In the past, I frequently switched task management apps, constantly searching for one that could enhance my todo list experience. However, I’ve been using Apple’s Reminders app for several years now, and a small feature added in iOS 18 has made a significant impact for me.
Reordering Your Today List in iOS 18
Apple’s Reminders has evolved into a robust tool, surpassing the capabilities of a mere list application.
With regular updates, iOS 18 introduced a variety of exciting new features last fall.
Among them, a seemingly minor feature has become my favorite—not counting the Calendar upgrade.
Now, in iOS 18, you can reorganize sections of your Today list, a capability that wasn’t available previously.
To edit the Today view, tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of Reminders and select ‘Edit Sections’.
You’ll observe that your Today list is divided into three primary sections:
- Overdue
- All-Day
- Timed Reminders
Your Today list organizes reminders according to their time status.
If there are overdue reminders from the previous day, they appear first. Next come all-day reminders, indicating that they are due today but don’t have a specific time.
The Timed Reminders section includes all reminders with set times, categorized into Morning, Afternoon, and Evening.
These main sections were previously part of iOS 18, but you couldn’t rearrange them. Overdue tasks always appeared first, followed by all-day reminders and then timed ones.
This ability to reorder items has been a game-changer for me.
Why Reminders’ Default Today Setup Doesn’t Work for Me
Most tasks I enter in the Reminders app lack strict deadlines.
While I often set due dates, the reality is that if I don’t finish something on a specific day, it isn’t a major issue.
Consequently, it’s common for tasks to become ‘overdue’ within the app.
Before iOS 18, this meant my Today view was often disorganized.
Why was that? Because overdue reminders took priority at the top of my list.
However, these reminders are rarely the most critical tasks on my to-do list. If they were, I would have likely completed them already.
Tasks designated for the current day, along with those assigned specific times, are generally more pressing for me.
Thus, in iOS 18, I was able to move ‘Overdue’ reminders to the bottom of my Today view.
This arrangement ensures that new day tasks don’t get overshadowed by overdue reminders. Instead, they occupy the prominent position they deserve.
When it’s time for me to tackle overdue items, they’re patiently waiting at the bottom of my list.
I completely understand why Apple defaults to putting overdue tasks first, as many users likely prioritize overdue items.
However, for me, being able to customize the Reminders app to lower the priority of overdue tasks has been an incredibly useful improvement.
Have you tried reordering your Today list in Reminders on iOS 18? Share your thoughts in the comments.
