HeadTidyHEADTIDY APP GUIDE
From your first thought to a clear plan.
Learn the controls you use in HeadTidy: make a map, capture an idea, add a task and plan your day.
01
Start a map
Make a useful first map in under a minute.
Open your map list
Tap the panel icon, top left, to open the sidebar. Every map you make lives there, along with + New for starting another one, the map you land on first is only one of them.
Name the Main focus
Type the outcome, area, or question this map is about.
Add one branch
Use a Branch for a group such as Work, Home, or Moving.
Use the touch controls
On a phone or tablet, select a card, then use Add → Connected thought for a new connected card or Add → Content in this card for detail. Tap a title once to edit it; drag the card to move it.
Add the thoughts underneath
Select a card and press Tab for a child or Enter for a sibling. Press C whenever you just need to capture something.
Add detail only when it helps
Select a card and choose Edit to open its details for notes, dates, checklists, images or links. None of them is required.
02
Choose a card
Start with Thought. Switch only when another shape makes the idea clearer.
The simple rule
Thought is an idea. Task is something to do. Branch groups things. Use the other cards when their name matches what you need.
Use Dashboard when the idea should stay live
Choose Widget from a card’s + menu, then pick a chart, calculator, counter, countdown, form, calendar, decision matrix, budget, rating, or focus timer. Charts can stay attached to a Table so the picture updates with the rows.
03
Capture and organize
Get it down first. Decide where it belongs later.
Press C for Quick Capture
Type or speak, check the preview, then create. You can choose a card type or destination only when you need to.
Let loose thoughts wait in Inbox
Nothing has to be organized immediately. Inbox keeps unattached thoughts together.
Move things by dragging
Drag cards to arrange the map. Drop a card onto another card to move its whole branch under that parent.
Use Simple view when the map feels busy
Simple shows titles. Detailed shows dates, notes, checklists, and progress. Your content stays the same.
04
Turn ideas into action
Add only the structure that helps you move.
Use Task for something you can finish
Add a due date or checklist only if it makes the next step clearer.
Choose what Plan includes
Open Plan, then choose This map or All maps. Calendar events stay visible in either scope. Day, Week and Month help you see what is next; More includes Year, Timeline and No date.
Make room to plan
Use Full screen Plan to give your calendar the whole screen. Press Escape to return. Open More to explore for Due next, Quick wins, recent work and pinned maps.
See where you are in the day
Day opens the hourly schedule even when it is empty. Today has a live current-time line and opens near now. All-day tasks sit above the hours; another date has no current-time line.
Use Habit for repeating effort
Choose the days or a weekly target, then check in from the card or Plan.
Use Focus when you are ready to work
Start a quiet 15, 25, or 45 minute session from any card.
05
Find and recover
Get back to anything without worrying about losing it.
Search everything
Press Ctrl/⌘ K or Search, type a few letters, and open the result.
Undo the last change
Press Ctrl/⌘ Z. Deleted cards also offer an immediate Undo.
Recover deleted work
Open Settings → Your data → Trash to restore deleted maps and thoughts; HeadTidy Vault in the same section keeps earlier versions.
Export when you want a copy
Download JSON for a complete backup, or Markdown, OPML, PNG, and PDF for sharing.
07
Make it comfortable
Adjust how HeadTidy looks and tell us what could be better.
Show the optional companion
In Settings → Look, below World theme, turn on Show companion in sidebar to bring back the cat button. It starts off and your choice is saved in this browser.
Choose a font and text size
In Settings → Look, Reading includes handwritten Kalam and Patrick Hand, book-style Lora and familiar sans-serif fonts. Each name previews its typeface. Larger text is available for menus and controls; these choices stay in this browser.
Give your canvas a background
In Settings → Look, choose a pattern or Grain under Textures, or one of six gradients under Colors. Choose Clean to clear the background. Low stimulation stays plain, and world themes bring their own canvas.
Send feedback
Open Settings → Feedback to share an idea or report a problem. Explain what you expected and what happened so we can understand it.
Check what needs you
The bell shows work due today or past its date, along with your streak and your cat companion. Press Escape to close it without moving your map.