How to Use Recurring Tasks in Todoist

Edited 1 day ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Todoist is a versatile task management tool that helps users organize their tasks and projects efficiently. One of its key features is the ability to set recurring tasks. This feature is especially useful for tasks that need to be repeated on a regular basis, whether it's daily, weekly, monthly, or even a more irregular pattern. Setting up recurring tasks can save time and help you maintain consistency in your schedule without having to manually set the same task multiple times. This guide will walk you through the process of creating and managing recurring tasks in Todoist in detail.

Understanding recurring tasks

Recurring tasks are those that occur at regular intervals. For example, if you need to take out the trash every Tuesday, check your email every day, or submit a monthly report, these tasks can be set to repeat, saving you the burden of remembering and manually entering them each time. Todoist supports a variety of recurrence patterns, making it versatile enough to meet the needs of different users.

Benefits of recurring tasks

There are several benefits to using recurring tasks:

• Efficiency: By automating the task entry process, you can spend less time on administrative work and more time on getting tasks done.
• Consistency: Tasks that are repeated regularly are less likely to be forgotten, helping you maintain a routine.
• Planning: Knowing which tasks are repeated frequently helps you plan your schedule better.
• Stress reduction: Automatic reminders save you the stress of remembering every single task.

Setting up recurring tasks in Todoist

Creating recurring tasks in Todoist is straightforward and intuitive. The feature uses natural language processing, which means you can type the recurrence pattern in plain English, and Todoist will understand and configure your tasks accordingly. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Create a new task

First, start by creating a new task:

• Open your Todoist and go to the project you want to add the task to, or go to your inbox if you haven't categorized it yet.
• To quickly add a task, click the “Add Task” button or press the “T” key.

Step 2: Enter the job details

Enter the title or description of your task in the space provided. Be clear and concise so you know exactly what the task involves when you look it up later in the list.

Step 3: Set up repetitions

In the same place where you enter task details, you can also specify a recurrence pattern. Todoist's natural language feature allows you to easily specify common recurrence schedules:

• Daily: Type every day to repeat the task daily.
• Weekly: Use every Tuesday, or specify a range of days, such as every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
• Monthly: You can input every 15th to repeat this on a specific day of each month.
• Annually: For annual tasks, simply type every March 10.
• Custom patterns: More advanced occurrences, such as every 3rd Thursday or every last Friday, are also supported.

For example, to create a task called "Weekly Team Meeting" that repeats every Wednesday, you would type:

Weekly Team Meeting every Wednesday

Step 4: Save the task

Once you have entered the task details and recurrence pattern, click “Save” or press Enter. Your task will now appear in your list, with the recurrence pattern right next to it.

Managing recurring tasks

Once you've set up your recurring tasks, you may want to manage or adjust them according to your needs. Here's how you can manage recurring tasks in Todoist:

Editing a recurring task

If you need to change the details or recurrence pattern of a task:

• Click the task you want to edit.
• Adjust the task details and recurrence pattern as you like. For example, you can change “every day” to “every weekday.”
• Click “Save” to apply the changes.

Completing recurring tasks

When you complete a recurring task, Todoist automatically schedules the next occurrence. There's no need to do anything else. Just check off the task like you would any other task:

• When viewing your task list, click the checkmark next to a task to mark it as complete.
• This action automatically schedules the next instance of the job based on the recurrence pattern.

For example, if you complete a daily task today, it will appear again on your list tomorrow.

Delete a recurring task

To delete a recurring task:

• Click the task to open the details pane.
• Select the "Delete task" option (usually represented by a trash can icon).

Deleting a recurring task deletes all future occurrences of that task.

Stopping a recurring task

If you want to temporarily prevent a task from recurring without deleting it:

• Open the task details.
• Adjust the due date to the point in the future where you want to start again, or simply temporarily delete the recurrence pattern.

Advanced recursion patterns

Todoist allows advanced repetition patterns for those who have more complex schedules. Here are some examples:

• Every n day: If you want a task to repeat every few days (say every 3 days), type every 3 days.
• Specific days of the week: For tasks that occur on non-consecutive days, such as every Monday and Thursday, specify every Monday, Thursday.
• Custom dates of the month: You can set the task to repeat on several specific days, such as every 1, 15.
• Combination of time and date: For tasks where time is important, add a specific time, e.g., every Monday at 10am.

Best practices for recurring tasks

To get the most out of recurring tasks, consider these best practices:

• Set reminders: Take advantage of Todoist's reminders feature to receive a notification when a task is completed.
• Review dates regularly: Review your task list regularly to make sure the recurrence pattern still suits your needs.
• Combine with categories: Use labels or projects in Todoist to categorize recurring tasks for better organization.
• Avoid excessive workload: Avoid doing too many tasks at once, as this can increase the workload.

Recurring tasks can create a structured environment for tackling routine responsibilities. By efficiently using recurring tasks in Todoist, you can ensure that no routine task is forgotten and that you maintain a consistent workflow, ultimately increasing your productivity and peace of mind.

In conclusion, mastering the use of recurring tasks in Todoist can greatly increase your productivity and organization, as it can automate repetitive tasks and ensure that no important responsibilities are missed. By understanding how to set and modify these tasks and incorporate them into your daily or weekly routine, you can achieve a more streamlined and stress-free workflow.

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