Ever sat down to start your day and... oh no. That super important career-defining presentation was due today!? Then, it dawns on you. Why didn't I plan to work on it sooner?
Many tasks need to be done by a certain date (taxes, anyone? 🙄). Deadlines is a feature that gives you a simple way to keep track of these key dates, so nothing slips through the cracks. More effective planning, less last-minute panic.
Add a deadline
Just like adding a date to your task, the quickest way to add a deadline is to type it while you’re creating the task. Use curly brackets when you’re creating a new task to add a deadline. For example, typing {next Friday} will set the deadline for, that’s right, next Friday.
Marija · Customer Experience
Deadlines in Todoist are designed specifically for one-time, fixed dates when a task absolutely must be completed. For any tasks that need to repeat on a regular basis, add a recurring date instead of a deadline to maintain a clear distinction between hard cutoff dates and routine tasks.
Add a deadline using the scheduler
- Click a task to open task view.
- Click Deadline on the right-hand side. The scheduler will appear.
- Use natural language to type the deadline in the type a deadline field at the top of the scheduler, or select the date in the calendar.
- Press ↵ Return (macOS) or Enter (Windows) to confirm the deadline.
The difference between a date and a deadline
Deadlines are an informative attribute for you to schedule a suitable date and time to work on your tasks. To get the most out of the feature, set deadlines for tasks in which missing the deadline has external consequences.
Use dates to schedule tasks for when you plan to begin working on them. The deadline field is perfect for a task that requires ongoing attention. For instance, if you're creating a task to file your annual taxes, you can set a deadline for when the task is due while also specifying the date you intend to start working on it. This way, you can effectively manage your time and ensure you stay on track!
Marija · Customer Experience
Create a filter using the deadline query to view all tasks with the deadline on this date, for example, deadline: December 31. Other supported queries are deadline before, deadline after, and no deadline.
Remove a deadline
- Click on a task to open task view.
- Click Deadline on the right-hand side. The scheduler will appear.
- Select No Date to remove the deadline.
Get in touch
If you’re having trouble adding or changing deadlines, get in touch with us. We— Summer, Marija, Diane, or any of our other teammates—are more than happy to lend a helping hand!
