> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://2bd.l48a.de/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Templates > How templates work and complete reference for Captive templates. Templates define the structure of your working notes. [Rituals](/reference/creating-custom-rituals) use templates to create Captive notes and declare which sections they update through template contracts. ## Template locations Templates are split between Ada (base structure) and assistants (domain sections): ### Source templates (in repo) | Type | Path | Purpose | | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | Ada templates | `.claude/skills/ada/templates/` | Base templates with frontmatter, navigation, changelog | | Assistant templates | `.claude/skills/_assistant-{name}/templates/` | Domain-specific section templates | ### Vault config (user data) | Type | Path | Purpose | | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | Section order | `$VAULT/00_Brain/Systemic/Ada/section-order.md` | Defines section order per timescale | | Assistant config | `$VAULT/00_Brain/Systemic/Config/assistants.yaml` | Active assistants list | ### Vault templates (user copy) | Type | Path | Purpose | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | | Ada templates | `$VAULT/00_Brain/Systemic/Templates/Ada/` | Customizable base templates | | Assistant templates | `$VAULT/00_Brain/Systemic/Templates/Assistants/{name}/` | Customizable section templates | | Periodic | `$VAULT/00_Brain/Systemic/Templates/Periodic/` | Archive templates | | Projects | `$VAULT/00_Brain/Systemic/Templates/Projects/` | Project templates | | People | `$VAULT/00_Brain/Systemic/Templates/Areas/People/` | Person templates | ## Scaffold vs vault The scaffold (`.claude/skills/ada/assets/scaffold/`) provides directory structure for new vaults. Assistant templates are separate - init copies them from their source locations. Templates copy during init: 1. Ada templates from `.claude/skills/ada/templates/` to vault 2. Assistant templates from `.claude/skills/_assistant-{name}/templates/` to vault Use `_sync-templates` to propagate changes between vault and scaffold during development. ## Section order Ada composes Captive notes by inserting assistant sections in a defined order. The order is stored in Ada's systemic memory at `$VAULT/00_Brain/Systemic/Ada/section-order.md`: | Timescale | Section order | | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | Daily | goals, calendar, projects, relationships, journal | | Weekly | goals, calendar, relationships, achievements, journal | | Quarterly | goals, journal, achievements | | Yearly | goals, journal, achievements | Note: Brief section is synthesized during plan actions, not listed in section order. ## Standard sections All Captive templates share consistent structure: | Section | Purpose | | ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | | Context From Above | Goals from parent timescale | | Key Outcomes | 3 priorities (Personal, Organisational, Strategic) | | Progress | Nested period summaries | | Carry Forward | Items for next period | | Wins | What went well by category | | Reflections | Insights and learnings | | Changelog | Audit trail | ## The three categories Order matters - Personal first: | Category | Focus | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------- | | **Personal** | Individual growth, energy, leadership | | **Organisational** | Team, structure, culture | | **Strategic** | Initiatives, projects, outcomes | ## Changelog section Every template includes `## Changelog` at the bottom: ```markdown theme={null} - `2026-02-15 09:32` **planning-daily** - Rewrote Focus, Context From Above ``` Format: backtick timestamp, bold skill name, dash, action and sections. ## Template contracts Rituals declare which sections they update: * **H2 sections are stable** - Never change these names * **H3 structure is dynamic** - Can evolve through self-learning * **Single ownership** - Each H2 has exactly one owning phase *** ## Template reference Captive templates are the working documents you fill out during planning rituals. They live in `00_Brain/Captive/` and capture your intentions, priorities, and progress at each timescale. | Template | Location | Planning ritual | Reflection ritual | | ---------- | -------------------- | --------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | Year.md | `Captive/Year.md` | `ritual-planning-yearly` | `ritual-reflection-yearly` | | Quarter.md | `Captive/Quarter.md` | `ritual-planning-quarterly` | `ritual-reflection-quarterly` | | Week.md | `Captive/Week.md` | `ritual-planning-weekly` | `ritual-reflection-weekly` | | Today.md | `Captive/Today.md` | `ritual-planning-daily` | `ritual-reflection-daily` | Templates source from `Systemic/Templates/Captive/`. When you run a planning ritual, it creates or updates the corresponding Captive note. ## Year.md Yearly planning template. Captures your vision, goals, and leadership development for the year. ### Key sections | Section | Purpose | GPS component | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ------------- | | Vision and Theme | One theme or vision for the year | Life Compass | | Key Annual Goals | Three goals: personal, organisational, strategic | 3-Year Sketch | | Leadership Development | Current focus, identity, growth edge | Why | | Key Dates | Annual milestones and deadlines | - | | Quarterly Progress | Q1-Q4 capture areas | - | | Annual Wins | Personal, organisational, strategic achievements | - | | Reflections | Year narrative and key insights | Anti-Goals | ### Structure ```markdown theme={null} --- year: 2026 quarters: [2026-Q1, 2026-Q2, 2026-Q3, 2026-Q4] --- ## Year Overview ### Vision & Theme [One theme or vision for the year] ### Key Annual Goals 1. What personal leadership growth will you make? 2. What organisational capability will you build? 3. What strategic achievement would make this year remarkable? ## Leadership Development ### Current Focus - **Primary:** [Leadership competency actively developing] - **Secondary:** [Secondary growth area] ### Leadership Identity [The leader you are becoming - 1-2 sentences] ### Growth Edge [Where discomfort lives - the stretch you are working on] ## Quarterly Progress ### Q1 (January - March) - [Key themes and progress] ## Annual Wins ### Personal - [Leadership growth] ### Organisational - [Team evolution] ### Strategic - [[project-name]]: [Annual outcomes] ## Reflections ### What Defined This Year [Core narrative] ### Key Insights [Synthesized learnings] ``` ## Quarter.md Quarterly planning template. Focuses your energy on one quest with major moves. ### Key sections | Section | Purpose | GPS component | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | | Context From Above | Year theme, goals, growth edge | - | | Key Outcomes | Three outcomes: personal, organisational, strategic | Quarterly Quest | | Quarterly Theme | One focus area for the quarter | Major Moves | | Coaching Themes | Patterns to watch, questions that serve you | 80% Reality Check | | Weekly Progress | Synthesized from weekly archives | - | | Wins This Quarter | Personal, organisational, strategic achievements | Crystal Ball | | Reflections | What went well, what could improve | - | ### Structure ```markdown theme={null} --- quarter: 2026-Q1 year: 2026 --- ## Context From Above > **Year Theme:** [From Year.md] > **Annual Goals:** [From Year.md] > **Growth Edge:** [From Year.md] ## Quarter Overview ### Key Outcomes This Quarter 1. What personal leadership skill will you level up? 2. What organisational capability will you establish? 3. What strategic outcome demonstrates quarter success? ### Quarterly Theme [One theme or focus area] ## Coaching Themes ### Patterns to Watch - [Pattern 1 - recurring behavior to notice] - [Pattern 2] ### Questions That Serve Me - [Question 1 - coaching question for the quarter] - [Question 2] ## Wins This Quarter ### Personal - [Personal growth and achievements] ### Organisational - [Team evolution] ### Strategic - [[project-name]]: [Quarterly outcomes] ## Reflections ### What Went Well - [What strategies drove success?] ### What Could Be Better - [What needs to change?] ``` ## Week.md Weekly planning template. Structures your week with intentions and commitments. ### Key sections | Section | Purpose | GPS component | | ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | | Context From Above | Quarter theme, outcomes, year theme | - | | Synthesis from Prior Week | Carryover, patterns, relationships | - | | Key Outcomes | Three outcomes: personal, organisational, strategic | Balanced Week Blueprint | | Focus Theme | One theme for the week | - | | Leadership Intention | One-word stance (Decisive, Collaborative, etc.) | - | | Weekly Commitments | Decisions, people, boundaries, growth challenge | Accountability | | Coaching Check-in | Self-awareness prompts | - | | Next Week Setup | Carry forward items | - | ### Structure ```markdown theme={null} --- week: 2026-W03 dates: 2026-01-13 to 2026-01-19 quarter: 2026-Q1 year: 2026 week_type: balanced energy_trend: stable leadership_intention: Decisive --- ## Context From Above > **Quarter Theme:** [From Quarter.md] > **Quarter Outcomes:** [From Quarter.md] > **Year Theme:** [From Year.md] ## Synthesis from Prior Week ### Carryover Priorities - [ ] [Incomplete items from last week] ### Patterns Noted - [Synthesized from prior week] ## Week Overview ### Key Outcomes This Week 1. What personal habit or system will you strengthen? 2. What organisational conversation or decision is needed? 3. What strategic deliverable moves the quarter forward? ### Focus Theme [One theme for the week] ### Leadership Intention [One word - your stance for this week] ## Weekly Commitments ### Key Decisions to Make - [ ] [Decision needing resolution] ### People I Need to Connect With - [ ] [[PersonName]] - [reason] ### Boundaries I Will Maintain - [Energy/time boundary to protect] ### One Growth Challenge I Will Embrace - [Connected to your growth edge] ## Next Week Setup **Theme:** [Working title for next week] **Carry Forward:** - [ ] [Items moving to next week] ``` ## Today.md Daily planning template. The 1-3-5 method prevents overcommitment. ### Key sections | Section | Purpose | GPS component | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------ | | Daily Brief | Week focus, growth edge, calendar context | - | | Priorities | 1-3-5 tasks (1 big, 3 medium, 5 small) | 1-3-5 Daily Method | | Intention | One-word stance for the day | - | | Meetings | Structured capture with decisions and next steps | Tracking | | Journal | Wins and insights | - | ### Structure ```markdown theme={null} --- date: 2026-01-15 day: Wednesday week: 2026-W03 quarter: 2026-Q1 energy: Medium location: Office focus_hours: 2 meetings: 8 --- ## Daily Brief **This Week's Focus:** [From Week.md] **Growth Edge:** [From Week.md or Quarter.md] [Calendar context - meeting load, focus time available] ### Priorities 1. **[Big task]** - [Why it matters] 2. **[Medium task]** - [Context] 3. **[Medium task]** - [Context] ### Intention **[One word]** - [Brief explanation] ## Meetings ### 09:00-09:30 | Team Standup **Decisions:** - [Decision made] **Next Steps:** - [ ] Person: [Action] ### 14:00-14:30 | 1:1 with [[PersonName]] **Check-in** - [How they are doing] **Commitments** - [ ] Me: [Action] - [ ] Them: [Action] ## Journal ### Wins **Personal** - [Personal win] **Team** - [Team win] **Strategic** - [Strategic progress] ### Insights **What Went Well** - [Success pattern] **What Could Be Better** - [Improvement area] **Key Insight** [One synthesized learning from the day] ``` ### The 1-3-5 method A constraint that forces prioritization: | Category | Count | Definition | | -------- | ----- | ---------------------------------------- | | Big | 1 | The one thing that moves the needle | | Medium | 3 | Important tasks that support the big one | | Small | 5 | Quick wins, admin, maintenance | **Total: 9 items maximum per day.** If a task does not fit, something else must go. ## Related * [Goals](/assistants/goals) - The GPS methodology behind these templates * [How Ada Works](/ada/how-ada-works) - The ritual cycle explained * [Vault structure](/reference/vault-structure) - Where templates live