It’s the worst feeling to end a busy day and realise that you had worked very hard on all the wrong things. You feel overworked and overwhelmed but still carry a lingering feeling of unproductiveness. This was me every day, and over time, personal experience taught me that this kind of disappointment breeds a sense of defeat that’s easy to internalise.

I was tired and frustrated, so I turned to the internet to find a solution to my ineffectiveness. It was at this point that I came across the Ivy Lee method on James Clear’s website. I was hesitant at first: the method seemed deceitfully simple. But after two plus years of applying it consistently in my work, I’ve realised that this simplicity itself is what makes the Ivy Lee method one of the most powerful productivity methods.

What is the Ivy Lee Method?

The history behind the Ivy Lee method is quite convincing of its effectiveness. The tale told and retold is one of Ivy Ledbetter Lee who taught a secret productivity routine to the employees at the Bethlehem Steel Company. Following his visit, the company’s productivity and sales skyrocketed. For the sake of brevity, I’ll let you catch up with this through Clear’s wonderful retelling of the story and, instead, dive straight into Lee’s secret.

How to use the Ivy Lee Method

The Ivy Lee method is simple in its instruction and execution. It simply asks you to pick six tasks to work on every day and hack at them with focus and discipline.

1. At the end of each day, pick six tasks to complete on the next day
2. Number the tasks from one to six in order of priority
3. The next morning, start with task number one and stick to it until it’s complete
4. Repeat the process until you finish all six tasks
5. At the end of the day, move any incomplete tasks to the next day’s list.
6. Repeat consistently.

The effectiveness of these six simple steps lies in how well you follow their two rules of execution.

1. Pick six and only six tasks to work on each day. It’s not a magic number but it’s one that forces you to focus on what matters, both in terms of importance and urgency.
2. Do the tasks in the order you listed and don’t move on to the next task until you complete the first one. This rule emphasizes focus, pushing you to single-task and make satisfying progress.

Ultimately, it’s the short, concise to-do list and the clear plan of action that makes this method an effective and feel-good strategy. 

Practical Tips

After years of seeing this method in practice, here are a couple of practical tips to help you improve your productivity while feeling good about the work you do.

1. Instead of writing down six tasks, start with a brain dump of everything on your mind and then select six tasks from it. This way, you’ll make sure not to miss anything important.
2. When prioritizing tasks, ask yourself, “If I could complete only one task tomorrow, which one would it be?” and then keep asking this question until all your tasks are numbered.
3. Once you get the hang of it, be thoughtful about the tasks you put on your list. I find it helpful to choose three tasks that will move me towards my goals (wins, as I like to call them), and three tasks that help me keep things functioning (chores and other maintenance tasks).

Building a habit

To reap the true benefits of any good practice, the key is to do it consistently. I encourage you to build a habit out of the Ivy Lee method.

1. Tie it to something that you already do. Perhaps making your evening cup of tea could be your new trigger to sit down with your planner and plan out the next day. 
2. Give this practice just a bit of time to fully take root and build momentum. Try sticking to it for a week or a fortnight to let it work its magic. I promise that the results will follow.

I’m putting together a worksheet template to help you put this method into practice with ease. If that’s something you’re interested in, feel free to leave your email below!

Footnotes

James Clear, “The Ivy Lee Method: The Daily Routine Experts Recommend for Peak Productivity,”