The 1-3-5 Rule is a simple yet powerful productivity method that helps you prioritise your daily tasks without feeling overwhelmed. By focusing on just one big task, three medium tasks, and five small tasks each day, this approach provides structure, reduces decision fatigue, and ensures you consistently make progress on what truly matters. Whether you’re managing work projects, household tasks, or personal goals, the 1-3-5 Rule can help transform your chaotic task list into a focused and achievable plan.
The productivity of to-do lists has never been in question. They are great tools that help individuals arrange their tasks and improve efficiency. However, they are only effective when used correctly, and that’s where the problem lies.
Most people have trouble developing and implementing to-do lists and checklists. In fact, 40% of to-do list items don’t get finished. Why is that? The main reason is that people overestimate what they can do.
You wake up feeling energised and figure that you can get through at least ten of the things you’re supposed to handle. However, you forget that you won’t have the same vigour throughout the day. Plus, various distractions come up as you work that interfere with your flow.
Another issue is that some people don’t allocate enough time to scheduled activities. So, how can you make a daily to-do list work for you? Well, the 1-3-5 rule has proven effective. It can help you plan the items on your checklist more effectively.
What is the 1-3-5 Rule System?
This productivity rule requires you to divide your to-do list across 9 tasks – 1 big one, 3 medium ones, and 5 small ones. Arranging your activities in this order allows you to tackle them in order of importance, making it less challenging to accomplish your work.
You only have so many productive hours in a day, and you need to be realistic about what you can achieve. The 1-3-5 strategy allows you to do that. It also balances your to-do list so that you don’t end up focusing on the same type of activities.
The Psychology Behind the 1-3-5 Rule
The 1-3-5 Rule aligns with cognitive psychology principles by reducing decision fatigue and enhancing focus. By limiting daily tasks to one big, three medium, and five small items, individuals can prioritise effectively without feeling overwhelmed.
Implementing a 1-3-5 To-do List
So, how do you create a to do list using the 1-3-5 rule? At the beginning of the week, list all the activities that you need to tackle. Some of these might be remnants from the previous week. If it’s a new project that spans several weeks, focus only on the tasks for that week. Compile everything you have to do, regardless of how small it seems, such as answering an email.
Once you have this list, categorise the items by importance. Have sections for major, medium, and minor tasks. How do you determine this?
For one, using the amount of time that it takes to complete a particular job. Big tasks, for instance, can take anything between 3 to 5 hours while small ones require 25-30 minutes. Consider the effort that the activity takes. A task might be 2 hours long, but the effort required is minimal.
Then you can move items from the long list to your daily to-do list. Pick one from the ‘major’ category, three from medium and five from small. Repeat the process the following day.
Implementing the 1-3-5 Rule in Daily Planning
Step 1: Brain Dump
Start by listing all tasks you need to accomplish. This clears your mind and provides a comprehensive view of your responsibilities.
Step 2: Categorise Tasks
Divide tasks into three categories:
- Big Tasks: Significant items requiring substantial time and effort.
- Medium Tasks: Moderate tasks that are important but less time-consuming.
- Small Tasks: Quick wins that are easy to accomplish.
Step 3: Prioritise
Select one big task, three medium tasks, and five small tasks to focus on for the day. This structured approach ensures a balanced workload and promotes productivity.
Benefits of the 1-3-5 Rule
- Enhanced Focus: By limiting tasks, you concentrate on what’s truly important.
- Reduced Overwhelm: A manageable list prevents feeling swamped by responsibilities.
- Increased Productivity: Structured prioritisation leads to more accomplished tasks.
- Improved Time Management: Allocating tasks based on their complexity helps in efficient time utilisation.
Tips to Get the 1-3-5 Productivity Rule Right
Grouping tasks doesn’t have to be perfect. Therefore, avoid spending so much time on this step that you lose focus. Let activities flow freely as you list them. If you remember other tasks later, you can quickly add them to the list.
Don’t be too rigid when planning your activities. You can leave space on your to-list for other small tasks that might pop up during the day. If you don’t have enough work to fill the list, you can personalise it accordingly.
You can implement other strategies like the Pomodoro method by Francesco Cirillo, which is based around a timed work window of 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, 4 times before a longer break. This method can help you get through large tasks without losing focus.
Use a suitable app to implement your to-do list. Some platforms are customised for the 1-3-5 rule productivity rule but for others, you might have to improvise and set up the different categories.
Creating an effective to-do list is not easy, especially when you have a million tasks to accomplish. The 1-3-5 rule is an excellent way to structure your checklist. It helps you channel your energy and attention on the most crucial tasks of the day, hence boosting productivity.
Applying the 1-3-5 Rule Beyond Work
The 1-3-5 Rule isn’t limited to professional tasks. Apply it to personal goals, home organisation, or self-care routines to bring structure and balance to various aspects of life
Productivity Methods
Another to-do list productivity method to consider is Eat the Frog: Tackling the most Challenging Task First and the Ivy Lee Method: How Only 6 Tasks on Your To-Do List Improves Productivity.