Ivy Lee
Six tasks for tomorrow, in order. Nothing more.
The Ivy Lee method asks you to write down up to six tasks for tomorrow each evening, in order of importance, and work through them one at a time.
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Plan your real day with this techniqueHow it works
At the end of each day you list the six most important things to do tomorrow and rank them. The next day you start with the first and don’t move on until it’s done. Unfinished tasks go to the top of the next day’s list.
FocusKept gives you an evening planning view for tomorrow with six ordered slots, and rolls unfinished tasks over in order.
Step by step
- In the evening, write down up to six tasks for tomorrow.
- Order them by real importance.
- Tomorrow, work on task 1 until it’s done, then move to task 2.
- Unfinished tasks roll over to the next day’s list, in order.
Best for
- Ending the day with a clear plan
- People who lose mornings deciding what to do
- Steady progress on important work
When not to use it
- Highly reactive roles where priorities change hourly
Questions
Why only six tasks?
The limit forces you to choose. Six is enough to fill a productive day without overwhelming it.
Where did the Ivy Lee method come from?
Productivity consultant Ivy Lee taught it to executives in 1918.
What if an urgent task comes up?
Handle it, then return to the list in order. If urgent work keeps appearing, plan fewer tasks for tomorrow.