How to write a good task title
Most unstartable tasks are unstartable because of the title. A few small changes to how you write them remove a surprising amount of resistance.
What matters here
- Start with a verb so the action is obvious
- Name the specific object, not the general area
- Keep it under about eight words
- Put details in the note, not the title
- Read it back and ask whether you could start now
The verb test
Send the contract, call the landlord, review the draft. Each one tells you what to do first. A title like contract is a topic, and a topic cannot be started, only contemplated.
The specificity test
Fix the bug is not actionable. Fix the duplicate reminder on recurring tasks names the thing. Specific titles also make search work, because the words you will use later are already there.
The six month test
Imagine reading the title after a long break. If you cannot tell what it means or where to start, the note attached is where the answer should be, and the title should point at it.
Frequently asked questions
Keep reading
- How to write a daily journal entryA daily journal entry should take three minutes: what happened, what you noticed, what is next. Longer entries tend to stop after a week.
- How to prepare for tax seasonTax preparation is mostly a collection problem. If the documents and the categories are in one place before the deadline, the return is an hour rather than a weekend.
- What is a Kanban board?A Kanban board shows work as cards moving across columns, so you can see what is waiting, what is in progress and what is done.
Turn talk into a plan
Capture a thought in plain language and let Prysm Note shape it into tasks and a timeline.
Disclaimer
This page is general information, not professional, legal, financial or medical advice. It describes common ways of working and how Prysm Note approaches them. Software changes over time, so details may differ from what you see in the product. Any product, company or brand names that appear are the property of their respective owners and are used only for identification. We do not claim any endorsement or affiliation. Where we compare approaches, we aim to describe each one honestly, including where a different approach may suit you better. Try the tools that matter to you and judge for yourself.