Quick-start Guide

What if a 3 x 5″ index card was all you needed to become more productive?

It just might be. Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way.

Grab a 3″ x 5″ lined index card and something to write with.
Flip the card to the unlined back and position it vertically. Set a timer for three minutes and write down every task you think you might need to do today.
Flip to the lined side. Put today’s day and date at the top.
Using your task list from the back, write your most important tasks in order of importance. Pick no more than nine — one for each line. The first item is #1, and so on.
In the “P” column, place the point value for each item: item #1 gets a point value equal to the total number of tasks, item #2 gets one less, and so on down to the final item, which is worth 1 point.
Add up all the possible points in the “P” column. That’s your possible points for the day.
As you complete items, cross them off and award yourself the point value in the “A” column.
At the end of the day, add up your earned points and put that at the bottom of the “A” column. Divide it by your total points possible and put that in the box at the bottom of the card.

Aim for a score of .750 or greater. If you achieve that, keep it up. If you score lower, think about fewer items per free hour tomorrow. Repeat each day.

Notes

How many tasks? Don’t overload yourself, especially if you already have commitments. Count only the hours you have free to do tasks today — not time in meetings, running errands, cooking dinner, or self-care. Multiply that by 1.25. That’s roughly how many tasks should go on the card.

What counts as important? A task that contributes to meaningful life goals of yours — things worth doing to make your life better. Others’ goals for you may seem pressing, but that doesn’t automatically make them important.

A shortcut for adding up points. Use the termial: take the count of items on your list, multiply by that count plus one, then divide by two.

Half points. For items you put real effort toward but didn’t complete, award yourself half the point value.