A Simple Productivity System

I've tried every productivity system imaginable: GTD, Bullet Journaling, Pomodoro, various apps and tools. Most of them worked for a while before I abandoned them for something new.

The Problem with Complex Systems

The issue with elaborate productivity systems is that maintaining the system becomes work in itself. You spend more time organizing tasks than actually completing them.

What Works for Me Now

After years of experimentation, I've settled on something simple:

One list, updated daily. Each morning, I write down the three most important things I need to accomplish. Not ten things, not five—three.

Time blocking for deep work. I protect 2-3 hours each morning for focused work. No meetings, no email, no distractions.

Weekly review. Every Sunday, I spend 30 minutes reviewing the past week and planning the next one. This prevents tasks from falling through the cracks.

Tools I Use

- A plain text file for daily tasks - Calendar for time blocking - A simple notes app for longer-term planning

That's it. No fancy apps, no complex workflows.

The Real Secret

The productivity system you'll stick with is the one that requires the least friction. Find the minimum viable system that works for you, and resist the urge to add complexity.

What matters isn't the system—it's whether you're making progress on work that matters to you.