The 3-A-Day Rule: How To Improve Daily Productivity

Designed by Stella

Every day there are many tasks to attend to, and lots of work to complete. There’s an endless to-do list, and it can feel extremely overwhelming. Sometimes wouldn't you rather just lie on the couch, turn on the tv or take a nap, and block everything out until tomorrow?

What if we had a way to be productive without it feeling difficult and exhausting?

I call this the ‘3-a-day rule’.

How it works

Every evening write a list of three things you will do the following day. Do your best to stick to them - prioritise them.

The 3-a-day-rule is perfect for two reasons:

1. It makes productivity feel achievable by breaking tasks down.

2. It strengthens our discipline so we can do better in other areas also requiring discipline.

Do you ever find yourself thinking, “wow that person is so disciplined, I wish I was like them”, or “I’m just not very disciplined”. It’s easy to sit there thinking we’re doomed to be lazy butts for the rest of our lives, but this is just an excuse that stops us from actually having to work hard and face our fears. Discipline is a muscle. Developing discipline is like weight training; you start out small, then gradually increase the weights, getting stronger and stronger. Even those who are naturally stronger have to train, while those who are naturally weaker may find it harder, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do it. Everyone is capable. Don’t limit yourself with your mindset.

Progress is our biggest motivator.

How difficult you make your daily goals should depend on where you’re at with your level of discipline - if you struggle each day with disciplining yourself (maybe you spend most of your spare time on TikTok, gaming, or watching Netflix - and don’t be in denial if it’s true! Be honest with yourself!), start with those small weights. It can be as simple as ‘make my bed in the morning’. In the past I’ve found it challenging when I’ve bitten off more than I can chew by writing an unreasonable list for the day then feeling disappointed when I burned out prematurely because I was trying to reach goals too quickly. Building muscles takes time. Also, if you keep a goal small, you can still do more on top of it later. For example, if your goal is to read one chapter of a particular book, you can continue reading for longer if you want to in the moment. When we complete our goals, no matter what they are, we feel pride in ourselves, gaining confidence. That positive response motivates us to keep going, and our discipline improves. Attacking those bigger tasks becomes gradually more effortless and natural.

Here are some ideas for daily goals - get started today (not tomorrow!)

• Drink 2L water

• Go for a 2km run

• Spend 30m on xyz work

• Read xyz book for 30m

• Read 20 pages of xyz book

• Smile to 3 people

• Read the news

• Do a random act of kindness

• Practise xyz for 30m

• Reply to xyz email

• Sleep at 10pm

• Make my bed

• No junk food all day

• Meditate for 5m

• Be punctual

• Be frugal

• No xyz all day

  • No social media all day

  • No complaining/negativity all day

• Limit phone usage to 1hr

• Say/write down 3 things I’m grateful for when I wake up

• Write in my journal

• Don’t hit the snooze button

• Walk at least 10,000 steps

*Xyz = having specificity (insert the activity, book title, or person)

Tips to help you consistently achieve your daily goals:

• Make the goals specific and measurable. For example, rather than write “exercise”, write “go for a 20 minute run”, which specifies what exercise and how much exercise. This makes your goal clearer and easier to stick to because you know exactly what you’re aiming for.

• Ensure your goals are small and achievable (gradually work that discipline muscle!) For example, instead of thinking ‘I’m gonna write an English essay’, think, ‘I only have to write 3 lines of my introduction’, which seems far easier and less intimidating.

• When writing out a goal, try to keep it short and sharp - the more words and explanation there is, the more overwhelming it will seem. E.g. “Be in bed by 11pm latest” is much more compelling than “Be in bed by 11pm so you can have more energy throughout the day - make sure to start getting ready for bed earlier and get through night routine quickly!” Adding words can be tempting, but do your best to be frugal with it.

• Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to achieve your 3-a-day. I’ve found using words like “must” or “absolutely have to” isn’t always as helpful as it may seem. We have to find the right balance in our mindset where we have a sense of urgency, motivation, and a can-do attitude, but where we’re also relaxed and kind to ourselves. Try thinking of your 3-a-day as a guide for your 24 hours.

As with many habits, the hardest part will be starting out, but if you’re able to put this into action and stick to it, you will experience the benefits! Why not make it a fun, little challenge for yourself each day to try, and see how it goes? What is your 3-a-day going to be for tomorrow?