What If an Index Card Could Make You More Productive?

I tried all the popular productivity systems. This is what finally stuck.

Photo: Netalieh/Getty Images

For the better part of a decade, I’d get frustrated at myself for not
being able to make popular productivity systems to work for me.
GTD, the Bullet Journal Method, Day Designer, The Franklin Covey
planner, the Ivy Lee Method, time-blocking — I tried them all. Even
if I kept up with a system for a couple months or so, I would
inevitably lose motivation.

Then one day in November 2020, neck-deep in pandemic-induced
frustration, I took out a 3x5 card and wrote down the most important
things I needed to get done that day. Next to each task, I put a point value. At the end of the day, I tallied my score. I vowed to get the same score or
better the next day.

Nearly a year later, I still fill out an index card every day—and I’ve become more productive, focused, and motivated because of it. I call the simple practice The Today System.

How it works

• Grab a 3x 5 lined index card and something to write with.