for all aspects of life—past, present, and future. If a task isn't logged in TickTick, it simply won't happen. This app functions as my task organizer, calendar, habit tracker, and Pomodoro timer.

I access TickTick across all my devices—iPhone, iPad, Watch, and MacBook—but this article will focus on my setup on the MacBook, as I use it the most. The general layout is consistent across devices, with only a few features specific to certain platforms. Let’s dive into the details of my current TickTick configuration.

Chapter 2: Exploring the Today View

The "Today View" is where I spend a majority of my time. It effectively showcases all my tasks and habits for the day. Each task is color-coded based on its respective list, and I can easily identify the list name and any deadlines. I have the flexibility to sort tasks by various criteria, including list, date, time, and priority.

In my task overview, you’ll notice calendar events marked without checkboxes, highlighting how TickTick syncs with both my Apple and Google calendars. This integration eliminates the need to switch between apps. Additionally, the Habits section at the bottom provides a straightforward checklist for my daily habits, making it effortless to track my progress.

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Chapter 3: Organizing My Life with Lists

Creating lists is essential to my TickTick experience. Lists are the foundation of organization within the app, allowing for an unlimited number of tasks and subtasks. I categorize my life into five main lists:

• Personal: Contains all personal errands and miscellaneous tasks.
• Fitness: Focuses on weight loss goals, meal prep, and workout routines.
• Finance: Covers all money-related matters, including budgeting and investments.
• Side Hustle: For work-related projects outside my main job.
• Professional: Pertains to my work as a software engineer.

Within my "Projects" list, I maintain two sub-lists for specific endeavors:

• Medium Blog: Encompasses everything from topic generation to publishing.
• YouTube: Dedicated to tasks associated with my programming content channel.

One of my crucial lists is "Reminders," which includes recurring tasks and important deadlines.

Chapter 4: Navigating Views and Filters

TickTick's various views and filters offer a seamless navigation experience. In addition to the "Today" view, I utilize several other key views:

• All: Displays every task in TickTick.
• Inbox: Captures tasks added via various methods.
• Tomorrow: Shows tasks for the next day.
• Next 7 Days: Helps prioritize upcoming tasks.

Custom filters are also available, though I primarily use a couple of them, such as “Coming Soon” for tasks due soon and “Priority” for high-importance tasks.

Chapter 5: The Power of Calendar Integration

The calendar feature is arguably what keeps me committed to TickTick. It provides a comprehensive view of all my scheduled events, including:

• TickTick tasks
• Events from my Google and Apple calendars
• Third-party subscriptions

I can toggle between day, week, or month views to suit my needs. The "Arrange Tasks" section allows me to drag unscheduled tasks directly onto the calendar, facilitating organization.

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Chapter 6: Capturing Content Ideas

A lesser-discussed list in my setup is "Content Ideas." Throughout the day, inspiration strikes for blog posts or YouTube videos, and I previously struggled to capture these fleeting thoughts. Now, I leverage my Apple Watch to quickly note ideas via Siri, which automatically adds them to TickTick's Inbox. From there, I can easily transfer them to the Content Ideas list, creating a valuable backlog.

Chapter 7: Tracking and Analyzing Habits

Tracking my habits is another critical component of my productivity system. I categorize my habits by morning, afternoon, and night, adjusting them as needed. Each habit provides insight into how consistently I check in over time.

TickTick also offers detailed statistics for each habit, allowing me to track my performance monthly and monitor my best streaks.

Chapter 8: Reviewing Completed Tasks

TickTick presents a clear view of all my completed tasks, which I can review over a few weeks to gauge my productivity. My completed tasks can be sliced by date or project, providing valuable insights into my progress.

Chapter 9: Weekly Task Summaries

A recent feature I have incorporated into my routine is the weekly task summary. TickTick allows me to export this list in Markdown or PDF format. I typically export it as Markdown and integrate it into my Obsidian weekly review, creating a comprehensive overview of my week.

In summary, this is my TickTick setup that keeps me organized and productive throughout the week. I hope you found this guide helpful! If you've made it this far, thank you for your time! Consider following me or subscribing for future updates.