Hidden Features of Kanbanly for Chrome You Should Start Using

Kanbanly for Chrome: Top Tips to Organize Your WorkflowKanbanly is a lightweight, Chrome-based Kanban board extension designed to help you visualize tasks and streamline your workflow directly from the browser. Whether you’re managing personal to-dos, freelance projects, or coordinating a small team, Kanbanly brings the basic Kanban method into a compact, accessible interface. This article walks through practical tips to get the most out of Kanbanly for Chrome, from setup and board design to advanced techniques for maintaining flow and improving focus.

Why Use Kanbanly for Chrome?

Kanbanly’s main advantages are simplicity and convenience. It integrates directly into Chrome, so you don’t need a separate web app or account to start organizing tasks. For users who prefer minimal overhead and fast access, Kanbanly offers:

Quick setup and immediate boards in your browser.
Drag-and-drop task management that mirrors physical Kanban.
Customization options for columns, colors, and card details.
Offline accessibility for basic boards.

1) Start with a Clear Board Structure

A clear board structure is the foundation of an effective Kanban system. Begin with a simple flow and iterate:

Use the basic columns: Backlog, To Do, In Progress, Review, Done.
If you’re managing personal tasks, try: Inbox, Today, This Week, Done.
Keep columns limited — 4–6 columns helps maintain focus and reduces context switching.

Example setup for a small dev team:

Backlog → Ready → In Progress → QA → Done

2) Use Cards Consistently

Consistency in card creation lets you scan the board quickly.

Include a short, clear title and a concise description.
Use tags or colored labels for priority, type (bug/feature), or project.
Add due dates when timing matters; otherwise keep them off to reduce pressure.
Use checklists inside cards for multi-step tasks.

Tip: Create a card template (title format + labels) you reuse to keep entries uniform.

3) Limit Work In Progress (WIP)

WIP limits reduce multitasking and increase throughput.

Set a maximum number of cards allowed in the In Progress column (e.g., 2–3).
Enforce limits visually—when the limit is reached, team members must finish tasks before starting new ones.
For solo users, a WIP of 1–2 often boosts focus and completion rate.

4) Prioritize with Labels and Colors

Visual cues speed decision-making.

Reserve one color for high-priority tasks and another for low-priority.
Use labels to indicate task type (Design, Dev, Review) or effort (Small, Medium, Large).
Keep the color palette small (3–5 colors) to avoid confusion.

5) Break Big Tasks into Smaller Cards

Large, vague tasks stall progress.

Split big tasks into smaller, actionable cards that can be completed in a single session or day.
Link subtasks to a main “epic” card using card descriptions or consistent naming conventions (e.g., EPIC: Redesign → Subtask: Header).
Track progress on the epic by moving completed subtasks to Done.

6) Use Checklists and Card Comments

Leverage built-in card features to track details without cluttering the board.

Put step-by-step actions in a checklist inside the card.
Use comments to log updates, decisions, or blockers.
If Kanbanly integrates with external services (like Google Drive links), attach them to the card for quick access.

7) Regularly Groom Your Board

Board maintenance prevents clutter and keeps the system useful.

Schedule a weekly review to move, merge, or archive stale cards.
Close or delete completed cards from months ago; maintain a lean backlog.
Reprioritize cards at the start of each week or sprint.

8) Implement Quick Daily Standups

Even for solo users, a short daily review keeps momentum.

Spend 5 minutes each morning: review Today/To Do, identify blockers, pick 1–3 priority tasks.
For teams, use Kanbanly during a 10–15 minute standup to align on progress and impediments.

9) Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Faster Workflows

Learn Kanbanly’s shortcuts to speed common actions.

Memorize or create shortcuts for adding cards, moving between columns, or opening card details.
Use quick-add templates if available to reduce repetitive typing.

10) Track Metrics Sparingly

Measure flow without getting bogged down.

Track cycle time (time from In Progress → Done) for a few representative tasks to spot bottlenecks.
Watch throughput (cards completed per week) as a simple velocity measure.
Avoid tracking too many metrics; focus on one or two that matter.

11) Integrate with Your Existing Tools

Kanbanly is most powerful when it fits your ecosystem.

Export or copy links to calendar events for due dates.
Link files from Google Drive or other cloud storage into cards.
Use browser bookmarks or extensions to quickly create cards from web pages or emails.

12) Customize Notifications and Reminders

Avoid notification fatigue.

Turn on only essential reminders (due soon, blocked) and mute everything else.
For personal productivity, rely on daily review instead of frequent alerts.

13) Design Boards for Different Contexts

Create specialized boards for distinct workflows.

Project board: detailed columns and milestones.
Personal board: Inbox, Today, This Week.
Bug triage board: New, Triage, In Progress, QA, Resolved.

Keep cross-board consistency for shared understanding (same label colors for priorities, similar column names).

14) Use Automation Sparingly

Automations can save time but avoid over-automation.

Automate repetitive moves (e.g., move to Done when checklist completes) if supported.
Don’t automate complex rules that reduce visibility into why tasks moved.

15) Train Your Team on Board Conventions

Alignment prevents chaos.

Document simple rules: how to name cards, label usage, WIP limits, and review cadence.
Do a short walkthrough for new members and revisit conventions quarterly.

Example Workflows

Solo writer: Inbox → Drafting → Editing → Ready to Publish → Published. Use checklists for SEO, images, and formatting.
Freelance dev: Backlog → Ready → Coding → Review → Deployed. WIP limit 2 for Coding; attach pull request links in cards.
Small marketing team: Ideas → Backlog → In Progress → Assets → Scheduled → Live. Use labels for channel (Email, Social, Blog).

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Board feels cluttered: archive old cards, consolidate columns, and prune backlog.
Tasks stall in Review: clarify acceptance criteria and set explicit reviewers.
Team ignores WIP limits: enforce by pairing team members on in-progress cards or making limits visible in standups.

Final Notes

Kanbanly for Chrome shines when you keep boards simple, visual, and consistently used. Apply WIP limits, break down large tasks, and use labels and checklists thoughtfully. Regular grooming and short daily reviews maintain momentum. With these tips, Kanbanly can become a light but powerful part of your productivity toolkit.