Need to call someone within a time range?
Tasks can have scheduling constraints:
Note that this is different from an appointment, the time mapper will move this around while respecting the constraints.
Need to follow up with someone after you finish a certain task and don't want to forget?
Use an alarm with a when task is finished
trigger.
This will popup a reminder when you mark the task as completed:
This is for thinking ahead of the information that would be helpful for you at that moment.
What happens if you go off track with your schedule?
Time mapping is designed to update itself with the latest information. It will shuffle things around as needed to meet your priorities and time constraints. If it can't meet all the constraints, then it will give you a warning:
This means that given what you are currently working on and your current estimates, you won't be able to finish in time to meet the constraint you are being warned about.
You now have an opportunity to drop the current task and begin working on the task that is at risk, or perhaps to adjust your schedule differently with the realization that you aren't going to meet that constraint.
What if I need to break my plans?
Time mapping doesn't impose anything on you, it is meant to be a way of visualizing your todo list as a timeline. If something comes up that is more important, it is nice to take a quick glance at your expected day and compare it with the new path you are thinking of taking. If the new path is better, then you should take it.
For example, should you call a meeting with Alex to go over the marketing presentation?
On the left you have your day time mapped with the meeting, and without the meeting on the right. By seeing what your day will look like in each of these scenarios you can pick the one that looks better to you.
If you decide to break your plans, the mentioned reminders don't need to updated to reflect that. If instead you programmed an alarm to go off in an hour when you felt you would be finished with something, changing plans would make the alarm irrelevant and you'd have to remember to change it.
Why should I capture constraints?
Setting these alarms up front is more complicated, but for each one you capture that is a something less you have to think about throughout the day. This comes into play even more when your day begins changing. Having these constraints can remind you while you still have time to address it, instead of being blindsided or constantly scanning for what needs to be done.
You could keep all this in your head, but concentrating is about clearing away distractions so that all your attention is focused on the current task in front of you.