How to Unify Tasks from Notion, Linear, Asana, GitHub & Jira in One Dashboard (Exact Setup)

Freelancers and small teams juggling Notion, Linear, Asana, GitHub, and Jira waste 1-2 hours daily switching between apps, manually copying deadlines, and risk missing updates. Foco Plus solves this by automatically pulling tasks where you’re assigned or mentioned into a single dashboard—no migration, no duplication. Here’s how it works, with exact steps and real examples.

Why Centralizing Tasks in Foco Plus Beats Manual Methods

The typical approach—spreadsheets, generic to-do apps, or checking each tool separately—fails because:

• No real-time updates: If a client changes a Linear issue deadline, you must update it manually in your list (or risk missing it).
• Lost context: Copy-pasting tasks removes links to original issues, comments, or attachments (e.g., a GitHub PR with review requests).
• No calendar sync: Deadlines stay isolated unless you manually block time in Google Calendar/Outlook.
• No automation: Closing a task in one tool doesn’t update it in others (e.g., marking an Asana task as done leaves the original untouched).

Foco Plus fixes this by connecting directly to your tools via OAuth (no manual input) and importing only tasks relevant to you. Each task in Foco includes:

• A direct link to the original item (e.g., a Linear issue or Notion page).
• Real-time updates: If a teammate changes a due date in Asana, it updates automatically in Foco.
• Calendar integration: Tasks appear alongside Google Calendar/Outlook events in Foco’s Calendar view.
• Two-way sync (optional): Enable ‘complete also in the source’ to close the original task when you mark it done in Foco (e.g., closing a GitHub issue).

Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Connections in Foco Plus

1. Connect Your Tools (Notion, Linear, Asana, GitHub, Jira)

Go to Settings > Connections in Foco Plus and select the tools you use. For each, authorize access and configure:

• Notion: Choose databases/pages to monitor. Foco imports tasks where you’re mentioned (e.g., @yourname) or assigned. Example: A Notion page titled ‘Client X - Onboarding’ with your mention becomes a task in Foco.
• Linear: Connect your team. Foco imports issues assigned to you, including status (e.g., ‘In Progress’), priority (‘Urgent’), and due date. Exclude backlog issues by filtering in Foco’s settings.
• Asana: Select projects/teams. Foco imports tasks where you’re the assignee, with due dates and custom fields (e.g., ‘Priority: High’).
• GitHub: Connect your account. Foco imports issues, PRs, and reviews assigned to you (e.g., a PR titled ‘Fix login bug’ with a ‘needs review’ label).
• Jira: Select your project. Foco imports issues assigned to you, with status (e.g., ‘To Do’) and priority (e.g., ‘Blocker’).

2. Choose a Destination Workspace for Each Tool

For each connection, pick where tasks land in Foco:

• Fixed workspace: Assign all Linear tasks to ‘Client Y - Development’ (color-coded blue).
• Automatic (AI): Let Foco decide based on task content. Example: A GitHub issue with the label ‘frontend’ goes to ‘Project Z - Frontend’ (green).
• Default workspace: Tasks without a clear match go to ‘Inbox’ for later sorting.

Example: A freelance developer sets *Linear to ‘Clients - Dev Issues’ (red), Notion to ‘Documentation’ (yellow), and Asana to ‘Admin’ (gray). Tasks appear in Panorama mode* with their workspace color, making it easy to scan priorities at a glance.

3. Customize Filters to Avoid Clutter

Foco Plus lets you exclude irrelevant tasks to keep your dashboard clean. In Settings > Connections, set filters for each tool:

• Linear: Exclude issues with the label ‘backlog’ or status ‘Won’t Fix’.
• Asana: Only import tasks with ‘Priority: High’ or due in the next 7 days.
• GitHub: Ignore PRs with the label ‘draft’.
• Jira: Exclude issues with the status ‘Closed’ or ‘Rejected’.

Example: A designer filters *Asana to only show tasks with ‘Client: Brand X’ and due this week*, reducing noise from other projects.

How to Use Imported Tasks in Foco Plus (With Examples)

1. View Tasks in Panorama Mode (All Workspaces at Once)

Panorama mode shows tasks from all workspaces in one list, color-coded by workspace. Example:

• Red (Linear): ‘Fix API bug - Urgent’ (due Friday).
• Yellow (Notion): ‘Update client contract’ (due next Tuesday).
• Gray (Asana): ‘Send invoice’ (due tomorrow).

Use the List view to group tasks by date (Today, This Week, Later) or Kanban to drag tasks between columns (e.g., ‘To Do’, ‘In Progress’, ‘Done’).

2. Focus Mode: Isolate One Workspace

Click on a workspace name (e.g., ‘Client X - Development’) to enter Focus mode. Foco filters the dashboard to show only tasks from that workspace. Example use cases:

• Client meetings: Review only their tasks without distractions from other projects.
• Deep work: Block time for ‘Client X’ and see only their tasks in the Calendar view.
• Weekly planning: Use the List view to sort tasks by due date or scheduled time.

Example: A developer enters *Focus mode for ‘Project Y’ (blue) and sees 3 tasks: a Linear issue (‘Urgent’), a GitHub PR (‘Needs Review’), and a Notion page (‘Documentation’*). They schedule the Linear issue for Tuesday 10:00-11:30 AM in the Calendar view, blocking time alongside a Google Calendar meeting.

3. Automate Repetitive Tasks with AI

Foco Plus’s AI features reduce manual work:

• Ráfaga (Burst): Dictate multiple tasks at once. Example: ‘Review Juan’s PR in GitHub for Friday, update changelog in Notion for Thursday, send invoice in Asana for tomorrow.’ Foco creates 3 tasks, detecting dates, priorities, and source tools. Limit: 5 free uses/month (unlimited with Plus).
• Email capture: Forward emails to your unique address (u-xxxx@in.heyfoco.com). Example: Forward a client email with ‘Task: Review contract. Due: 05/15’ to create a task with the email attached as a note.
• Voice capture: Dictate a task, and Foco transcribes it, detects dates/times, and attaches the audio. Example: ‘Call client X at 3 PM tomorrow to discuss feedback’ creates a task with a 3:00 PM time block and the audio note.

Example: A designer uses Ráfaga to dictate: ‘Create logo draft for Client A by Wednesday, update portfolio in Notion, and follow up with Client B on Thursday.’ Foco separates the tasks, assigns due dates, and sets ‘Client A’ to ‘Urgent’ priority.

Real-World Workflow: A Freelancer’s Day with Foco Plus

Scenario: Carlos, a freelance developer, uses Linear (client issues), Notion (documentation), and Asana (admin). Here’s how he uses Foco Plus:

• 8:30 AM: Opens Panorama mode and sees 4 tasks: a red (Linear) issue (‘Urgent’), a yellow (Notion) page (‘Important’), and two gray (Asana) tasks (‘Normal’). The Linear issue is due at 11:00 AM, overlapping with a Google Calendar meeting. He reschedules it to 2:00 PM in Foco’s Calendar view.
• 10:00 AM: Enters *Focus mode for ‘Client Z’ (green) to review their tasks. Marks a Notion page as done, and Foco automatically closes the page in Notion (via ‘complete also in the source’*).
• 1:00 PM: Uses Ráfaga to dictate: ‘Review PR #45 in GitHub, update changelog in Notion, and send invoice in Asana.’ Foco creates 3 tasks, detecting due dates and priorities. He forwards the invoice email to u-1234@in.heyfoco.com, and Foco attaches it to the Asana task.
• 3:00 PM: Checks the Calendar view and sees the Linear issue (scheduled for 2:00 PM), a Google Calendar meeting (11:00 AM), and an Asana task (due tomorrow). He completes the Linear issue, and Foco closes it in Linear automatically.

Centralizing tasks isn’t about replacing tools—it’s about eliminating the friction between them. Fewer tabs, no manual copying, and more time for actual work.

Key Differences: Foco Plus vs. Alternatives

For freelancers managing multiple clients, Foco Plus outperforms alternatives like:

• Spreadsheets: No real-time updates, no calendar sync, and manual copying of tasks. Example: A Linear issue updated by a client won’t reflect in your spreadsheet unless you check manually.
• Generic to-do apps (e.g., Todoist, ClickUp): No native integrations with Linear/GitHub/Jira, so tasks must be entered manually. Example: A GitHub PR assigned to you won’t appear unless you copy it.
• Project management tools (e.g., Trello, Monday): Designed for single projects, not multiple clients. Example: Trello’s boards can’t show tasks from Notion, Linear, and Asana in one view without third-party hacks.
• Zapier/automation tools: Requires complex setups, and updates aren’t real-time. Example: A Zapier automation to copy Asana tasks to Google Calendar may take 15+ minutes to sync.

Foco Plus is built for multiple jobs at once. Its Panorama mode shows all tasks in one place, Focus mode isolates a single project, and AI features (Ráfaga, email capture) reduce manual work. For a deeper dive on prioritizing tasks across clients, see Critical Power List: How to Identify, Prioritize, and Execute Critical Tasks (Exact Steps for Freelancers).

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Problem: Tasks aren’t importing from a tool. Solution: Check Settings > Connections to ensure the tool is authorized and filters aren’t excluding tasks. Example: If Linear tasks aren’t appearing, verify the ‘assigned to me’ filter is enabled.
• Problem: Tasks appear in the wrong workspace. Solution: Edit the connection to assign a fixed workspace or adjust the AI’s automatic sorting in Settings > Connections.
• Problem: Calendar events overlap with tasks. Solution: Use time blocking in Foco’s Calendar view to schedule tasks around meetings. See Time blocking for freelancers with multiple clients: how to avoid overlaps and boost productivity for exact steps.
• Problem: Ráfaga or email capture isn’t working. Solution: Check your Plus plan status (free plans have limits). For email capture, ensure you’re forwarding to the correct u-xxxx@in.heyfoco.com address (not a custom domain).

FAQ

Can I edit tasks in Foco and sync changes back to the original tool (e.g., Linear)?

No. Foco is read-only for imported tasks (to avoid conflicts). However, you can close tasks in the original tool by enabling ‘complete also in the source’ in Foco’s settings. Example: Marking a Linear issue as done in Foco will close it in Linear.

What happens if I delete a task in Foco? Does it delete it in the original tool?

No. Deleting a task in Foco only removes it from Foco. The original task (e.g., in Linear or Asana) remains unchanged. This prevents accidental data loss.

Can I connect tools like Slack or Gmail to Foco?

No. Foco currently supports Notion, Linear, Asana, GitHub, Jira, and MCP servers (via URL). For email, use the capture address (u-xxxx@in.heyfoco.com) to forward tasks to Foco. Slack integration is not available.

How does Foco handle recurring tasks from tools like Asana?

Foco imports recurring tasks as one-time instances (e.g., an Asana task due every Monday appears as a single task in Foco). When you complete it, Foco does not create the next occurrence—you must rely on Asana’s native recurrence. For recurring tasks in Foco, use its built-in recurrence settings (e.g., ‘Weekly on Tuesdays’).

Is there a limit to how many tasks Foco can import?

No. Foco imports all tasks that match your filters, regardless of quantity. However, the free plan limits AI features (e.g., 5 Ráfaga uses/month). For unlimited AI, upgrade to Plus (€20/month).