Do you have a love/hate relationship with to-do lists?
Do you have multiple lists going at the same time depending on what projects and priorities you are trying to manage?
Do you think those lists keep you organized, focused on your priorities, and ensure you get things done?
If you truly believe that, then I have some beach-front property just east of Didsbury that I’d love to sell you.
The reality is that to-do lists are rarely the best way to help you focus on what actually needs to get done.
Instead, they provide a never-ending source of distractions and reminders that we have never done enough.
The sheer volume of items on your to-do list can leave you feeling overwhelmed and actually create an environment where you don’t get much of anything done.
I recently learned of a different priority-sorting method from Jordan Syatt as part of one of the courses in the Online Fitness Business Mentorship Program created by him and Mike Vacanti.
Jordan calls it the 1/3/5 Method and it blew my mind. So much so that I enthusiastically shared it with Matt who told me that not only should I implement it, but I should share it with all of you too!
So, here it is, the 1/3/5 Method:
The idea is simple: you can’t make everything a priority all of the time.
That is a guaranteed recipe for feeling overwhelmed, not being productive, spinning your wheels and burning out.
If that’s how you generally operate, and you’re ready to try something new, keep reading!
You’re going to get a small whiteboard (mine cost a whopping $2.50) and you’re going to divide it into three equal horizontal sections.
The Top Section (one block): DO OR DIE
– This is the most important thing you absolutely HAVE to get done by the end of the day.
No, you don’t have multiple things that you absolutely HAVE to get done, and if you think you do, you still pick just one. THE most important thing you have to do is written in this top section.
– Your “Do or Die” can change daily, or it might stay the same over multiple days/weeks or even months, depending on what you want to accomplish and what that is going to take.
The Second Second (divided into three blocks): Daily Supplements
– These are the three things you need to consistently, regularly do on a daily basis in order to succeed and thrive.
– Your Daily Supplements will be unique and personal to you based on your values, lifestyle, and goals, but should be three things that help you to feel your best and to thrive.
– Maybe you know that most days you need to get your pump on, or get some form of exercise, or connect with family / friends, or ride your horse, or help women get stronger!
Identify three things that you need to consistently do to thrive and write it here.
The Third Section (divided into five blocks): Nap Time Activities
– This is anything you would be doing if you weren’t taking a nap
– Again, these will be unique to you and what you want to achieve (i.e. reading, practicing guitar, laundry, plan a holiday, check email, studying, etc.)
– If you regularly find yourself wasting time doing something completely unproductive (doom-scrolling social media perhaps?) then this is a great place to regularly check in with what you “say” you want to get done.
Remember, your whiteboard doesn’t limit what you can do that day.
You don’t need to write things like “get dressed” on it (unless you’re in the habit of absentmindedly walking around naked).
It simply helps you to sort out what is most important.
Sometimes you may want to prioritize things like grocery shopping, or meal prepping, or an oil change for the car.
If an immaculate house or beautifully landscaped yard are important to you then break those down into specific tasks and add them where you feel they belong.
And, please remember that sometimes life throws a grenade at our wonderfully organized plan.
Maybe you (or maybe your kids) wake up sick one morning, and your Do or Die needs to be to get some sleep, or cuddle your kiddo.
Maybe there’s a crisis and a loved one truly needs you to drop everything to help.
Maybe it’s a beautiful day and you decide that the best way to spend it is to go for a hike in the mountains with your BFF.
You simply adjust your whiteboard and carry on.
And no, you don’t get to have multiple whiteboards with numerous priorities, supplements and activities.
That’s just another way of creating more chaos and avoiding the truth that you can’t be everything to everyone while still getting all of it done.
If you sincerely want to give yourself the best shot at making this system work, get a whiteboard, write it out, and explain it to someone who will hold you to a high level of accountability.
That’s the whole reason this newsletter actually got done.
When I enthusiastically told Matt about this system, he challenged me to not only do it but to also share it with you. So this was today’s Do or Die. Challenge accepted and ultimately crushed!
