Amplenote Explained 10: A system for managing tasks, part 1

A minimalist task system in Amplenote hinges on a simple loop: capture everything quickly, review it to sort and enrich tasks, then plan what happens next. The core idea is to keep daily jots as the reliable “inbox” for ideas and to-dos, then use Tasks mode to organize those items into the right notes and schedules—without forcing a rigid folder structure from day one. That approach matters because it reduces the friction of capturing thoughts and turns a messy stream of tasks into a system that can grow naturally as a person’s real-life priorities become clearer.

Capture starts with daily jots. Whenever an idea, reminder, or to-do pops up, it gets typed into the current daily jot and converted into a task using Command Enter or Control Enter twice. If the thought arrives while taking notes, the workflow stays lightweight: create a task immediately, then use the /move command to relocate it—such as moving it to “today,” which routes it back to the daily jot inbox. A quick task menu in the bottom-right corner also supports fast capture via a plus icon. The emphasis is on reliability and speed: the system’s first job is getting tasks out of the head and into a place that can be processed later.

Review is the organizing phase. In Tasks mode, the system filters by daily jots to pull together every task captured into the inbox. Each item then gets a single guiding question: where does it belong? Instead of completing tasks right away, the process focuses on categorization and task enrichment. As tasks get sorted, patterns emerge—tasks cluster around hobbies, career, family and social life, shopping, habits, and long-term goals. This “build as you go” method avoids deep upfront structure; the system develops based on what actually gets captured.

Moving tasks is a frequent action during review. Shopping-related items get moved into an existing groceries note. Habit-like tasks get recurrence rules set—such as daily schedules with a start time (e.g., 10 p.m.) and a duration (e.g., 15 minutes). Other habits can use flexible recurrence, like watering plants three days after the last watering. Tasks tied to long-term personal goals get grouped into a goals note so they’re easier to find when making weekly plans.

Task score and deadlines help prioritize. Tasks with clear deadlines—like renewing a passport before it expires—can be filed into goals once the deadline is already set. Tasks without a near-term deadline can still be elevated by marking them important, which increases task score and helps them rise relative to other items. Urgent tasks can be flagged with /urgent, and important can be combined with urgency for items like regular backups. Even tasks that are neither important nor urgent can be left unmarked and still moved into the goals note.

Planning finishes the loop. Switching back to Tasks mode in agenda view groups tasks by start date, making it easy to draft the next day or week. Tasks can be scheduled by setting a start date with /start, dragging and dropping into the right section, or hidden for a few days until they become more relevant. Recurring obligations like habits and chores remain visible as planning continues. The result is a functional system where daily jots capture quickly, Tasks mode processes and organizes, and agenda view turns that organization into a realistic plan—while keeping complexity optional rather than mandatory.