Productivity methods
Productivity methods, explained plainly.
Where each method comes from, how to do it step by step, who it suits and where it falls short.
Ten methods, one page each.
Pomodoro technique
Short, timed rounds of focus on one task, with a break after each.
Time blocking
Give each task a slot in your calendar, so the day has a plan.
Eisenhower matrix
Sort tasks by urgent and important, and treat each of the four boxes differently.
Getting Things Done (GTD)
Capture everything, decide what each item needs, and review your lists every week.
Personal kanban
Put your work on a board, and limit how many things are in progress.
Eat the frog
Do your most important and least appealing task first thing.
The 1-3-5 rule
One big task, three medium and five small ones: a list that fits in a day.
Weekly review
Once a week, clear your inboxes, check every list and plan next week.
Flowtime technique
A timer that counts up: work until focus fades, then take a break that fits.
52/17 and ultradian rhythms
Where 52/17 and 90-minute work rhythms come from, and how solid the evidence is.
Not sure where to start?
Start from the problem you have today. You can combine methods later; most people do.
| If you want to | Try |
|---|---|
| Get started on work you keep putting off | Pomodoro technique, Eat the frog |
| Stop meetings and small things eating the day | Time blocking, The 1-3-5 rule |
| Decide what matters when everything feels urgent | Eisenhower matrix, The 1-3-5 rule |
| Get everything out of your head and trust your lists | Getting Things Done (GTD), Weekly review |
| See what is in progress and do less at once | Personal kanban |
| Focus for longer without a rigid timer | Flowtime technique, 52/17 and ultradian rhythms |
Questions and answers.
Which productivity method is best?
There is no single best one. Pick the method that fixes the problem you have now: Pomodoro or Eat the frog for getting started, time blocking for a crowded calendar, the Eisenhower matrix for priorities, GTD and a weekly review for keeping track of everything.
Can I combine several methods?
Yes, and most people do. A common mix is a GTD-style inbox for capture, a weekly review on Friday, time blocks for the big tasks and a Pomodoro or Flowtime timer inside each block.
Do I need an app for these methods?
No. Every method here works on paper. An app helps with the parts paper is bad at: moving tasks between days, repeating tasks, reminders, and a timer that follows the task you are on.
How do you check the facts on these pages?
Each page names the person who described the method where that is known, and links its sources at the bottom. Research claims are linked to the study or a summary of it, and we say so when the evidence is thin.
Try a method in thisflow.
Free during the beta. Quick add, a calendar for time blocks and a focus timer with four rhythms.