The Ivy Lee method: six tasks a day, explained
The Ivy Lee method is a daily planning routine: at the end of each workday, write the six most important tasks for tomorrow, rank them, and the next day work through them in order, one at a time. Whatever is unfinished moves to the next list. It is simple enough to run on a single index card.
Coming soon to iPhone
What is the Ivy Lee method?
It is a time-management routine attributed to Ivy Lee, a publicist and consultant who worked with Charles M. Schwab, head of Bethlehem Steel, in the early twentieth century (Wikipedia: Ivy Lee). The story is retold in many productivity books, and details such as the fee vary between versions. The core idea is documented and does not depend on the anecdote.
The rule: limit tomorrow's list to six tasks, order them by importance, start with number one and do not move on until it is done.
How do I use the Ivy Lee method, step by step?
Do this at the end of each workday.
- Write down the six most important things you need to do tomorrow. No more than six.
- Rank them in order of true importance, not ease.
- Next day, start with task one. Work until it is done before touching task two.
- Continue through the list in order.
- At day's end, move anything unfinished to a new list of six for tomorrow, and add new tasks.
- Repeat every workday.
Why does it work?
The method removes three common sources of waste.
- Decision fatigue. The order is set the night before, so you start without choosing.
- Task switching. Doing one thing at a time avoids the cost of jumping around.
- Overload. A hard cap of six forces you to choose what matters.
A sample Ivy Lee list
Here is a list for a freelance designer on a Wednesday.
| Rank | Task | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finish the logo revision for Client A | 90 |
| 2 | Send the invoice to Client B | 10 |
| 3 | Draft the website wireframe | 75 |
| 4 | Book the accountant meeting | 5 |
| 5 | Reply to three client emails | 20 |
| 6 | Update the portfolio with two new images | 30 |
What are the limits of the method?
It suits work you control. It is weaker when your day is mostly meetings or interruptions. It also assumes that you can rank tasks correctly, and it has no place for recurring habits or goals that last months. Six can be too many for a heavy task day: if the first two tasks take five hours, the rest will carry over, which is acceptable only if you keep the list honest.
Another limit is that the method says nothing about estimates. Add minutes to each task so you can see if six fits in the day.
How does Ivy Lee compare with other daily methods?
The table lines up three common approaches.
| Method | Tasks per day | Main idea |
|---|---|---|
| Ivy Lee | 6, ranked | One at a time, in order |
| 1-3-5 rule | 9: 1 big, 3 medium, 5 small | Mix sizes to fit the day |
| Eisenhower matrix | Any | Sort by urgent and important |
| M6 Today | 3 by default | Actions drawn from a goal route |
How can I adapt it for a personal goal?
Make task one the goal action. A person working toward a goal should put the daily step for that goal first, since "the most important thing" is exactly what the method protects. Limit the rest to what fits your free hours, which for many people is three, not six.
That is the logic behind three actions a day in M6: the app draws the actions from your route, each has a reason and a time in minutes, and you can raise the limit to four or five in Settings.
How do I know whether my ranking is right?
Ask which task, if it were the only one done today, would make the day a success. That is number one. Number two is the task that would be next. Resist ranking by ease or by who is asking loudest. Check the ranking against your main goal: if the goal task is number four, move it up and see how the day feels. The exercise is more about honesty than precision.
When two tasks are close, rank the one with the nearer deadline higher. If still tied, pick the one that makes the others easier. You are not building a perfect order, only a workable one.
What if I get interrupted or the day changes?
An urgent request counts as a new task: write it in, rank it and push the lowest task out. This keeps the list honest and shows your real day. Unfinished items carry over but they should not sit on the list for a week. If a task has carried over three times, split it, decide to delete it, or find out what is blocking it.
Also accept that the method is a discipline, not a law. A bad day with two tasks done in order is better than a day of switching between six.
What does a week of the Ivy Lee method look like?
On Monday evening you write Tuesday's six. On Tuesday you finish four, and two roll over. On Tuesday evening you write Wednesday's list with the two leftovers in the top spots if they still matter. By Friday you have finished about 20 of 30 listed tasks. At the weekly review the number matters less than the pattern: which tasks roll over, and why. The answer usually points to a vague task or too many tasks.
Should I use paper or an app?
Paper is faster to set up and impossible to ignore on a desk. An app can carry unfinished tasks forward automatically. Either works if you write the list the night before and rank honestly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ivy Lee method?
A daily routine: write six ranked tasks for tomorrow, work through them in order, and carry unfinished ones to the next list.
Who was Ivy Lee?
A US publicist and public relations pioneer who advised businesses including Bethlehem Steel in the early 1900s.
Is six tasks too many?
It can be. Limit the list to what fits your free hours, and put time estimates beside each item.
What if I finish all six tasks?
Stop or pick a task from your someday list. Finishing early is a good result, not a signal to add more.
Does the Ivy Lee method work for ADHD?
Some people find the fixed order helpful and others find it rigid. Try it for two weeks with time estimates and a timer, and consult a clinician for medical advice.