Have you ever had one of those days where it felt like you were running around all day but still didn’t get the important stuff done?
You’re not alone.
In an era of digital transformation and rapid change, productivity can seem like a never-ending grind. Amid meetings and emails and notifications and to-do lists that never end, it’s hard to remember what matters. Here is the Ivy Lee Method, a 100-year-old go-to time management hack that is still crushing even the newest productivity apps.
In this blog you are going to learn what the Ivy Lee Method is, why the heck it’s so successful, how to use it yourself, and why this ancient method might be the killer productivity app you’ve been searching for.
Now, let’s jump into the strategy that could help you go from chaotic to controlled.
What is the Ivy Lee Method?
If so, you need to hear about The Ivy Lee Method, a 6-step daily productivity routine that’s staggeringly simple and astonishingly helpful. It was introduced in 1918 by Ivy Lee, a productivity consultant, to Charles M. Schwab, who was, at the time, the president of Bethlehem Steel.
Once asked, Lee for tips on how to make his team more efficient. Lee insisted on spending 15 minutes with each of his executives. For those meetings, Lee had not charged a fee. Instead, he challenged Schwab to employ the strategy for three months, and if he liked it, to pay him whatever he felt it was worth.
Three months later, Schwab was so impressed that he mailed Lee a check for $25,000, which, adjusted for inflation, would today be over $400,000. Why? Because it worked. Productivity and profits for the company soared.
The 6 Simple Steps of the Ivy Lee Method
Here’s how it works:
- At the end of each workday, write down 6 things you need to accomplish tomorrow.
- List those 6 tasks in true order of their importance. What would make the biggest difference?
- When you start your next workday, focus only on the first task. Don’t move to the next until you’ve finished the first.
- Do the same with the remainder of your list. You need to work down the list in order — no skipping around.
- If something just doesn’t get done, carry it over to the next day’s list. But ask yourself why it failed to happen.
- Repeat this process every workday.
That’s it. No endless planning. Simply clarity and execution.
Why the Ivy Lee Method Works
We’re living in a time of overcomplication. Everything is now an app. But real productivity has nothing to do with doing more, it’s about doing the right things intentionally and consistently.
The Psychology Behind the Method
- It reduces decision fatigue. You plan your most important 6 things the night before so you can start your day with clarity.
- It forces prioritization. Not everything is urgent. Not everything is important. This method teaches you the difference.
- It encourages deep work. Because you think about only one thing at a time, multitasking is removed.
- It creates a system. Routines breed results. The Ivy Lee Method creates a habit of productivity.
- It taps into cognitive science. Putting a goal in writing builds your sense of commitment. Leading, not following. Reduces overwhelm.
- It builds momentum. You get a psychological high from completing meaningful tasks early, and this keeps you motivated.
Productivity in the Modern World: Why We Struggle
As a 25-year-old trying to balance a full-time job, side hustles, a love life and mindless social media swooshes, I totally understand: We’re overstimulated.
The Modern-Day Productivity Trap
Pings rouse us from sleep and we scroll feeds before brushing our teeth. The day begins reactively rather than proactively. And reactive days are just power drains, when it comes to productivity.
I have struggled personally with productivity burnout. I’ve attempted everything — Pomodoro timers, bullet journals, Notion dashboards. Some worked for a while. Most served as a different way to procrastinate.
The Ivy Lee Method? It was like a breath of fresh air. It was basic, and yet it was so powerful. I couldn’t believe it.
How to Start Using the Ivy Lee Method Today
Let’s break it down practically. Here’s how to use the Ivy Lee Method to start right now. Step-by-Step Implementation
1. End your day with intention
Before turning off your laptop, spend 10 minutes and write a list of your top 6 tasks for tomorrow to do. Write it down in a notebook, on a sticky note or in a notes app — whatever makes you keep it in view.
2. Rank those tasks in order of impact
Don’t overthink. Just ask: “If I could only do one thing tomorrow, what would it be?” Then go from there.
3. Commit to single-tasking
Once you’re up, don’t check your emails in the morning. Don’t touch your phone. Just hop on Task #1 and ride that focus wave
4. Build momentum
After accomplishing that initial task, you feel invincible. That’s the momentum that carries you through the list. Even if you complete 3 of the 6 tasks, they were the 3 right ones.
5. Reflect at the end of the day
Ask yourself:
- Did I finish what mattered?
- What got in the way?
- How can I improve tomorrow?
That little reflection step is where growth happens.
Ivy Lee vs Other Productivity Methods
Comparison between Ivy Lee and Other Productivity Methods:
Who Should Use the Ivy Lee Method?
This method is perfect for:
- Founders: Just work on making money
- Freelancers: Trade off between client work and self-promotion
- Remote workers: Make clarity from home a daily practice
- Students: Read the entire article, then tell us: Do you feel as if the right decision regarding Dwayne Haskins was made?
- Managers: Show focus and prevent burnout
- Creative people: They channel abstract ideas into the world.
- Side hustlers: Learn how to make limited time count.
- Overthinkers: Less focus is equals to less anxiety.
Mistakes to Avoid
But there are some errors you need to avoid when you use this method:
- Inconsistent planning? You’ll miss the magic.
- Listing more than 6 tasks? You’re cheating the method.
- Skipping prioritization? You’ll spin your wheels.
- Treating it like a checklist? You’ll lose focus.
Pro Tips to Supercharge the Method
- Block distractions: There are apps that help you to do so, like Freedom or Forest.
- Combine similar tasks: Answer emails or make calls all at once.
- Keep score: Use an easy task journal to accrue wins.
- Time-block your top 6 tasks: Prevents you from drifting and being distracted.
- Develop a planning ritual: Schedule a recurring reminder for yourself to plan each evening.
- Theme your days: Something like “Marketing Monday” or “Finance Friday.”
- Make it fun: Celebrate once your top 3 are done.
- Develop an accountability partner: Share your daily 6 to keep you accountable.
What Happens When Something Unexpected Pops Up?
One of the best parts of the Ivy Lee Method is how straightforward it is — but if we’re real with ourselves, not a single workday will play out exactly as planned. You might have your top six tasks all picked out, ready to rock and roll and then boom — an unexpected call, an urgent email, or a fire to put out out of nowhere.
Here’s the deal: that’s fine.
Life isn’t a checklist. If something truly pressing requires your attention, sure, pause and handle it. Just be intentional. Think: Is it more important than what I’m doing right now? If yes, shift your focus. If not, prioritize it for your list later, or bump it to tomorrow.
The trick is not to forsake your priorities, but to update them with intention. Anything you don’t complete can roll over to the next day. That way, you’re still making forward progress, just not in confusion.
Its architecture with space to breathe. One of the reasons the Ivy Lee Method is so effective and realistic is.
Combining the Ivy Lee Method with Other Productivity Techniques
The Ivy Lee Method, paired with other productivity technique,s can improve its impact and personalize it to individual circumstances.
Time Blocking
After choosing your six tasks we can do the time-blocking, assign each to a specific block of time in your calendar. It structures your day and conserves mental energy, so that you don’t succumb to decision fatigue. It turns your to-do list into an action plan.
Example: Task 1: 9–10 a.m.; Task 2: 10:30 –11:30 a.m. and so on.
Pomodoro Technique
Work in Pomodoro-style focus bursts — 25 minutes of deep work, followed by a 5-minute break, for every time block.. This is how to keep your energy fresh and your brain sharp.
It’s almost a rhythm for your focus, particularly helpful if something feels overwhelming.
Use the Eisenhower Matrix to Prioritize First
The Eisenhower Matrix organizes tasks by urgency and importance:
- Do it (urgent & important)
- Schedule it (important but not urgent)
- Delegate it (urgent but not important)
- Delete it (neither)
Use this first to sift through your full task list. So all you do is pick your TOP 6 priorities to the Ivy Lee Method above from the “Do Now” and “Schedule” quadrants.
Why It Works:
The Eisenhower Matrix helps you stop reacting to everything and start choosing what matters. It filters the noise, so when you sit down to create your Ivy Lee list, you’re working on tasks that actually move the needle.
Ivy Lee = Do the work
Eisenhower = Choose the right work
Together, they help you act with purpose instead of just staying busy.
Adapting the Ivy Lee Method Across Various Professions
The Ivy Lee Method is so simple that can be applied by professionals in various fields and can help them being more productive at their jobs.
Creative Industries
For writers, for designers, for artists, the method offers structure without killing creativity. Sort tasks to keep order in several projects and the deadlines for each one.
Project Management
Project managers can employ the technique to chop a big project into smaller, bite-sized pieces, allowing for steady progress and clear priorities.
Routine-Based Jobs
In job functions with repetitive activities, like data entry or customer service, the approach can lend a sense of purpose and eliminate confusion by aligning tasks to a grander objective.
Pros and Cons of the Ivy Lee Method
When you know the pros and the cons of the productivity method, you can use it more intelligently. Let’s break down what makes the Ivy Lee Method a winner — and where it could trip you up.
CONCLUSION
The Ivy Lee Method is not another productivity hack — it’s a way of prioritizing your day to be in alignment with your long-term goals, relieve stress, and focus on helping you reach your goals with as few distractions and detours as possible. Simply by identifying 6 significant tasks to focus on each day and committing to each one, you can regain control of your time and energy. This simple but powerful method will turn your chaos into clarity, your ambition into mindful, achievable progress.
So whether you’re a time-strapped professional with a million things on your plate, or you just want a practical system that is realistic and respects unpredictability, the Ivy Lee Method grows with you. It’s more than a practice — it’s a new way of thinking about living on purpose, with attention and focus.
To start today, list six things you need to do tomorrow, and tackle them one at a time. Take the breakthrough to productivity – you’re welcome!
