How Glide works

Tasks

A task is one thing you can finish in one sitting, like sending an email, making a call or picking up a prescription. Every task has a day: the day you plan to do it. All your tasks are in one list, so you can see everything you need to do. Even if you only use Glide for tasks, it’s already useful.

Routines

A routine is a set of steps you repeat, usually every day, like a morning or evening routine. A routine isn’t a to-do list. It’s a rhythm.

Besides steps, a routine can have metrics and reflections. A metric is a number you track, like hours slept. A reflection is a question you answer in writing. Each day starts fresh, so missing a day doesn’t wipe out your progress.

Goals

A goal is something you want to achieve by a certain date. Each goal is measured with one number from a routine. That way, the goal shows whether what you do each day is getting you closer.

How they connect

Tasks tell you what to do and when. Routines help you build habits, and their numbers and answers show how things are going. Goals give your tasks and routines a purpose.

You don’t need all three at once. Tasks alone are useful. Routines turn tasks into habits. Goals give your habits a purpose. Getting started suggests an order to try them in.

Today

The Today screen brings everything together: your goals, today’s routines, the tasks due today with the most important first, and your week so far. If there’s too much to do today, you’ll see it in the morning, and you can move some tasks to another day. Open Today whenever it suits you.

Focus

Focus is a timer that helps you give one task your full attention for a set time. It helps you get started, stay focused and set aside time for a task. While the timer runs, other apps can’t interrupt you, and soft chimes tell you how much time has passed. You can also use it to time meditation or exercise.

Journal

The journal keeps your answers to reflection questions and any notes you write, day by day, next to the numbers from your routines. Over time, you can see what helps and what doesn’t.

Your data

Everything is kept on your phone, and you don’t need an account. If you use more than one device, sync keeps them up to date. Glide locks your data on your phone before it leaves.

Why it’s built this way

Every part of Glide comes from real experience and from research about attention, planning and habits. Why Glide works this way explains each choice.