Only Do Nine Things

The power of the 1–3–5 Rule.

Feeling overwhelmed?

I feel ya. My to-do list seems to stretch on forever, and the influx of tasks feels non-stop. This constant state of overwhelm fuels the anxiety and stress that comes with just generally trying to be an adult.

According to a 2022 study, over a quarter of U.S. adults are so overwhelmed by stress they feel incapacitated. And sure a lot goes into that stress, but the relentless stream of to-dos and expectations at work or home pile on to our stress levels.

Sadly, there's no magic bullet for all this. What works for one person might not work for you. A few weeks ago, I discussed the ABCDE method, a technique I often use. However, managing tasks is work, and for work, you need a toolkit. The ABCDE method is one tool, but it's practical to have a variety of tools at your disposal.

Enter the 1–3–5 rule.

The 1–3–5 rule is a task management strategy that is all about prioritization and focus. It involves choosing one big, three medium, and five small tasks to try and knock out each day.

For you math nerds, that’s nine tasks.

It might not seem like much, especially if your to-do list is overwhelmingly long. Knocking out just nine tasks might feel like trying to catch a hurricane with a butterfly net. But consider this: even though Americans reportedly work around nine hours a day, research indicates we only manage around 3 (maybe 4) productive hours in a typical workday.

So the trick is to capitalize on those productive hours.

The key is to lock in on the hours in which you are productive. Focus on what’s realistic: completing one big thing, three medium things, and five small things helps you maintain a balanced to-do list. Each task type has its unique benefit:

• Completing large a big task offers a lot of satisfaction. It builds confidence by demonstrating what you can achieve in a day.

• Medium tasks help push larger projects forward.

• Small tasks provide quick wins, boosting your motivation.

How do you apply this rule?

1. Start Your Day with Planning: Spend a few minutes each morning to outline your tasks according to the 1-3-5 rule. I have my tasks in one big digital pile and I review them each day to see what fits within this structure. I’ll also review yesterday’s list to see if I was unable to finish one of my nine tasks. This helps me wrap my head around the day and prioritize effectively.

2. Focus on One Task at a Time: Aim to fully complete each task before moving on to the next one, if possible. This method helps prevent the spread of focus too thin across multiple tasks.

3. Be Realistic: It's important to be realistic about what you can achieve in a day. The 1-3-5 rule helps in setting achievable goals and avoiding the feeling of being overwhelmed.

4. Adjust as Needed: Your to-do list should be dynamic. Some days might require adjustment of the tasks due to unforeseen circumstances or changes in priorities. Be flexible and adjust your tasks accordingly. While it's good to reassess the importance of your tasks, avoid overloading your day with more than nine tasks or multiple large tasks.

Again this is just one tool. There will be days (or certain projects) where a different method of productivity fits the bill a bit more. But this is worth trying. I’ve been living the 1-3-5 life for the past few weeks and I love it. And depending on the day, if I finish all nine tasks, I log off. It doesn’t mean I am go home and drink Mai Tais, but it does mean that I can move on to something that requires a totally different mindset. And that my friends, helps me reduce some of the stress of my life. Maybe I’ll have a Mai Tai after all.

On Gratitude…

As I mentioned in my last post, we are raising money for our daughter’s team to try to get to nationals (donate here if you want). Throughout this process, we have approached local businesses and essentially asked for free stuff. I am really blown away by how many places readily agreed, offering a pile of free items for us to use to raise money. These businesses don’t owe me anything. They don’t know me. But there's something in their culture or DNA that says - we want to help.

I love that.

So next time the turkeys got ya down and it seems like people everywhere kind of suck, try to remember this list of businesses who donated to some random guy for some random trip for some random sport and smile. There’s a lot of good in this world.

Anyhoo, here is the list of local businesses that have donated items to help us raise money. If you live in Seattle, go check them out!

• Seattle Reign FC

• Seattle Storm

• Trophy Cupcakes

• The Essential Baking Company

• Pagliacci Pizza

• Mighty-O Donuts

• Sea Wolf Bakers

• Tutta Bella

• Macarena Bakery

And as always, thanks for reading.