A New Tab Todo List Built Into Chrome

The Boardmarks task system is organized into three views that mirror how most people actually think about their work. Today shows only what needs to happen now — a short, focused list you can act on without scrolling through everything else. Upcoming holds tasks with future due dates so you can plan ahead without cluttering your today view. Completed archives finished work so you have a record without it staying on the active lists.

Tasks stay visible on the same surface as your bookmark boards, which means switching from planning to working is as simple as clicking a board link — not opening another tab or app.

Separate task apps have a visibility problem: you open them intentionally, check your list, close them, and forget about tasks until the next intentional check. A todo list on your New Tab is different — it appears automatically every time you open a new browser tab, which happens dozens of times a day. Tasks are always in view without requiring you to remember to open a different app.

This passive visibility matters most for the "I'll do this after my current task" items. Instead of filing them somewhere and forgetting, they surface again the next time you open a new tab, naturally reminding you without needing a push notification or an alarm.

The most effective pattern for New Tab todos is the classic daily planning ritual:

• Start the day by opening a new tab and reviewing Today — confirm the list is realistic for the hours you have.
• Move urgent Upcoming items to Today when priorities shift mid-day.
• Add tasks as they come up during meetings or email — the New Tab is always one Ctrl+T away.
• Mark done as you finish — the satisfaction of clearing Today motivates continued progress.
• End of day: move unfinished items to Upcoming for tomorrow, then close the loop with a habit check in the habit tracker.

• Morning planning before email
• Project checklists next to research boards
• Pairing tasks with daily habits for a complete daily routine
• Leaving yourself notes via New Tab notes next to tasks that need context
• Freelance client task lists beside bookmarked project resources
• Student assignment lists next to research bookmark boards
• Weekly review checklists triggered by a recurring reminder

Todos are list items you control manually — you decide when to move them to Today and when to mark them done. Reminders are for tasks with a hard time: a bill payment at noon, a call at 3 PM, or a weekly review every Friday. Use both together: create a todo for the work, and add a reminder for the deadline so you get an alert when time matters. Both are visible from the same New Tab workspace.

Todos are one piece of Boardmarks' Chrome New Tab productivity extension. The full workspace also includes a visual bookmark manager with boards, a daily habit tracker, scratch and calendar notes, and timed reminders with recurrence. Everything shares one page, so switching from task management to bookmark browsing to habit review is a single click — not a context switch between apps.

Like all Boardmarks data, todos are stored in Chrome local storage by default. Your task list does not pass through a third-party server during normal use. Optional cloud backup is available via Google sign-in for Pro licensing — it is not required to use the todo list. This keeps everyday task management private, fast, and available even when your internet connection is spotty.