Day Timeline
Visual time blocking to plan your day realistically and avoid overbooking
What is the Day Timeline?
The Day Timeline is a visual hour-by-hour calendar that lives in the right sidebar on the Today page (desktop only). It shows you:
- What time blocks are available in your day
- Where you've scheduled tasks
- Conflicts and overlaps (so you can fix them)
- The current time with a visual indicator
Why time blocking works: When tasks have specific time slots, they're more likely to get done. It forces you to face reality: "I only have 4 hours of free time today, so I can't commit to 8 hours of work."
How to Use the Timeline
1. Drag tasks onto the timeline
From your "Today's Plan" section, drag a task and drop it onto a time slot in the timeline. The task will snap to the hour and fill the estimated duration.
Example: If you drag "Write blog post" (estimated 2 hours) to 9:00 AM, it will block 9:00-11:00 AM on your timeline.
2. Rearrange by dragging
Already scheduled something but need to move it? Drag the task card within the timeline to a new time slot. It instantly updates.
3. Click empty slots to create new tasks
Click on any empty hour to quickly create a new task scheduled for that time. This is useful when you think "I should work on X from 2-3 PM."
4. Remove tasks from the timeline
Drag a task off the timeline (back to the left side) to unschedule it. The task stays in "Today's Plan" but loses its specific time slot.
Understanding Visual Indicators
🟡 Current Time Line
A horizontal amber line shows the current time. This updates in real-time so you know if you're on schedule or behind.
🎯 "Jump to Now" Button
If you scroll away from the current time, a floating "Jump to Now" button appears. Click it to instantly scroll back to the current hour.
📦 Task Cards
Scheduled tasks appear as colored cards within the timeline. The height reflects the estimated duration. High-priority tasks may have different styling.
⚠️ Overlaps & Conflicts
If two tasks overlap the same time slot, you'll see visual indicators warning you. You can't be in two places at once—adjust your schedule.
Tips for Effective Time Blocking
- ✓Block your energy peaks
Schedule deep work (writing, coding, design) during your most focused hours. Save admin tasks (email, calls) for lower-energy times.
- ✓Leave buffer time
Don't pack every minute. Leave 15-30 min gaps between tasks for breaks, transitions, and unexpected delays.
- ✓Batch similar tasks
Group similar activities together (all calls in one block, all emails in another). Context switching kills productivity.
- ✓Be honest about estimates
Most people underestimate how long tasks take. Add 25-50% to your first guess. GoingOffline tracks actual vs. estimated time to help you improve.
- ✓Protect focus blocks
When you schedule a focus session, treat it like a meeting with yourself. Close Slack, silence notifications, put your phone away.
- ✓Review and adjust daily
Your timeline is a plan, not a prison. If something urgent comes up, drag tasks around. The goal is intentionality, not rigidity.
Common Time Blocking Mistakes
- Over-scheduling: Packing every minute leaves no room for life. You're not a robot.
- Ignoring reality: Scheduling 4 hours of deep work after a full day of meetings won't work. Be realistic about your energy.
- Never adjusting: Plans change. If you fall behind, reschedule instead of feeling guilty.
- Forgetting breaks: Your brain needs rest. Block time for lunch, walks, and actual breaks.
📱 What about mobile?
The Day Timeline is currently desktop-only (visible on screens wider than 1280px). On mobile, you can still see and work on your Today tasks—you just won't see the visual timeline. We recommend planning your day on desktop in the morning, then executing on mobile throughout the day.