Keybinding Note: This extension uses Emacs-style keybindings where Ctrl is used on all platforms (not Cmd on Mac), except where explicitly noted. Mac alternatives are shown as Cmd where applicable.
✅ Timestamps
Timestamps in Scimax VS Code allow you to associate dates and times with your content. They are essential for scheduling tasks, tracking deadlines, recording events, and managing time.
✅ Timestamp Types
Org-mode supports two types of timestamps that serve different purposes.
✅ Active Timestamps
Active timestamps appear in the agenda and are used for scheduling and events:
<2026-01-15 Wed>
<2026-01-15 Wed 14:30>Active timestamps use angle brackets <...> and will:
Appear in agenda views
Show up in deadline warnings
Be included in time-based searches
Trigger reminders
✅ Inactive Timestamps
Inactive timestamps are for recording when something happened without agenda visibility:
[2026-01-15 Wed]
[2026-01-15 Wed 14:30]Inactive timestamps use square brackets [...] and will:
NOT appear in the agenda
Be used for logging (CLOSED, state changes)
Record historical information
Document when notes were taken
✅ When to Use Each Type
| Use Case | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule a task | Active | SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed> |
| Set a deadline | Active | DEADLINE: <2026-01-20 Mon> |
| Record appointment | Active | <2026-01-18 Thu 14:00> |
| Log completion time | Inactive | CLOSED: [2026-01-14 Tue 10:30] |
| Document when note was added | Inactive | [2026-01-14 Tue] Added notes... |
| Track state change | Inactive | State "DONE" from "TODO" [...] |
✅ Date and Time Formats
✅ Basic Date Format
The standard date format is YYYY-MM-DD Day:
<2026-01-15 Wed>
[2026-12-31 Thu]The day of week is automatically calculated and included.
✅ Date with Time
Add time in 24-hour HH:MM format:
<2026-01-15 Wed 09:00>
<2026-01-15 Wed 14:30>
<2026-01-15 Wed 23:59>✅ Time Only
You can specify just a time (assumes today):
<14:30>✅ Supported Date Components
| Component | Format | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | YYYY | 2026 | Four-digit year |
| Month | MM | 01 | Two-digit month (01-12) |
| Day | DD | 15 | Two-digit day (01-31) |
| Day of week | Day | Wed | Three-letter abbreviation |
| Hour | HH | 14 | Two-digit hour (00-23) |
| Minute | MM | 30 | Two-digit minute (00-59) |
✅ Date and Time Ranges
✅ Date Ranges
Specify a range of dates with --:
<2026-01-15 Wed>--<2026-01-17 Fri>This represents an event spanning multiple days, like a conference.
✅ Time Ranges
Specify a time range within a single day:
<2026-01-15 Wed 09:00-17:00>This is useful for meetings or work sessions with defined start and end times.
✅ Time Range Examples
,* Meeting with client
<2026-01-15 Wed 14:00-15:30>
,* Conference attendance
<2026-03-10 Mon>--<2026-03-12 Wed>
,* Office hours
<2026-01-15 Wed 10:00-12:00>✅ Creating Timestamps
✅ Insert Timestamp Command
| Key/Command | Action |
|---|---|
| C-c . | Insert active timestamp |
| C-c , | Insert inactive timestamp |
| Speed key . | Insert timestamp (at heading) |
Press C-c . and a date picker dialog appears. You can:
Type a date directly (2026-01-15)
Use relative expressions (+2d, next week)
Navigate with arrow keys
Press Enter to confirm
✅ Date Entry Shortcuts
When entering a date, use these expressions:
| Expression | Result |
|---|---|
| +2d | Two days from now |
| -1w | One week ago |
| +3m | Three months from now |
| today | Today's date |
| tomorrow | Tomorrow's date |
| monday | Next Monday |
| jan 15 | January 15 of current/next year |
| 2026-01-15 | Specific date |
✅ Adding Time to Timestamps
When prompted for a date, add time after the date:
2026-01-15 14:30
Or use 12-hour format with am/pm:
2026-01-15 2:30pm
✅ Quick Timestamp Insertion
For common cases:
,* TODO Task
<2026-01-15 Wed> ; Press C-c .
,* Meeting notes
[2026-01-14 Tue 10:00] ; Press C-c ,✅ Modifying Timestamps
✅ Adjusting Dates with Keyboard
Place cursor on a timestamp component and use:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| S- | Increase value (day, month, year) |
| S- | Decrease value |
| S- | Move to next day |
| S- | Move to previous day |
✅ Component-Based Editing
The cursor position determines what changes:
<2026-01-15 Wed 14:30>
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
Year │ Day │ Hour │
Month │ Minute
Day of week (read-only)
On year: S-
/Down changes year On month: S-
/Down changes month On day: S-
/Down or S- /Right changes day On hour: S-
/Down changes hour On minute: S-
/Down changes minute
✅ Quick Date Adjustment Examples
; Move meeting to tomorrow
<2026-01-15 Wed 14:30>
; Place cursor anywhere in date, press S-<right>
<2026-01-16 Thu 14:30>
; Postpone by one month
<2026-01-15 Wed>
; Place cursor on month (01), press S-<up>
<2026-02-15 Sat>✅ Editing Timestamp Dialog
Press C-c . on an existing timestamp to open the editor and:
Modify the date
Add or remove time
Change between active/inactive
Add repeaters or warnings
✅ Repeating Timestamps
Repeaters make timestamps recur automatically, perfect for recurring tasks and events.
✅ Basic Repeater Syntax
Add a repeater after the date: +Nx where:
+ is the repeater marker
N is a number
x is the unit (d, w, m, y)
<2026-01-15 Wed +1w> ; Repeats weekly
<2026-01-15 Wed +2d> ; Repeats every 2 days
<2026-01-01 Thu +1m> ; Repeats monthly
<2026-01-15 Wed +1y> ; Repeats yearly✅ Repeater Units
| Unit | Meaning | Example | Next Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| d | Day(s) | +1d | Tomorrow |
| w | Week(s) | +1w | Same day next week |
| m | Month(s) | +1m | Same date next month |
| y | Year(s) | +1y | Same date next year |
| h | Hour(s) | +2h | Two hours later |
✅ Repeater Behavior
When you mark a repeating task as DONE:
,* TODO Weekly review
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed +1w>
; After marking DONE:
,* TODO Weekly review
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-22 Wed +1w>The task automatically returns to TODO state with the next occurrence date.
✅ Repeater Type Modifiers
Three types of repeaters handle different scenarios:
✅ Standard Repeater (+)
Shifts from the original base date:
,* TODO Staff meeting
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed +1w>If you complete it late (on Jan 20), it still schedules to Jan 22 (one week from original date).
✅ Catch-up Repeater (++)
Shifts from the completion date:
,* TODO Exercise
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed ++1d>If you complete it late (on Jan 17), it schedules to Jan 18 (one day from when you completed it).
✅ Restart Repeater (.+)
For tasks that must happen a fixed interval after completion:
,* TODO Water plants
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed .+3d>If you complete it on Jan 18, it schedules to Jan 21 (exactly 3 days later).
✅ Repeater Comparison
| Type | Symbol | Schedules from | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | + | Original date | Fixed appointments, meetings |
| Catch-up | ++ | Completion date | Habits, daily tasks |
| Restart | .+ | Completion date | Maintenance, periodic tasks |
✅ Repeater Examples
,* TODO Daily standup meeting
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed 09:00 +1d>
; Every workday at 9am
,* TODO Monthly report
DEADLINE: <2026-01-31 Fri +1m>
; Due last day of each month
,* TODO Backup server
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed ++1w>
; Weekly, but adjust if done late
,* TODO Change air filter
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed .+90d>
; Every 90 days after actually changing it
,* TODO Practice guitar
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed ++1d>
; Daily practice, catch up if missed✅ SCHEDULED and DEADLINE
Two special keywords attach timestamps to TODO items for planning.
✅ SCHEDULED Keyword
Indicates when you plan to START working on a task:
,* TODO Write documentation
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed>✅ DEADLINE Keyword
Indicates when a task must be COMPLETED by:
,* TODO Submit proposal
DEADLINE: <2026-01-20 Mon>✅ Using Both Together
Tasks can have both:
,* TODO Complete quarterly report
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed>
DEADLINE: <2026-01-25 Sat>Start working on Jan 15, must finish by Jan 25.
✅ Adding SCHEDULED and DEADLINE
| Key/Command | Action |
|---|---|
| C-c C-s | Add/edit SCHEDULED |
| C-c C-d | Add/edit DEADLINE |
| Speed key s | Add/edit SCHEDULED |
| Speed key d | Add/edit DEADLINE |
| scimax.org.schedule | Schedule task |
| scimax.org.deadline | Set deadline |
When you press one of these keys, you're prompted to enter a date using natural language. Simply type expressions like:
| Expression | Result |
|---|---|
| today | Today's date |
| tomorrow | Tomorrow's date |
| monday | Next Monday |
| +2d | Two days from now |
| +1w | One week from now |
| jan 15 | January 15 of current/next year |
| 2026-01-15 | Specific ISO date |
Position cursor on a TODO headline and press the keybinding or use speed commands at the beginning of a headline.
✅ SCHEDULED vs DEADLINE
| Aspect | SCHEDULED | DEADLINE |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | When to START | When to FINISH |
| Agenda | Shows starting this day | Shows with warnings |
| Past dates | Appears every day until done | Shows days overdue |
| Use for | Planning, time-blocking | Hard deadlines, due dates |
✅ Examples with Context
,* TODO Review contract
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed> DEADLINE: <2026-01-17 Fri>
Need to finish before weekend.
,* TODO Weekly team meeting
SCHEDULED: <2026-02-13 Fri 10:00 +1w>
Recurring Thursday meeting.
,* TODO File taxes
DEADLINE: <2026-04-15 Tue -7d>
Due April 15, start warning 7 days early.✅ Warning Periods
Warning periods display deadlines in the agenda before they're due.
✅ Warning Period Syntax
Add -Nd to a deadline where N is days:
DEADLINE: <2026-01-25 Sat -7d>This appears in the agenda 7 days before January 25.
✅ Default Warning Period
Without a warning period specified, deadlines show 14 days in advance.
✅ Setting Custom Warnings
| Warning | Meaning |
|---|---|
| -3d | Warn 3 days before |
| -1w | Warn 1 week before |
| -2w | Warn 2 weeks before |
| -1m | Warn 1 month before |
| -0d | Show only on deadline day |
✅ Warning Period Examples
,* TODO Renew driver's license
DEADLINE: <2026-06-30 Tue -30d>
; Start warning 30 days early
,* TODO Submit conference paper
DEADLINE: <2026-02-15 Sun -14d>
; Two week warning
,* TODO Pay rent
DEADLINE: <2026-02-01 Sun -0d>
; Show only on the day it's due
,* TODO Annual review meeting
SCHEDULED: <2026-12-15 Tue -7d>
; Even SCHEDULED can have warnings for preparation✅ Combining Repeaters and Warnings
You can use both repeaters and warnings:
,* TODO Monthly expense report
DEADLINE: <2026-01-31 Fri +1m -3d>
; Due monthly, warn 3 days before✅ Time Clocking
Track how much time you spend on tasks with clock entries.
✅ Clocking In and Out
Start and stop the clock for a task:
| Command | Key Binding | Action |
|---|---|---|
| scimax.org.clockIn | I | Clock in via speed command |
| scimax.org.clockOut | O | Clock out via command |
✅ Clock Entry Format
Clock entries are stored in the LOGBOOK drawer:
,* TODO Write documentation
:LOGBOOK:
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 09:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 10:30] => 1:30
CLOCK: [2026-01-13 Mon 14:00]--[2026-01-13 Mon 16:00] => 2:00
:END:Format: CLOCK: [start]--[end] => duration
✅ Active Clock
When clocked in, the current clock has no end time:
,* TODO Working on feature implementation
:LOGBOOK:
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 14:00]
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 09:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 12:00] => 3:00
:END:The CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 14:00] entry is the currently running clock.
✅ Clock Workflow Example
Start working: #+BEGIN_SRC org ,* TODO Implement login feature :LOGBOOK: CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 09:00] :END: #+END_SRC
Take a break (clock out): #+BEGIN_SRC org ,* TODO Implement login feature :LOGBOOK: CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 09:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 11:00] => 2:00 :END: #+END_SRC
Resume work (clock in again): #+BEGIN_SRC org ,* TODO Implement login feature :LOGBOOK: CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 13:00] CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 09:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 11:00] => 2:00 :END: #+END_SRC
Finish (clock out): #+BEGIN_SRC org ,* TODO Implement login feature :LOGBOOK: CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 13:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 15:30] => 2:30 CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 09:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 11:00] => 2:00 :END: #+END_SRC
Total time: 4:30 (2:00 + 2:30)
✅ Clock Reports
View time summaries:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| scimax.org.clockReport | Generate clock report |
| scimax.agenda.clockReport | Clock report in agenda |
✅ Clock Table
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-17 Sat> DEADLINE: <2026-01-18 Sun>
Insert a dynamic table showing time spent:
| Headline | Time |
|---|---|
| ** ✅ Clock Reports | 0:05 |
| ** ✅ Clock Table | 0:02 |
| Total | 0:07 |
This creates a table like:
| Headline | Time | |---------------------------+--------| | * TODO Project work | 10:30 | | ** Implement feature A | 4:30 | | ** Bug fixes | 6:00 |
✅ The LOGBOOK Drawer
The LOGBOOK drawer stores time-tracking and state-change information.
✅ LOGBOOK Contents
The LOGBOOK can contain:
Clock entries (CLOCK: lines)
State change notes
Other time-related metadata
✅ LOGBOOK Example
,* DONE Review pull request
CLOSED: [2026-01-14 Tue 15:00]
:LOGBOOK:
- State "DONE" from "TODO" [2026-01-14 Tue 15:00]
Approved all changes, ready to merge.
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 14:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 15:00] => 1:00
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 09:30]--[2026-01-14 Tue 10:00] => 0:30
- State "TODO" from "WAITING" [2026-01-14 Tue 09:00]
Developer finished addressing comments.
:END:This shows:
Task completed at 15:00
State changed from TODO to DONE
Two work sessions: 1:00 and 0:30
Previous state change from WAITING to TODO
✅ LOGBOOK Benefits
Complete history - See all work on a task
Time accountability - Track actual time spent
State audit trail - Understand task progression
Billing records - For client work time tracking
✅ Creating LOGBOOK
The LOGBOOK drawer is created automatically when:
You clock in for the first time
State change logging is enabled
You manually add it
Manual LOGBOOK:
,* TODO Task
:LOGBOOK:
:END:✅ CLOSED Timestamps
When a task is marked DONE, a CLOSED timestamp is automatically added:
,* DONE Complete documentation
CLOSED: [2026-01-14 Tue 16:30]✅ CLOSED Properties
Always an inactive timestamp [...]
Records the exact completion time
Appears before the task content
Can be used to calculate completion statistics
✅ Diary Sexp Timestamps
Diary sexps (symbolic expressions) are a powerful feature for specifying complex date patterns that can't be expressed with simple repeaters.
✅ Diary Sexp Syntax
Diary sexps use the %%( ) syntax, optionally within angle brackets:
%%(diary-anniversary 1 20 1990) John's Birthday
%%(diary-anniversary 1 15 1990)
<%%((diary-float t 1 2))>✅ Common Diary Functions
| Function | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| diary-anniversary | Annual date (month day year) | %%(diary-anniversary 3 15 1990) |
| diary-float | Floating day (month week day) | %%(diary-float 11 4 4) |
| diary-cyclic | Every N days from a date | %%(diary-cyclic 14 1 1 2026) |
| diary-block | Date range (m1 d1 y1 m2 d2 y2) | %%(diary-block 6 1 2026 8 31 2026) |
| org-class | Recurring class schedule | %%(org-class 2026 1 15 2026 5 15 1) |
✅ Diary Sexp Examples
✅ Annual Events (Birthdays, Anniversaries)
%%(diary-anniversary 3 15 1990) John's birthday (age %d)
%%(diary-anniversary 6 22 2010) Wedding anniversary (%d years)The %d is replaced with the calculated age/years.
✅ Floating Holidays
Holidays that occur on "the Nth weekday of month":
%%(diary-float 11 4 4) Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of November)
%%(diary-float 5 0 2) Mother's Day (2nd Sunday of May)
%%(diary-float 1 1 3) MLK Day (3rd Monday of January)Parameters: (month weekday occurrence)
weekday: 0Sunday, 1Monday, ... 6=Saturday
occurrence: 1first, 2second, -1=last, etc.
✅ Class Schedules
%%(org-class 2026 1 15 2026 5 15 1) Monday lecture (10:00-11:30)
%%(org-class 2026 1 15 2026 5 15 3) Wednesday lab (14:00-16:00)Parameters: (start-year start-month start-day end-year end-month end-day weekday)
✅ Cyclic Events
Events that repeat every N days:
%%(diary-cyclic 14 1 1 2026) Bi-weekly team meetingParameters: (interval month day year) - repeats every 14 days from Jan 1, 2026.
✅ Block Dates (Date Ranges)
%%(diary-block 6 1 2026 8 31 2026) Summer breakShows for all dates within the range (June 1 to August 31, 2026).
✅ When to Use Diary Sexps
Use diary sexps when simple repeaters (+1d, +1w, etc.) can't express your needs:
| Scenario | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Every other Tuesday" | %%(diary-cyclic 14 ...) |
| "Second Monday of each month" | %%(diary-float t 1 2) |
| "Last Friday of each month" | %%(diary-float t 5 -1) |
| "January 15 every year" | %%(diary-anniversary 1 15 2000) |
| "Every weekday except holidays" | Complex sexp with conditionals |
✅ CLOSED with Other Timestamps
,* DONE Write monthly report
CLOSED: [2026-01-14 Tue 16:30]
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-10 Fri>
DEADLINE: <2026-01-15 Wed>
:LOGBOOK:
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 14:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 16:30] => 2:30
:END:
Completed on time with 2.5 hours of work.This shows:
Task was scheduled for Jan 10
Deadline was Jan 15
Actually completed Jan 14 at 16:30
Took 2.5 hours of actual work time
✅ Speed Commands for Timestamps
Speed commands provide quick access when cursor is at the beginning of a headline.
✅ Timestamp Speed Commands
| Key | Command |
|---|---|
| . | Insert timestamp |
| s | Add/edit SCHEDULED |
| d | Add/edit DEADLINE |
| I | Clock in |
| O | Clock out |
✅ Using Speed Commands
Place cursor at the very start of a headline (before the *)
Press the key
Command executes immediately
* TODO Task ; <- cursor here ^ cursor position - press 's' to schedule
✅ Speed Command Example Workflow
,* TODO Write documentationCursor at start of headline
Press s - schedule for tomorrow
Press I - clock in
Work on task...
Press O - clock out
Result:
,* TODO Write documentation
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed>
:LOGBOOK:
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 10:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 11:30] => 1:30
:END:✅ Timestamp Formats Summary
✅ Format Reference Table
| Format | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Active | <2026-01-15 Wed> | |
| [YYYY-MM-DD Day] | Inactive | [2026-01-15 Wed] |
| With time | <2026-01-15 Wed 14:30> | |
| Time range | <2026-01-15 Wed 09:00-17:00> | |
| Date range | <2026-01-15 Wed>--<2026-01-17 Fri> | |
| Repeater | <2026-01-15 Wed +1w> | |
| Catch-up | <2026-01-15 Wed ++1d> | |
| Restart | <2026-01-15 Wed .+30d> | |
| Warning | <2026-01-25 Sat -7d> | |
| Both | <2026-01-31 Fri +1m -3d> |
✅ Repeater Units
| Unit | Full Name | Example | Increments by |
|---|---|---|---|
| h | Hour | +2h | Hours |
| d | Day | +1d | Days |
| w | Week | +1w | Weeks (7 days) |
| m | Month | +1m | Months (same date) |
| y | Year | +1y | Years (same date) |
✅ Practical Examples
✅ Meeting Schedule
,* TODO Weekly team sync
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-23 Fri 10:00 +1w>
Recurring every Thursday at 10am.✅ Project with Multiple Timestamps
,* TODO Q1 Planning Document
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed> DEADLINE: <2026-01-31 Fri -7d>
:PROPERTIES:
:EFFORT: 8:00
:END:
:LOGBOOK:
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 14:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 16:30] => 2:30
CLOCK: [2026-01-13 Mon 09:00]--[2026-01-13 Mon 11:00] => 2:00
:END:
Start Jan 15, due Jan 31 (warn 7 days early).
Estimated 8 hours, 4.5 hours logged so far.✅ Recurring Maintenance Task
,* TODO Update dependencies
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed .+14d>
Update npm packages every 2 weeks after completion.✅ Event with Time Range
,* Conference keynote speech
<2026-03-15 Sun 09:00-10:30>
Opening keynote at tech conference.✅ Multi-day Event
,* Annual company retreat
<2026-06-10 Wed>--<2026-06-12 Fri>
Three-day offsite in Lake Tahoe.✅ Task with Complete History
,* DONE Implement user authentication
CLOSED: [2026-01-14 Tue 17:00]
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-10 Fri>
DEADLINE: <2026-01-15 Wed>
:PROPERTIES:
:EFFORT: 6:00
:END:
:LOGBOOK:
- State "DONE" from "TODO" [2026-01-14 Tue 17:00]
All tests passing, ready for review.
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 14:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 17:00] => 3:00
CLOCK: [2026-01-13 Mon 10:00]--[2026-01-13 Mon 12:30] => 2:30
CLOCK: [2026-01-11 Sat 15:00]--[2026-01-11 Sat 16:00] => 1:00
- State "TODO" from "WAITING" [2026-01-11 Sat 14:30]
Design approved, starting implementation.
:END:
Completed on time. Estimated 6:00, actual 6:30.✅ Timestamp Best Practices
✅ When to Use Active vs Inactive
Use active timestamps when:
Scheduling tasks to work on
Setting deadlines
Planning appointments or events
You want it to appear in the agenda
Use inactive timestamps when:
Recording when something happened
Documenting note-taking time
Logging state changes
You DON'T want it in the agenda
✅ Choosing Repeater Types
| Scenario | Repeater Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed appointment | + | Team meeting every Monday |
| Daily habit | ++ | Morning exercise |
| Maintenance after completion | .+ | Change oil 90 days after |
| Regular review | + | Monthly report last Friday |
| Medication | ++ | Take daily after waking |
✅ Time Tracking Tips
Clock in when starting - Build the habit immediately
Clock out when stopping - Even for short breaks
Review clock reports - Weekly time analysis
Compare estimate vs actual - Improve future estimates
Use LOGBOOK for notes - Document blockers or issues
✅ Scheduling Strategies
; Don't over-schedule
,* TODO Ambiguous big task
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed>
; Too vague, will cause procrastination
; Instead: Break down with specific times
,* TODO Project: Website Redesign
,** TODO Design mockups [1:30]
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed 09:00>
,** TODO Review with stakeholders [0:45]
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed 14:00>
,** TODO Implement changes [3:00]
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-16 Thu 09:00>✅ Warning Period Guidelines
| Task Type | Suggested Warning | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Daily task | -0d | Show only on day |
| Weekly deadline | -2d | 2 day heads up |
| Monthly deadline | -1w | One week notice |
| Quarterly deadline | -2w | Two week preparation |
| Annual deadline | -1m | One month advance notice |
| Critical deadline | -30d | Very early warning |
✅ Common Patterns
✅ Weekly Review
,* TODO Weekly review
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-26 Mon 18:00 +1w>
Review accomplishments, plan next week.✅ Birthday Reminders
,* John's birthday
<2026-03-15 Sun +1y -7d>
Annual reminder, warn 7 days early.✅ Bill Payments
,* TODO Pay electricity bill
DEADLINE: <2026-01-31 Fri +1m -3d>
Due monthly on last day, 3 day warning.✅ Exercise Habit
,* TODO Morning workout
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-18 Sun 07:00 ++1d>
Daily exercise, catch up if missed day.✅ Car Maintenance
,* TODO Oil change
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-20 Mon .+90d>
Every 90 days after previous change.✅ Project Phases
,* TODO Project: Mobile App Launch
,** DONE Research phase
CLOSED: [2026-01-05 Sun 14:00] SCHEDULED: <2026-01-01 Wed> DEADLINE: <2026-01-05 Sun>
,** TODO Design phase
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-06 Mon> DEADLINE: <2026-01-19 Sun>
,** TODO Development phase
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-20 Mon> DEADLINE: <2026-03-15 Sun>
,** TODO Testing phase
SCHEDULED: <2026-03-16 Mon> DEADLINE: <2026-03-31 Mon>✅ Integration with TODO Items
Timestamps work seamlessly with TODO items. See TODO Items for more on task management.
✅ Scheduled TODOs
,* TODO [#A] Finish proposal
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-15 Wed>
:PROPERTIES:
:EFFORT: 3:00
:END:
High priority task scheduled for tomorrow.✅ Deadline Warnings in Agenda
Tasks with approaching deadlines appear in the agenda with warning indicators. See Agenda for details on agenda views.
✅ Combining All Features
,* TODO [#A] Quarterly report :work:report:
SCHEDULED: <2026-01-20 Mon> DEADLINE: <2026-01-31 Fri -7d>
:PROPERTIES:
:EFFORT: 12:00
:CATEGORY: Reports
:END:
:LOGBOOK:
CLOCK: [2026-01-14 Tue 14:00]--[2026-01-14 Tue 16:30] => 2:30
:END:
Due end of month with 7-day warning.
Priority A, work context, 12 hour estimate.
Already logged 2:30 hours.✅ Quick Reference
✅ Keybindings
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| C-c . | Insert active timestamp |
| C-c , | Insert inactive timestamp |
| S- | Increase timestamp component |
| S- | Decrease timestamp component |
| S- | Next day |
| S- | Previous day |
✅ Speed Commands (at heading start)
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| . | Insert timestamp |
| s | Schedule task |
| d | Set deadline |
| I | Clock in |
| O | Clock out |
✅ Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| scimax.org.insertTimestamp | Insert timestamp |
| scimax.org.schedule | Add SCHEDULED timestamp |
| scimax.org.deadline | Add DEADLINE timestamp |
| scimax.org.clockIn | Start time tracking |
| scimax.org.clockOut | Stop time tracking |
| scimax.org.clockReport | Generate time report |
✅ Timestamp Format Quick Reference
<2026-01-15 Wed> Active date [2026-01-15 Wed] Inactive date <2026-01-15 Wed 14:30> With time <2026-01-15 Wed 09:00-17:00> Time range <2026-01-15 Wed>--<2026-01-17 Fri> Date range <2026-01-15 Wed +1w> Weekly repeater <2026-01-15 Wed ++1d> Daily catch-up <2026-01-15 Wed .+30d> 30-day restart <2026-01-25 Sat -7d> 7-day warning