I use a modified version of the Ivy Lee method to manage my days.
The classic method is 100 years old:
- Write down 6 things.
- Prioritize them.
- Work on number 1 until it’s done.
It divides planning (night before) from executing (morning of).
But I made three changes to make it fit my brain:
1. Time Estimates: I add a time to every task. Not to block the day, but to force a simulation. You can’t estimate a task without mentally walking through it. It deepens the thinking before you start.
2. Input Size: I write down ~8 items instead of 6. Why? To widen the net. You need a larger sample size to catch the “Power Law” outlier. 6 is often too narrow to find the task that matters more than the rest combined.
3. The Floor (Win State): The original method has no “finish line.” Tasks just roll over. I set a hard floor. If I finish the top 2 tasks, I get credit for the day.
My current range is 2 – 3 – 5. (See: The Habit Range System)
If I finish the top 2 tasks, I get credit for the day. That’s the floor.
On a normal day, I aim for 3.
On a great day, I stretch for 5.
This solves a big problem with to-do lists: the lack of true priority.
By force-ranking, I optimize for impact.
By using a range, I allow for the volatility of life.
If I only do the top 2, I still had a successful day because those were the highest leverage items.
🪴
Do you separate planning from executing?