> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guide.ellieplanner.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guide.ellieplanner.com/features/daily-planning-shutdown-rituals.md).

# Daily Planning and Daily Shutdown

Plan a realistic day and close it out with a guided review.

Daily Planning helps you build a realistic plan before the day gets busy. Daily Shutdown gives you a short review at the end of the day and helps you decide what should move forward.

![Ellie's Daily Planning ritual with realistic demo tasks shown in the complete desktop browser frame on a light green background.](https://3852134662-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FnmZdEkTM0SErtqWxGTII%2Fuploads%2Fha4RW5VnsRIliaKCbI5k%2Fellie-web-daily-planning-green-light-v1-16x9.jpg?alt=media)

## Availability

The rituals are designed for a desktop-sized window in Ellie on the web, Mac, and Windows. They are not currently available in the iPhone or iPad app.

## Turn on the rituals

1. Open **Settings → Power Features**.
2. Turn on **Daily Planning**.
3. Select your avatar or initials in the top-right corner of Ellie.
4. Choose **Daily Planning** or **Daily Shutdown**.

The default shortcut for Daily Planning is **Command+Shift+P** on macOS or **Ctrl+Shift+P** on Windows and Linux. You can change it in **Settings → Keyboard shortcuts**.

## Plan the day

Daily Planning walks you through the decisions in order:

1. **Review yesterday.** See what you completed, the Actual time you recorded, and a breakdown by label. Anything unfinished is visible so it does not disappear from the plan.
2. **Choose today's work.** Pull tasks from your lists—or from Task Templates when that Power Feature is enabled—and arrange what you want to finish today.
3. **Check capacity.** If the day's total estimated time is above your workday threshold, Ellie asks whether anything can wait. Move tasks to tomorrow or next week until the plan feels realistic.
4. **Finalize and timebox.** Review the finished list and, if you timebox, drag tasks onto the calendar before returning to Ellie.

{% hint style="info" %}
Set your daily limit in **Settings → General → Calendar / Kanban settings → Workday threshold**. You can exclude selected labels from the capacity total.
{% endhint %}

## Shut the day down

Daily Shutdown uses two short steps:

1. **Review today's work.** Ellie shows completed tasks, recorded Actual time, and the incomplete work that would otherwise be left behind. Move a task between **Here's what you did today** and **What you missed** if you need to correct its completion state.
2. **Prepare tomorrow.** Ellie rolls the tasks in **What you missed** to tomorrow, then lets you add or pull in anything else you already know you want to handle next.

The ritual works with your real Ellie tasks. Changes you make while reviewing, reordering, completing, or scheduling tasks affect those tasks in Ellie.

## Schedule reminders

In the Mac or Windows app, you can enable separate Daily Planning and Daily Shutdown reminders and choose a time for each one. Adjust them in **Settings → Notifications**.

Desktop notifications require notification permission from your operating system.