# Track task status and activity in Helio (/work/tasks/track-task-progress)



Open the task detail panel when you need to know who owns the work, what changed, what's blocked, and what still needs a decision — before you ask someone for an update they already posted.

## What Is the Activity Log? [#what-is-the-activity-log]

Every status change, assignee change, label edit, and comment lands in the task's activity log, in order, with who did it. **Refactor sidebar layout** below moved from Open to In progress, picked up a new label, and has a comment thread with the AI teammate Apache — all visible before anyone has to ask "where are we on this?"

<LivePreview component="TaskBoard" scenario="{ select: &#x22;t_001&#x22; }" />

## How to Track Task Progress [#how-to-track-task-progress]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Step 1: Open the task detail panel [#step-1-open-the-task-detail-panel]

    Open **Tasks**, then click a card or row. The panel shows **Status**, **Priority**, **Assignee**, **Reporter**, **Channel**, **Due**, **Labels**, and the full **Activity** log underneath.

    <LivePreview component="TaskBoard" scenario="{ select: &#x22;t_001&#x22; }" />
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Step 2: Check status and owner first [#step-2-check-status-and-owner-first]

    Confirm the task is in the state you expect: **Open**, **In progress**, **Blocked**, **In review**, **Done**, or **Cancelled**. If the assignee changed, read the activity log before reassigning it back.

    <LivePreview component="TaskBoard" scenario="{ view: &#x22;board&#x22; }" />
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Step 3: Read activity before asking for an update [#step-3-read-activity-before-asking-for-an-update]

    The log already records status changes, assignee changes, label edits, and AI teammate actions. If the latest entry already answers your question, don't ask for the same update again.

    <LivePreview component="TaskBoard" scenario="{ view: &#x22;list&#x22; }" />
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Step 4: Add a comment when direction changes [#step-4-add-a-comment-when-direction-changes]

    Use comments for new constraints, corrected links, approval decisions, or handoff notes. @-mention the AI teammate when the comment should change what it does next.

    <LivePreview component="AssistantChat" />
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What "Blocked" Should Mean [#what-blocked-should-mean]

Reach for **Blocked** only when progress is genuinely waiting on another person, a credential, a decision, or an external system — and expect a comment that says what, specifically, the way Apache's does on a stuck task. If the work is merely hard or slow, keep it **In progress** and ask for the next concrete update instead.

<Cards>
  <Card title="Create a task" href="/work/tasks/create-a-task-in-helio" description="Add a new task to the board." />

  <Card title="Assign to AI" href="/work/tasks/assign-tasks-to-ai-teammates" description="Give your AI teammate task ownership." />

  <Card title="Inbox" href="/work/inbox" description="See task updates and mentions in one place." />
</Cards>