October is almost here! What have you done with your time this year? If your answer is “not much”, then don’t fret. In this article, we’ll explore the Rule of 3 and how it can help you be more productive.
What is the Rule of 3?
The Rule of 3 is a productivity technique that’s used to help people get more work done with the limited amount of time they have. In this sense, it’s kind of like the other productivity methods we know and love — from the Pomodoro Technique to the Zen to Done Rule.
But what’s so special about the Rule of 3? Well, it’s especially useful for those who struggle to deal with a large number of tasks. For example, you might have so much going on at work that you might jump from one task to another. At the end of the day, you might have gotten bits of work done, but nothing completely accomplished. Another common situation is when you look at your to-do list, see a whole pile of tasks, and get so scared that you end up procrastinating for the rest of the day. Both of these scenarios are awfully common. But either way, the Rule of 3 could shine through to help you streamline your work and pick the most urgent tasks to tick off each day.
How does the Rule of 3 work?
The Rule of 3 truly lives up to its name, requiring these 3 steps.
- List out all the tasks you want to accomplish today in order of urgency. Select the 3 most urgent tasks.
- Brainstorm and think of 3 things you want to get done within the week.
- Write down 3 things you want to achieve by the end of this year.
Remember, these tasks don’t always have to be work-related. They could involve goals like working out or learning to meditate that you’ve been putting off.
Now that you have your handy list of goals, you can focus on these specific tasks each day, week and month. Not only does this help you focus your attention to the most urgency and fulfilling work, but it also encourages you to work harder by helping you get more done. Repeat the process of scheduling milestones every day, week and year.
Tips to help you ace this productivity technique
Need a hand in getting used to the Rule of 3? Use these handy tips to ace this productivity technique.
- Set your goals first thing in the morning. Start your day right by setting your goals in a calm and reasonable state of mind. This will help you decide which tasks are most important to achieve everyday.
- Check yourself. Remind yourself of your tasks once in a while. While your daily tasks are always at the top of your mind, you could easily forget about your weekly or monthly goals.
- Be reasonable with your planning. While the Rule of 3 quantifies the number of tasks for you to pursue, remember to be reasonable with the type of tasks you schedule. Some goals — like run a marathon or write a book — are huge milestones. Instead, consider breaking up bigger goals into smaller, less daunting tasks.
- Use a productivity tool to help. While the Rule of 3 helps you with better planning, you can further boost your productivity by using a timer for better execution. A Timeqube, for example, is a mindful timer that unobtrusively indicates the passing of time with a change in colour. It’s a portable cube that you can take wherever you go — and now, it even exists online. Use this simple, seamless productivity tool to help you stay on track with your goals.
