## What's New *November 16, 2025* We're excited to ship two significant improvements that make adding tasks faster, smarter, and more intentional. Say goodbye to duplicate tasks and hello to a streamlined quick add experience that helps you capture thoughts and start work in seconds. --- ## ⚡ Task Autocomplete - Stop Creating Duplicates! **The problem**: You're adding a task and think "Wait, didn't I already create something like this?" Then you either create a duplicate or spend time hunting through your task list to find the original. **The solution**: Task autocomplete automatically detects similar tasks as you type and lets you reuse them instead of creating duplicates. ### How It Works Start typing a task anywhere in MakeTimeFlow - whether you're in: - **Focus mode** task list - **Calendar** time blocking - **Quick add** (Cmd+Shift+M / Ctrl+Shift+M) After **just 3 letters**, if there are matching tasks, you'll see them appear in a dropdown list: **What happens when you select a matching task:** - **In Focus mode**: The task moves to today's list (ready to work on!) - **In Calendar**: The task gets time-blocked at your selected time - **In Quick Add**: You're taken directly to the task ### Real-World Examples **Example 1: Recurring errands** ``` You type: "Gro..." Autocomplete shows: "Grocery shopping - milk, eggs, bread" You select it → Task moved to today, ready to go! ``` **Example 2: Client work** ``` You type: "Rev..." Autocomplete shows: "Review Sarah's proposal draft" You select it → Opens the task with all the context you already added ``` **Example 3: Time blocking** ``` You're in the calendar, type: "Team..." Autocomplete shows: "Team standup meeting" You select it → Task gets time-blocked, no duplicate created ``` ### Why This Matters **Keeps your task list clean:** - No more "Review proposal", "Review proposal v2", "Review proposal final" - One canonical task with all your context in one place **Saves you time:** - No hunting through your task list - No re-typing recurring tasks - No re-adding context you already captured **Reduces cognitive load:** - Trust that if you've thought about it before, the system will remind you - Focus on doing the work, not managing duplicates --- ## 🚀 Quick Add Improvements - Capture & Start Faster Quick Add has always been powerful for getting tasks out of your head. Now it's even better with a refreshed design, helpful tips, and the ability to start working immediately. ### What's Improved #### 🎨 Cleaner, More Focused Interface The new Quick Add design puts everything you need front and center: - Clearer input field with better visual hierarchy - Helpful tips right where you need them - Streamlined actions that match your workflow #### 💡 Built-in Quick Tips We've added contextual tips to help you use the powerful [[Task Text Format|task text format]] without leaving Quick Add: **Quick reference for:** - `#project` - Organize by project - `@context` - Add context tags - most important are your GEDDIT buckets - @today, @next (for this week), and @later - `p1` - Set priority - `start tomorrow` - Schedule for specific dates - `30m` - Estimate duration Get tasks out of your head and sorted (just enough!) without adding cognitive load. #### ⏱️ Add + Start = Instant Focus **New feature**: Start a timer immediately after adding a task! **Keyboard shortcut:** ``` Cmd+Enter (Mac) / Ctrl+Enter (Windows/Linux) - Add task + Start timer Enter - Just add the task (as before) ``` **Visual button:** - Click "Add" - Just adds the task - Click "Start" - Adds task AND starts timer **Perfect for those "I need to do this right now" moments:** ``` You think: "I should write up that meeting recap" You type: "Write team meeting recap 30m #admin" You hit: Cmd+Enter Result: Task created, 30-minute timer started, you're in flow! ``` ### How to Access Quick Add **Desktop App** (recommended): ``` Mac: Cmd+Shift+M (works anywhere, even outside the app!) Windows/Linux: Ctrl+Shift+M ``` **Web App**: ``` Ctrl+Shift+A (when on the web app) ``` **Pro tip**: The desktop app's global shortcut means you can capture tasks without even switching windows - perfect for maintaining flow while you're deep in other work. --- ## Better Together: Autocomplete + Quick Add These two features combine beautifully for a seamless task capture experience: Note: this requires desktop app version 3.13 or above ### Scenario 1: Quick Recurring Task ``` You press: Cmd+Shift+M (Quick Add opens) You type: "Check..." Autocomplete shows: "Check email - morning batch" You select it: Task appears in today's list You click "Start": Timer begins immediately Time elapsed: 5 seconds from thought to focused work! ``` ### Scenario 2: New Task, Start Immediately ``` You press: Cmd+Shift+M You type: "Call supplier about order #project @today p1 15m" Autocomplete: (no matches, it's a new task) You press: Cmd+Enter Result: Task created with project, priority, duration AND timer started Time elapsed: 8 seconds from thought to focused work! ``` --- ## Why We Built This At MakeTimeFlow, we're committed to helping you be more **intentional with your time** while **reducing friction** in your workflow. **Task Autocomplete** addresses the common problem of task fragmentation - having the same intention scattered across multiple task entries. By surfacing existing tasks, you maintain a single source of truth and build on context you've already captured. **Quick Add improvements** make the transition from "I should do this" to "I'm doing this" as seamless as possible. The keyboard shortcuts and instant timer starting mean you can maintain flow state while capturing thoughts. Together, these features help you: - ✅ Capture thoughts without interrupting focus - ✅ Avoid duplicate work and task sprawl - ✅ Start working on what matters in seconds - ✅ Build better task context over time --- ## Tips for Power Users ### 💡 Tip 1: Train Your Quick Add Muscle Memory **Desktop users**: Practice the global shortcut ``` Cmd+Shift+M (Mac) / Ctrl+Shift+M (Windows/Linux) ``` Once this becomes muscle memory, you'll capture every fleeting thought without breaking focus. It's like having a trusted assistant always one keystroke away. ### 💡 Tip 2: Use Task Text Format for Zero-Friction Sorting Don't switch to the mouse to categorize tasks. Use the format: ``` Task title #project @context duration[m|h] ``` **Example:** ``` Review Q4 budget proposal #finance 45m @today ``` One line, fully organized, ready to work on. See [[Task Text Format]] for the full reference. ### 💡 Tip 3: Cmd+Enter for Urgent Work When something urgent comes up, use Quick Add + Cmd+Enter: ``` Press: Cmd+Shift+M Type: "Fix production bug in login flow p1 1h" Press: Cmd+Enter Result: You're working on it in 3 seconds ``` No navigation, no clicking, just immediate action. ### 💡 Tip 4: Use @next for This Week's Tasks Add a task to your @next bucket to work on it this week without committing to a specific day yet: ``` Press: Cmd+Shift+M Type: "Write blog post #content 2h @next" Press: Enter Result: Task created in your @next bucket Then: When ready, move to @today or time-block it on your calendar ``` Capture now, schedule later - perfect for weekly planning. --- ## What's Next We're continuing to refine the task management experience based on your feedback: **Coming soon:** - Smart task suggestions based on your patterns - Improved autocomplete matching (fuzzy search, partial matches) - Batch task operations in Quick Add - Templates for common task patterns --- ## Feedback & Support **Love these features?** We'd love to hear how you're using them! Share your experience in our [Community Forum](https://community.maketimeflow.com). **Found a bug or have an idea?** Let us know: - Email: [email protected] - Community: [Feature Requests](https://community.maketimeflow.com/c/general/4) --- ## Get Started Today ### 30-Second Quick Start **Test autocomplete:** 1. Go to Focus mode 2. Start adding a task 3. Type 3+ letters of an existing task 4. Select it from the dropdown 5. Watch it appear in today's list! **Test Quick Add + Start:** 1. Press Cmd+Shift+M (or Ctrl+Shift+M) 2. Type a task: "Test quick start 5m" 3. Click "Start" (or press Cmd+Enter) 4. You're working with a timer running! **You're all set!** 🎉 These small improvements add up to hours saved and fewer duplicates to manage. We hope they help you stay focused on what matters most. Yours in Flow, — The MakeTimeFlow Team