# Cycles

A cycle is a named period of work within a project. It groups stories and tasks around a goal and dates.

## Plan a short delivery period

For a website release, create a cycle for the next two weeks and add the tasks needed for that release. The cycle gives the team a shared plan to review.

## Create and fill a cycle

1. As a project owner or editor, open **Project settings**, then **Cycles**.
2. In **Add a cycle**, enter an optional name and goal. Choose the **Starts** and **Ends** dates, then select **Add cycle**.

![Cycle settings with the cycle creation form and existing cycle highlighted](https://sprintree.com/docs-media/cycles-list-light-942e5187.webp)

3. Open a story or task and choose its **Cycle** property. You can also select several rows in the list and use **Cycle** in the bulk toolbar.
4. Return to **Cycles** and start the planned cycle with its **Start** control. Planning and starting a cycle are separate actions. When no cycle is active, an editor can also start the next one straight from the board strip. While another cycle is active, **Start** in settings is disabled ("Complete the active cycle first").

## Track progress

1. Open the board. An active cycle appears in a strip with its progress.
2. Click **This cycle only** in the strip to show only work in that cycle.
3. Open the cycle report from the strip or from the cycle's **Report** control in settings.

![Active cycle report showing committed work and progress](https://sprintree.com/docs-media/cycles-detail-light-f36f3172.webp)

4. When the period ends, choose **Complete** in the board cycle strip and follow the dialog to decide what happens to unfinished work.

## Tips and common mistakes

- Epics cannot be added to cycles. Add their stories or tasks instead.
- A cycle does not assign work to a person. Use **Assignee** and weekly commitments for personal responsibility and planning.
- Start a cycle when work begins. Creating it alone does not make it active.
- Use the cycle goal to explain what the team hopes to finish, rather than repeating every card title.

## Related pages

- [Weekly commitments](https://sprintree.com/docs/commitments)
- [Bulk changes](https://sprintree.com/docs/bulk-changes)
- [Use the board](https://sprintree.com/docs/board)