The automation backbone of Journal it! - intelligently schedule recurring
(sessions, , habit reminders, ) and day themes. Transform manual into systematic, repeating workflows with sophisticated repeat rules and overdue handling.The Automation Engine
Journal it!'s schedulers go beyond simple recurring events. They're intelligent automation engines that understand your
context, adapt to your day structure, and respect complex inclusion/exclusion rules.- •Context-aware scheduling that respects themes, blocks, and custom rules
- •Sophisticated exclusion patterns to skip holidays, busy days, or specific conditions
- •Relative scheduling based on completion (days after last start/end)
- •Works seamlessly across , objectives, themes, and standalone planner items
How Schedulers Work
Understanding the core concepts behind Journal it!'s scheduler system - the engine that powers automated recurring
:Next Instance Date & States
Every
starts from its 'Next instance date' - which can be a fixed date, or dynamic like 'next Work theme day', 'next day with Morning block', or 'X days after last completion'. From this anchor point, the applies repeat rules to calculate all future instances. Active schedulers create items automatically; inactive ones pause creation while preserving existing items.Anticipated vs Saved Items
Future scheduled items are 'anticipated' - they exist in preview but aren't final. When you edit an anticipated item, it becomes 'saved' and won't be affected by
changes. This lets you customize individual instances while maintaining the overall pattern.Advanced Repeat Rules & Patterns
Beyond standard patterns (daily, weekly, monthly), schedulers support context-aware rules: schedule only on days with specific themes or blocks, exclude holidays or busy days, use relative patterns like 'X days after last completion'. Combine inclusion and exclusion rules for precise control - schedule on work days except when there's a Holiday theme, or only on days with a Morning block.
Overdue Handling Policies
Customize what happens to missed items: auto-complete them, reschedule to today, or leave for manual handling. Different policies for different scenarios ensure nothing important gets lost while maintaining clean
views.Advanced Scheduling Features
Item Template Customization
Edit the template for scheduled items: timing, duration,
, colors, and more. Changes can apply to future items while preserving existing ones.Schedule View
View past and future scheduled items in the
section when scheduler is active. See the complete timeline of created instances to verify your schedule patterns.Multi- Workflows
Objectives and
can have multiple schedulers working together - different item types, different schedules, coordinated automation.Creating & Accessing Schedulers
Multiple pathways to create and manage schedulers across different contexts:
From Day Themes
Side Panel → Day Themes → Open Theme → Schedulers Section
Set up automatic theme scheduling for work days, weekends, holidays with custom time blocks and repeat rules.
Example: with Multiple Schedulers
See how multiple schedulers work together to automate different aspects of a single
:"Product Launch" with 3 Schedulers
Daily Standup Sessions
Weekdays • 9AM • 15min
Quick calendar sessions for daily progress check-ins with timer tracking. Review yesterday's work and plan today's priorities.
✨ Result: Comprehensive
management system with daily standups, bi-weekly sprints, and weekly reviews - all automated through schedulers attached to a single task.System-Wide Integration
Objective Integration
Objectives can have multiple schedulers for different item types. calendar sessions for focused work time and reminders for regular check-ins and reviews.
External Integration
External calendars (Google, Apple) appear as special schedulers. Import events as calendar sessions or reminders with custom organization and priority settings.