A to-do list is useful for remembering work, but as it grows, every item can start to look like something that must be active right now. Even after assigning priorities, you can still end up with more high-priority work than you can realistically carry at the same time.
A useful alternative is to separate the backlog from active capacity. Task Packing gives each task a visual size and lets you place only the work that fits on a finite board. The goal is not to build a minute-by-minute schedule, but to avoid carrying more active work than your current capacity allows.
Keep the backlog, but limit the work that is active now
When work piles up, you do not need to delete unfinished items from the to-do list. Keep anything you do not want to forget in the backlog, then move only the work you are truly carrying into a separate active area.
In Task Packing, unplaced tasks remain in the task list. Only tasks placed on the finite board need to be treated as active work, which makes it easier to avoid pretending that everything is in progress at once.
Do not size every task only by the number of minutes it takes
Two tasks that both take 30 minutes can consume very different amounts of attention. A routine action, a difficult decision, a coordination-heavy task, and work that is hard to interrupt do not necessarily have the same practical weight.
Instead of defining one cell as a fixed number of minutes, use XS–XL or a custom area to represent relative workload. The purpose is not precise estimation; it is to make overcommitment visible.
- Required concentration
- Mental weight
- Difficulty of interruption
- Amount of coordination with other people
Notice when free capacity exists but is too fragmented for a large task
Capacity is not always captured by one total number. A board may have ten empty cells, but if those cells are scattered, a 3×2 task still will not fit. Many small active tasks can consume the contiguous attention needed for one larger piece of work even when some total capacity appears unused.
Task Packing therefore shows the largest free rectangle separately from the total free-cell count. Before taking on a large task, check whether a large enough contiguous area remains. Repacking can consolidate existing placements when fragmentation is the problem.
Use visual snapshots and restorable backups for different purposes
If you only need to show someone your current workload or keep a visual record, exporting the board as PNG is convenient. If you need to restore tasks, placements, and history later, use the JSON backup instead.
An optional URL backup is available for small datasets, but it stores gzip-compressed state in the URL fragment. Compression is not encryption, so avoid it for sensitive task contents and use JSON as the normal backup format.
Step by step
- Open Task Packing and add the work you want to remember to the task list. Do not try to place everything on the board immediately.
- Give each task an XS–XL or custom size based on relative workload, including concentration and mental effort rather than time alone.
- Place only the work you are truly carrying now onto the finite board. Leave the rest safely in the task list.
- Check both total free cells and the largest free rectangle to see whether enough contiguous capacity remains for a larger task.
- Before adding more active work, review the current board. Complete, unplace, or repack tasks when appropriate before deciding to take on more.
- Use PNG for a visual snapshot and JSON when you need a restorable backup.
Task Packing
A local-first visual to-do that sizes tasks as area and places only the work that fits on a finite capacity board.
Tips and limitations
- Start with rough XS–XL sizing instead of trying to estimate everything perfectly. Adjust only the tasks that feel obviously wrong after using the board.
- Importance and active capacity are different questions. An important task can stay in the backlog when you cannot realistically carry it yet.
- You do not need to fill the board every day. Leaving deliberate free space can be useful when interruptions or unexpected work are likely.
Frequently asked questions
Why not just use a normal to-do list?
A normal to-do list is excellent for remembering work. Task Packing keeps that list but adds a finite board for deciding how much of it should be active at the same time.
Should one cell represent a fixed time such as 30 minutes?
No. You can use time if it works for you, but the board can also represent relative capacity including concentration and mental effort.
Why can a task fail to fit even when there are empty cells?
A larger task needs a contiguous rectangular area. When empty cells are fragmented, check the largest free rectangle and repack the board if appropriate.
Are task contents uploaded to a server?
No. Normal task management, placement, completion history, PNG export, and JSON backup are processed in the browser. URL backup stores state in the URL fragment and is not encryption.