Complete firstConcrete tasks
Tasks have a visible completion point and broadly fit daily capacity.
Six tasks are a ceiling, not a quota or capacity guarantee.
Method guideOperations
Ivy Lee Method
A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.
ComplexityLow
Time5-10 min daily
Participants1
FormatAsync
MaturityEstablished
01
Prerequisite
What needs to be finished first
02
Preparation
What needs to be ready before start
Materials
A numbered list with at most six slots, task pool and calendar for checking capacity.
People / roles
Person prioritising their own work; responsible requesters when commitments conflict.
Pre-read
Review commitments, deadlines and tomorrow’s available time; select only concrete, executable tasks.
Time needed
5–10 minutes evening planning; execution the next day
Setup
Place an empty list with six numbered slots beside the task pool and calendar; do not carry over tasks automatically.
03
Core question
The one question this method answers
Which at most six tasks deserve my attention tomorrow and in what order?
04
Flow
Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall
At the end of a workday, at most six important tasks are listed and strictly ordered for the next day. Work begins with number one the following day and follows the order; unfinished work is reprioritised in the evening.
Ivy Lee Method· worksheet
Fictional example
At the end of a workday, at most six important tasks are listed and strictly ordered for the next day. Work begins with number one the following day and follows the order; unfinished work is reprioritised in the evening.
1 · Highest priority
Which task comes first and how is completion recognised?
Fictional: hand the proposal draft to Lea for review.
2 · Next task
Which task follows completion of number one?
Correct the invoice address and confirm the change.
3 · Third task
Which further result takes priority over the following ones?
Complete the export test record.
4 · Fourth task
Which task follows if time and capacity allow?
Confirm two interview appointments.
5 · Fifth task
Which additional important task still fits the day? Leave blank if unnecessary.
Add the new registration question to the support FAQ.
6 · Sixth task
Which final task is included? At most six; fewer are allowed.
Check the workshop materials list.
Evening review
What is complete and what rank will open tasks receive tomorrow?
1–3 complete. Interview appointments become rank 1 tomorrow; FAQ rank 3. Materials review returns to the task pool after reassessment.
All example details are fictional and illustrate the application.
- 1
Select at most six
Select at most six
Goal
Bounded daily selection
Inputs for this step
- Task pool
- Calendar
Actions
- The previous evening, select at most six important tasks with concrete completion points for tomorrow.
- Check the selection against fixed appointments and available time.
Output
Bounded daily selection
Are there at most six realistically actionable tasks?
Quality check
Are there at most six realistically actionable tasks?
Pitfall
Six huge projects replace a usable daily list. Split projects into daily outcomes and choose fewer if needed.
Timing: 2–4 minutes
- 2
Rank unambiguously
Rank unambiguously
Goal
Committed sequence
Inputs for this step
- Daily selection
- Priorities
Actions
- Rank tasks by importance from one to at most six, without ties.
- Use consequences of delay and committed outcomes to choose.
Output
Committed sequence
Is it clear what comes first and next?
Quality check
Is it clear what comes first and next?
Pitfall
Every task receives rank one. Compare tasks pairwise and commit to an order.
Timing: 2–3 minutes
- 3
One at a time
One at a time
Goal
Progress along the sequence
Inputs for this step
- Ordered list
- Work materials
Actions
- Next day, start with number one and take up the next task only after completion.
- Explicitly handle real blockers and new urgent commitments rather than switching casually.
Output
Progress along the sequence
Does work stay with one task until its outcome?
Quality check
Does work stay with one task until its outcome?
Pitfall
Easy tasks are brought forward on the side. Return to the sequence or record a reasoned reorder.
Timing: 30–120 minutes
- 4
Decide again in the evening
Decide again in the evening
Goal
New prioritised daily list
Inputs for this step
- Day’s results
- New demands
Actions
- Mark completed items and compare unfinished tasks with new demands.
- Select at most six again for the next day and rank afresh.
Output
New prioritised daily list
Was unfinished work reassessed for importance?
Quality check
Was unfinished work reassessed for importance?
Pitfall
Unfinished work grows into an endless daily list. Return unselected tasks to the task pool.
Timing: 3–5 minutes
05
Artifact
What comes out at the end
Sketch: what the artifact looks like
Form
Ordered daily list with at most six concrete tasks and an evening decision on unfinished work.
Versioning / ownership
Record date and scope; retain the previous version and reason when changing it.
Tool alternatives
- Numbered paper list
- Task app with manual ordering
- Daily note with six slots
ivy-lee-method-working-template.md
Review commitments, deadlines and tomorrow’s available time; select only concrete, executable tasks.
Ivy Lee Method: Worksheet
Question
To be confirmed
Desired outcome
To be confirmed
Scope
Complete cycle Time: 5–10 minutes evening planning; execution the next day
Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.
Preparation for this scope
Method setup
- Materials: A numbered list with at most six slots, task pool and calendar for checking capacity.
- Roles: Person prioritising their own work; responsible requesters when commitments conflict.
- Advance information: Review commitments, deadlines and tomorrow’s available time; select only concrete, executable tasks.
- Overall time needed: 5–10 minutes evening planning; execution the next day
- Setup: Place an empty list with six numbered slots beside the task pool and calendar; do not carry over tasks automatically.
Prepare for the work steps
Select at most six: Select at most six
- Task pool
- Calendar
Rank unambiguously: Rank unambiguously
- Daily selection
- Priorities
One at a time: One at a time
- Ordered list
- Work materials
Decide again in the evening: Decide again in the evening
- Day’s results
- New demands
Ivy Lee Method· worksheet
1 · Highest priority
Which task comes first and how is completion recognised?
...
2 · Next task
Which task follows completion of number one?
...
3 · Third task
Which further result takes priority over the following ones?
...
4 · Fourth task
Which task follows if time and capacity allow?
...
5 · Fifth task
Which additional important task still fits the day? Leave blank if unnecessary.
...
6 · Sixth task
Which final task is included? At most six; fewer are allowed.
...
Evening review
What is complete and what rank will open tasks receive tomorrow?
...
Answer the prompts with your own information. Explicitly mark unknowns and assumptions.
James Clear: The Ivy Lee Method
Select at most six: Select at most six
Expected artifact: Bounded daily selection
Are there at most six realistically actionable tasks?
Entry:
...
- Are there at most six realistically actionable tasks?
Rank unambiguously: Rank unambiguously
Expected artifact: Committed sequence
Is it clear what comes first and next?
Entry:
...
- Is it clear what comes first and next?
One at a time: One at a time
Expected artifact: Progress along the sequence
Does work stay with one task until its outcome?
Entry:
...
- Does work stay with one task until its outcome?
Decide again in the evening: Decide again in the evening
Expected artifact: New prioritised daily list
Was unfinished work reassessed for importance?
Entry:
...
- Was unfinished work reassessed for importance?
Open questions and next steps
...
Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/ivy-lee-method/run-sheet
06
Example output
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.
ivy-lee-method-beispiel.md
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional example
1 · Highest priority: Fictional: hand the proposal draft to Lea for review.
2 · Next task: Correct the invoice address and confirm the change.
3 · Third task: Complete the export test record.
4 · Fourth task: Confirm two interview appointments.
5 · Fifth task: Add the new registration question to the support FAQ.
6 · Sixth task: Check the workshop materials list.
Evening review: 1–3 complete. Interview appointments become rank 1 tomorrow; FAQ rank 3. Materials review returns to the task pool after reassessment.
07
Pitfalls
Recognize symptoms and steer against them
Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow
- Select at most sixSix huge projects replace a usable daily list.View in phase
- Rank unambiguouslyEvery task receives rank one.View in phase
- One at a timeEasy tasks are brought forward on the side.View in phase
- Decide again in the eveningUnfinished work grows into an endless daily list.View in phase
Trap
Select at most six
Symptom
Six huge projects replace a usable daily list.
What to do
Split projects into daily outcomes and choose fewer if needed.
Trap
Rank unambiguously
Symptom
Every task receives rank one.
What to do
Compare tasks pairwise and commit to an order.
Trap
One at a time
Symptom
Easy tasks are brought forward on the side.
What to do
Return to the sequence or record a reasoned reorder.
Trap
Decide again in the evening
Symptom
Unfinished work grows into an endless daily list.
What to do
Return unselected tasks to the task pool.
08
Stop criteria
When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach
Do not cling indefinitely to a blocked top task: record the blocker and clarification step, then deliberately reconsider the order.
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