Utilizing the Ivy Lee Method

15 years of productivity hacks led me here: The most effective system is pen and paper. Most seeking productivity follow the same path: We start with complex systems. Optimize every minute. But finally, we realize the best system can as simple as: Pen and Paper. 5 steps to get you started: 1️⃣ Each night, write down your 6 most important tasks. ↳ Not a project. Just clear, actionable tasks. 2️⃣ Prioritize them. ↳ Order matters. Define what goes first. 3️⃣ Start with the first task. Work on it until it’s done. ↳ No jumping around. No multitasking. 4️⃣ Move to the next. Repeat. ↳ Simplicity fuels momentum. 5️⃣ Anything unfinished? Move it to tomorrow’s list. ↳ Progress, not perfection. This is called "The Ivy Lee Method" It's been used by top executives for over 100 years. No apps. No over-engineered systems. Just clarity, focus, and execution. Try it. See what happens. What’s your go-to productivity system? Drop it in the comments. ________________________ ♻️ Repost to help others simplify productivity. 📌 Follow Jorge Luis Pando for more actionable insights.

Struggling with dissertation overwhelm? Meet your new productivity tool: The Ivy Lee Method!   This century-old productivity hack is about to revolutionize your academic journey. Imagine tackling your dissertation with laser focus, less stress, and consistent progress. Sound too good to be true? Keep reading to discover how this simple yet powerful technique can transform your research journey! 1️⃣ Break Down the Dissertation into Manageable Tasks: At the end of each day, identify the six most important tasks to complete the following day. These could include:   🔹 Write 500 words in the literature review   🔹 Create an outline for the methodology chapter   🔹 Read and take notes on 3 key sources Prioritize these tasks based on importance and urgency, placing the most critical items at the top of your list. 2️⃣ Focus on One Task at a Time: 🔸 Start each day with task #1 on your prioritized list. Work on this until it's complete. 🔸 Resist the urge to multitask. Close email, silence your phone and minimize distractions. 🔸 Once task #1 is finished, take a short break. Then, move on to task #2 with full focus. 🔸 If you don't finish all six tasks, move incomplete ones to the top of tomorrow's list. The goal is consistent progress, not perfection. 3️⃣ Schedule Dissertation Work Early in the Day: 🔹 Aim to tackle your dissertation tasks early when your energy and focus are highest. 🔹 Consider scheduling a 2-3 hour "dissertation block" each morning. 🔹 Protect this time like a non-negotiable appointment with yourself. 4️⃣ Conduct a Weekly Review: 🔸 At the end of each week, review your dissertation progress and update your task list. 🔸 Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Consistent action builds momentum. 🔸 Course-correct as needed and set new goals for the upcoming week. 5️⃣ Be Kind to Yourself: 🔹 Remember, some days will be more productive than others. 🔹 Forgive yourself when things don't go perfectly. 🔹 Take care of your health with regular exercise, healthy eating, and ample sleep. Why This Works for Dissertations: 🔸 Clarity - Start each day with a clear plan, reducing decision fatigue and anxiety. 🔸 Focus - Tackle one task at a time for meaningful progress without feeling overwhelmed. 🔸 Flexibility - The daily reset lets you adapt to new priorities or challenges. 🔸 Momentum: Completing tasks in order builds a sense of accomplishment and motivates further work. Wondering what to do now? 1. Grab a notebook or open a new digital document. 2. Take 10 minutes right now to list your top 6 dissertation tasks for tomorrow. 3. Prioritize them in order of importance. 4. Commit to tackling the first task on your list as soon as you start work tomorrow. 5. At the end of the week, reflect on your progress and adjust as needed. Don't let another day pass feeling overwhelmed or stuck. Implement the Ivy Lee Method and watch your dissertation transform from a daunting mountain to a series of conquerable hills!

The headline grabbed my attention: “A CEO and dad uses a 100-year-old strategy to get control of his schedule in just 15 minutes each night.” Mark Abadi’s article in Business Insider introduced me to the Ivy Lee Method in 2018 (link below). Ivy Ledbetter Lee developed the approach in 1918 while working with the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Over the last 100+ years, it has worked for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and large corporations. The power of this approach is in its simplicity. Here’s how it works. 1) At the end of every day, write down the six most important tasks you want to accomplish tomorrow. 2) Rank them in order of descending priority. 3) The following day, focus on completing one task at a time (no multitasking!) 4) Progress to the next task only after finishing the prior one. Then repeat :). Here's why it works: 1) It’s Simple. Simple plans are more executable and sustainable. Also, because of its simplicity, it fits nicely with other productivity methods. For example, using the Ivy Lee Method, you can deploy Eisenhower Prioritization to rank your tasks. You can then use the Pomodoro technique to work on them the next day. 2) It Discourages Multitasking. We lose time and focus whenever we switch between tasks. Speed and quality improve when we do one thing at a time. 3) It Forces Us to Prioritize. Prioritizing the night before means you don’t lose time the next day trying to decide what to do next. "Atomic Habits" author James Clear uses the Ivy Lee Method. He commented, “As a writer, I can waste three or four hours debating what I should write about on a given day. If I decide the night before, however, I can wake up and start writing immediately. It's simple, but it works.” (link below) Choosing six tasks means constraining yourself. But here’s the thing: we do much better narrowing our focus. It is better to do well on a few things than poor on many things. 4) It Can Become a Powerful Habit. When working with Bethlehem Steel in 1918, Ivy Lee emphasized the importance of doing this exercise every day. The full benefit wasn't realized until three months of consistent application. Its simplicity makes it sustainable, but the benefit comes from consistent practice. Give it a shot. Try the Ivy Lee Method. It can make a big difference in your focus and ability to get things done. #productivity #mindset #leadership #growth #habits #FocusAndFlow