First Things First planning, popularized by Stephen Covey, centers on doing what matters most before everything else pulls you sideways. The core idea: urgent tasks scream loudest, but important tasks create lasting results. Most people spend their days firefighting the urgent while the truly important work gets buried.
The challenge isn't understanding this principle — it's actually implementing it. Traditional planners and complex project management tools often make prioritization harder, not easier. You need a system that makes important vs. urgent decisions visual, fast, and frictionless.
What Makes Effective First Things First Planning
Effective First Things First planning requires three core capabilities that most productivity systems miss entirely. First, you need visual prioritization — the ability to see your important tasks clearly separated from urgent distractions. Complex numbered priority levels or buried importance flags don't work because your brain processes spatial relationships faster than abstract categories.
Second, you need speed of capture and reorganization. When new tasks hit your radar, you must be able to quickly assess their true importance and place them accordingly. If adding or moving a task takes multiple clicks and menus, you'll default to dumping everything in one list where important items disappear.
Third, you need contextual reminders that bring important tasks back to your attention before they become urgent. Most reminder systems treat all tasks equally, but First Things First planning demands that your most important work gets the most persistent attention.
TaskLoco's Sticky Notes Approach to Priority Planning
TaskLoco transforms First Things First planning into something as natural as arranging sticky notes on a wall. Instead of fighting priority dropdown menus or complex quadrant systems, you simply place your most important tasks at the top of your wall view and less critical items below. Your brain instantly grasps the hierarchy.
The magic happens in how quickly you can capture and position new tasks. Hit the Chrome extension on any webpage, jot down a task, and drop it exactly where it belongs in your priority stack. No forms to fill out, no categories to select — just pure spatial prioritization that matches how your mind actually works.
TaskLoco's reminders integrate seamlessly with this visual approach. Set reminder notifications for your top-priority items and they'll ping your phone and computer with deep links back to the original note. You're not just getting reminded that something exists — you're being pulled back to the exact context where you can take action.
Beyond Personal Planning: Team Priority Alignment
First Things First principles become even more critical with teams, where competing priorities can derail entire projects. TaskLoco's team sharing features let you broadcast your priority decisions to colleagues without forcing everyone into rigid project management frameworks.
Share a note with your team and each member gets their own copy to modify, annotate, or reorganize within their personal system. No permission levels to manage, no access conflicts to resolve — just clean priority communication that preserves individual workflow preferences.
The file attachment system (10GB included) means your priority tasks can carry all necessary context. Attach project briefs, reference documents, or related materials directly to high-importance items. When team members receive shared tasks, they get the full picture, not just a task title that requires follow-up questions.
Getting Started with First Things First in TaskLoco
Start by brain-dumping all your current tasks into TaskLoco without worrying about organization. Use the Chrome extension to capture anything you encounter during the day — meeting notes, article ideas, project requirements. Get everything visible first.
Next, arrange your wall view by importance rather than urgency. Drag your most impactful long-term work to the top, even if deadlines aren't immediate. Place urgent-but-not-important tasks lower down where they're accessible but not dominant in your visual field.
Set reminders primarily for your important tasks — the ones that create lasting results but don't naturally demand daily attention. Let urgent tasks remind themselves through external pressure, but use TaskLoco's notification system to keep important work from slipping through cracks.
The calendar view helps you see how your priorities map against time constraints, but resist the urge to schedule every moment. Use it to ensure important tasks get protected time slots before urgent items consume your day.
TaskLoco Premium is regularly $9.99/month per person. Right now, charter members can lock in 50% off the regular price — forever. That means $4.99/month per person today. And if our price ever goes up, you still pay half. Always.
Code CHARTER50 auto-applies at checkout. First 500 spots only — once they're gone, this offer is gone permanently. Act fast while spots last.
Every Premium subscription includes unlimited notes, 10GB file storage, reminders, calendar, and team sharing. Each team member requires a separate subscription. 7-day free trial — no charge until day 8. Cancel anytime.
Free Options: TaskLoco
TaskLoco Lite
- Native iPhone & Android app
- Completely anonymous — no sign-in
- Data stays on your device
- Up to 20 notes
- Free forever
TaskLoco Lite Plus+
- Web app + Chrome extension
- Sign in with Google
- Wall syncs across all devices
- Up to 30 notes
- Free forever
Lock In 50% Off — Forever
7-day free trial. No charge until day 8. CHARTER50 auto-applies at checkout.
🔒 Lock In My Charter SpotSee TaskLoco in Action
Frequently Asked Questions
How does TaskLoco help with First Things First planning?
TaskLoco's visual wall view makes priority management intuitive — arrange important tasks at the top of your view and urgent distractions below. Quick capture with the Chrome extension and reminder notifications for high-priority items help maintain focus on what matters most. $9.99/month per person (currently $4.99/month per person for first 500 charter members with code CHARTER50)
Can TaskLoco replace traditional priority matrix systems?
TaskLoco simplifies priority management through spatial arrangement rather than complex quadrant systems. Instead of categorizing tasks into importance/urgency matrices, you arrange them visually by what matters most to you. This approach feels more natural and requires less mental overhead.
How do TaskLoco reminders support priority-based planning?
TaskLoco reminders are delivered as push notifications to your phone and computer with deep links back to the original note. Set reminders for your most important work to ensure it gets attention before becoming urgent. Optional email and SMS notifications are also available.
Does TaskLoco work for team priority alignment?
Yes, TaskLoco's team sharing lets you communicate priority decisions clearly. Share notes with teammates and they receive their own copy to work with. Each team member maintains their personal workflow while staying aligned on what matters most.
What's the difference between TaskLoco Lite and Premium for priority planning?
TaskLoco Premium includes unlimited notes, reminders with push notifications, file attachments, calendar view, and team sharing features essential for comprehensive First Things First planning.
Can I attach files and context to priority tasks in TaskLoco?
TaskLoco Premium includes 10GB file storage for attaching documents, images, and reference materials directly to your notes. This ensures high-priority tasks carry all necessary context, reducing the need for external file management or follow-up questions.
How quickly can I capture and prioritize new tasks in TaskLoco?
The TaskLoco Chrome extension captures tasks from any webpage in one click. Once captured, drag and drop tasks within your wall view to position them by priority. No forms to fill out or categories to select — just pure spatial prioritization that matches how your brain works.
Born in Brooklyn. Powered by AWS. Your data stays yours.
TaskLoco is available on iPhone, Android, Chrome, and every web browser.