Managing Recurring Tasks

BusyCal offers flexible options for how recurring tasks are handled when you mark them as complete. Understanding these "regeneration styles" ensures your tasks behave exactly as you expect.

The Two Styles: "Pay Rent" vs. "Take Out Trash"

Unlike calendar events which repeat on fixed dates regardless of when you attend them, tasks often need to react to when you actually do them. BusyCal provides two main logic styles for this:

1. Pay Rent (Fixed Schedule)

Best for: Bills, subscriptions, medication, and strict deadlines.

In this style, the task repeats strictly based on the original due date, regardless of when you complete it.

• Scenario: You have a task "Pay Rent" due on the 1st of every month.
• Action: You pay it late on the 5th and mark it complete.
• Result: The next task is created for the 1st of the next month.
• Why: Even though you paid late, the next due date shouldn't shift. The schedule is fixed.

If you skip a month: If you have a daily task and miss 3 days, marking the oldest one complete will generate the next overdue one (for yesterday), not one for tomorrow. You have to "catch up" on all missed occurrences.

2. Take Out Trash (Flexible Schedule)

Best for: Chores, maintenance, and habits.

In this style, the task repeats based on the completion date or ignores missed occurrences to keep you moving forward.

• Scenario: You have a task "Take out trash" due every Monday.
• Action: You forget and take it out on Wednesday, then mark it complete.
• Result: BusyCal calculates the next due date based on your settings—typically skipping the missed Monday and scheduling for the next coming Monday.
• Why: You don't need to take the trash out again immediately just because you were late. You just want to catch the next cycle.

Configuring Regeneration Style

You can set a global default or configure this per task (where supported).

Global Setting

1. Go to BusyCal > Settings > Tasks.
2. Look for Default regeneration style.
3. Choose between:
   • Take out trash (Default): Skips overdue occurrences and schedules forward.
   • Pay rent: Strict adherence to due dates; generates all missed past occurrences.
   • Completion date: Schedules the next occurrence relative to today (e.g., "3 days after completion").

What if I want "Completion Date" style?

If you want a task to repeat "3 days after I actually do it" (e.g., watering plants):

1. Select the Task.
2. In the Info Panel, set the Repeat option.
3. Choose Custom....
4. Change "Frequency" to After Completion.

This ensures the next due date is calculated from the moment you check the box, not the original due date.