Updating Task Status
The Rule
Update task status BEFORE and AFTER every work block. Starting work? Set in_progress first. Finished? Set completed immediately. No silent work.
Using update_task_status
javascript
update_task_status({
taskId: "task1",
status: "in_progress",
});
Valid Statuses
| Status | When to Use |
|---|---|
pending | Task created but not started |
in_progress | Actively working on the task |
completed | Task finished successfully |
Implementation Intentions
| When... | Do this IMMEDIATELY |
|---|---|
| You start working on a task | update_task_status({ taskId, status: "in_progress" }) |
| You finish a task successfully | update_task_status({ taskId, status: "completed" }) |
| You switch to a different task | Update the old task, then update the new task |
Red Flags - STOP Immediately
These thoughts mean you're rationalizing:
| Excuse | Reality |
|---|---|
| "I'll update it when I'm done" | Update NOW. You might forget or get interrupted. |
| "It's obvious I'm working on it" | Nothing is obvious without explicit status. |
| "This is a quick task, no need" | Quick tasks still need tracking. Always update. |
| "I'll batch my status updates" | Status updates are real-time. Update immediately. |
Workflow Example
javascript
// BEFORE starting work - required
update_task_status({ taskId: "task1", status: "in_progress" });
// ... do the work ...
// AFTER completing work - required
update_task_status({ taskId: "task1", status: "completed" });
Tasks without status updates = invisible work. Invisible work = wasted effort when sessions end unexpectedly.