Timeline & Time Blocking
The hourly grid, day segments, weather in your schedule, and the art of punting.
Time blocking transforms wishes into plans. When you assign times to tasks, you're making a commitment to yourself about how you'll spend your hours. The Timeline tab is where you see that plan take shape.
The Timeline tab
Switch to Timeline to see your day as time blocks on an hourly grid, like the daily schedule in a paper planner. It shows when things happen, not just what needs doing. Calendar events and reminders can be rescheduled by dragging them around the grid.
Setting times and durations
Give a task a time by typing it naturally ("Deep work 9am"; see Adding Tasks) or from the task's options. Add a duration to block out the hours it deserves. Look at your fixed commitments first (meetings, appointments), then claim time for important tasks before others do.
Day segments
Toggle on day segments to group tasks by morning, afternoon, and evening, like pre-drawn sections in your planner. Evening tasks stay grouped together, and you'll get an idea of what the weather will be like later in the day. Drag and drop tasks between segments as your day evolves.
Weather in your plan
Hourly weather appears right in the Timeline. Planning a run? Check the forecast. Scheduling outdoor work? Avoid the rain. Weather context helps you plan realistically.
The art of punting
Here's where Finalist shines at reducing task anxiety: if a task isn't likely to get done today, just tap and punt it to tomorrow, or out of your timeline and into a list. This isn't procrastination, it's aggressive planning. Every task you punt is a conscious choice about your priorities, not a personal failure. Better to plan honestly than pretend you'll do everything.
Related: Your Daily Page · Calendar & Reminders · The Daily Rhythm