Getting Started with PlanItNine

Last updated: January 2026 · 5 min read

Welcome to PlanItNine! This guide will walk you through setting up your account and planning your first productive day using the 1-3-5 method.

What is PlanItNine?

PlanItNine is a task management app built around the 1-3-5 method: each day, you focus on completing 1 Big task, 3 Medium tasks, and 5 Small tasks. That's 9 tasks total - hence the name.

This constraint is the key. Instead of an overwhelming to-do list, you have a focused, achievable daily plan.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Sign Up

Go to app.planitnine.com/register
Enter your name and email address
Create a password
Click "Create Account"

You'll be taken directly to your new dashboard - no email verification required.

Step 2: Understand the Interface

PlanItNine has two main areas:

The Daily Board (Left Side)

This is where you see today's tasks organized by size:

BIG (1 slot) - Your most important task for the day
MEDIUM (3 slots) - Important supporting tasks
SMALL (5 slots) - Quick wins and small items

Empty PlanItNine daily board showing 1-3-5 structure

The daily board shows your 1-3-5 structure with helpful prompts.

The Task Outliner (Right Side)

This is your brain dump area. Use it to:

Capture all your tasks and ideas
Organize projects with nested subtasks
Plan before committing tasks to a specific day

Think of the Outliner as your backlog. When you're ready to work on something, drag it to the daily board.

Step 3: Plan Your First Day

Quick Start Method

Brain dump: Add all your tasks to the Outliner using the "+ Add task" field
Pick your Big task: What's the ONE thing that would make today successful? Drag it to BIG.
Choose 3 Medium tasks: What else is important? Drag them to MEDIUM.
Add 5 Small tasks: Quick emails, calls, small items. Drag to SMALL.
Start working: Begin with your Big task when your energy is highest.

PlanItNine daily board with 1 Big, 3 Medium, and 5 Small tasks

A complete daily plan: 1 Big task, 3 Medium tasks, 5 Small tasks.

Step 4: Work Through Your Day

Completing Tasks

Click the checkbox next to any task to mark it complete. The task will show a strikethrough, and you'll see your progress in the section headers (e.g., "BIG 1/1" means you completed your Big task).

Using the Timer

Track time on any task by clicking the play button. This helps you understand how long tasks actually take - useful for better planning in the future.

Pro Tip: Start your Big task first thing in the morning when your energy and focus are highest. Save Small tasks for afternoon slumps.

Moving Tasks

If you don't finish something today, click the task's menu (three dots) and select "Move to Tomorrow" or "Move to Next Week."

Step 5: Create Multiple Lists

Keep work and personal tasks separate by creating multiple lists:

Click the "+" button next to the list dropdown
Enter a name (e.g., "Work" or "Home")
Switch between lists using the dropdown

Each list has its own 1-3-5 capacity. Your Work list can have 9 tasks AND your Home list can have 9 tasks.

Create separate lists for different areas of your life.

Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore these guides to get the most out of PlanItNine:

The 1-3-5 Method Explained - Deep dive into why this works
Using the Task Outliner - Master project planning
Time Tracking - Track where your hours go
Sharing Tasks via Email - Keep stakeholders in the loop

Ready to Get Started?

Create your free account and plan your first productive day.

Create Free Account