Flow gives you powerful ways to organize your tasks based on both **what they help you accomplish** (Areas and Projects) and **how you need to accomplish them** (Contexts). ## Areas and Projects Areas and Projects help you organize tasks based on your goals and life domains. Think of them as your "why" and "what." ### Areas: Your Life Domains Areas represent important domains of your life or work that need ongoing attention. For example: - Health - Family - Career - Finance - Personal Development > [!tip] Areas vs Projects > Areas are ongoing spheres of responsibility that don't have a specific end date. You don't "complete" your health area - you will hopefully constantly improve or maintain it. ### Projects: Your Goals Projects are specific initiatives with a clear outcome. They might live within an Area or stand independently. You can structure projects in three ways: 1. **Independent Project**: `#project_name` 2. **Area Project**: `#area/project_name` 3. **Subproject**: `#project_name_sub` Examples: ``` #health/start_running // A project in your Health area #write_novel // A standalone project #website_redesign_phase1 // A subproject ``` > [!example] Real-world Examples > - `#health/couch_to_5k` - A specific running program in your Health area > - `#family/plan_anniversary` - Anniversary planning in your Family area > - `#career/learn_python` - A skill-building project in your Career area > - `#home_renovation` - A standalone project > - `#home_renovation_kitchen` - A subproject of home renovation ## Contexts (@tags) While Areas and Projects organize what you're trying to achieve, Contexts help you organize tasks by **when** and **how** you can complete them. ![[Flow contexts.png|400]] ### When to Use Contexts Use contexts to group tasks that you can tackle: - In the same location - Using the same tools - At the same energy level - With specific people - In specific modes of work > [!info] Context Examples > - `@call` - Tasks requiring phone calls > - `@email` - Email-based tasks > - `@john` - Things to discuss with John > - `@quickwins` - Tasks you can do in under 5 minutes ### Power of Combined Organization A single task can have both a project and contexts: ``` Call contractor about kitchen tiles #home_renovation_kitchen @call @contractor ``` This tells you: - What it's for (kitchen renovation project) - How to do it (make a call) - Who it involves (contractor) > [!tip] Making the Most of Tags > - Use Areas/Projects (#) to track progress toward specific goals > - Use Contexts (@) to batch similar tasks together > - Combine them to get the best of both worlds! ## Quick Reference ### Areas and Projects - `#area_name` - Associate with an area - `#project_name` - Associate with a project - `#area/project` - Project within an area - `#project_name_sub` - Create a subproject ### Contexts - `@context` - Add any context tag - `@call` - Phone tasks (⌘4 / Ctrl+4) - `@email` - Email tasks (⌘5 / Ctrl+5) - Type `@` for autocomplete suggestions > [!success] Pro Tip > Start simple! Begin with just a few key areas and contexts. Add more as you discover what organizational patterns work best for your workflow.