A few weeks ago, I read about an interesting and simple method for improving productivity. I tested it for a while and it seems to work well, especially for making steady progress on goals.
The method is named after a 1918 productivity consultant Ivy Lee. He shared this method with some business executives at Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Pennsylvania. The idea was to write down six tasks in the evening to focus on the next day. Then you work through them by order of importance the next day. Then repeat.
The idea was very simple. Actually it sounded so simple Lee didn’t charge anything for it. However, his method worked so well the company's president later sent him a check for $25,000, which would be worth hundreds of thousands nowadays.
I actually learned about this story many years ago and didn’t give it much thought. But this time I noticed a small but important detail. You only list 6 tasks each day. You move those unfinished to the next day. No more and no less, only 6 tasks a day. But you don’t have to complete all of the 6 tasks. So no pressure nor guilt if things don’t get done.
It means if a task is not completed on day 1, it will go on to day 2, and perhaps day 3, until it’s done. So just by following this method, you will always complete your tasks no matter how long it may take. Which is kind of the hallmark of sticking to your goal.
You can try it out for your goals. For example, if you have three goals, you can list two tasks for each goal per day to make up the 6 tasks. Or if you have 6 goals, you can have one task for each goal each day. However you arrange it, as long as you follow the method, you will always be making progress on your goals, one day at a time, at your own pace, without guilt or stress.
I think there are some subtle psychological advantages in this method that really make it work. But it’d be too much to elaborate in this short post. Anyway, why not give it a try and see if it makes any difference? :-)
Btw, you can learn more about the method at here.
Harry
