Babel
PROJECTS & ORGANIZATION

Break Big Tasks Into
Manageable Steps

Use subtasks to break gnarly tasks into tiny doable pieces

Pachinko Subtasks

HOW SUBTASKS WORK

Nest As Deep As You Want (Like Inception)

Subtasks let you break down big tasks into steps. Open any task, add subtasks. Those subtasks can have their own subtasks. Those can have more subtasks. We don't limit nesting depth because Gary insisted "someone might need seven levels" and I couldn't technically prove him wrong. Nobody needs seven levels, Gary.

  • nesting Unlimited depth (go wild)
  • deeper levels Open the task to see nested subtasks
  • sections vs subtasks Sections organize within projects, subtasks organize within tasks
  • good practice If you're using more than two levels, maybe create a section and break up the subtasks into tasks?

    • WHEN TO USE SUBTASKS

    Subtasks are for breaking down a single outcome into steps. If you find yourself three levels deep, ask yourself: is this still one task, or did it become a project? Sometimes deep nesting means you're being thorough. Sometimes it means you should create a proper project with sections instead.

    Good Uses for Subtasks

  • multi-step tasks One outcome, several steps to get there
  • checklists Related items that need to be checked off together
  • dependencies Step 1 before step 2 before step 3

    • When to Use a Project Instead

  • too many levels If you're nesting 4+ deep, make it a project with sections
  • parallel tracks Multiple workstreams = sections, not subtasks
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