The Stupidly Simple Productivity Hack That Actually Works

And yet, I still don't do it 50% of the time...

The absolute king of productivity hacks is so obvious it's almost embarrassing to talk about.

But you’d be amazed how few people actually do it.

I’ve spoken to hundreds of content creators and creatives, from those with millions of subs to those just starting out, and they all have one thing in common - they’re stressed out.

They’re stressed out for many reasons.

But, they’re definitely stressed because they have abandoned what they once knew.

They have abandoned…

The List.

You already know it works.

The moment you write something down, your brain doesn’t have to hold onto it anymore.

That means less mental clutter, less stress, and way less energy wasted on that endless loop of remembering, forgetting, and remembering again.

This literally reduces caloric burn because your brain isn't running some annoying background app trying to cling onto tasks.

The Daily List System

You've probably made plenty of to-do lists.

But do you do them daily?

Here's the system I follow (when I'm actually on it).

It's simple. It works. And yet I'll still go weeks (sometimes months) without doing it, then wonder why my brain feels like it's on fire.

Step 1: Write the List (By Hand)

• Sit down in the morning with a tea or coffee.

• Write down everything you need to do. Small tasks, big priorities—even fun stuff (I always include things like 'BJJ training').

• Put a little checkbox next to it that you can tick. Not sure why, but I prefer that to crossing stuff out. Feels more mindful somehow, rather than me trying to ‘defeat’ my own list.

Done this? OK, time to step away.

Go have breakfast, tackle the school run, do your morning routine. Whatever.

Step 2: Spot the Task You’re Avoiding

Come back and look at your list.

What's the task that gives you that gnawing feeling in your stomach? The stressful one. The one that, if it didn’t exist, everything would be better (spoiler: it wouldn’t).

Congrats: that's now your main focus for the day. Your body is telling you what needs to be done. Stupid body.

But! First do this:

Step 3: Easy Wins For Momentum

Before going for the big one, clear out anything that takes less than three minutes.

Easy wins. Momentum. Dopamine. Tick that stuff off the list and enjoy the feelings.

Now you're warmed up.

Ready? Let’s tackle this bastard.

Step 4: Break It Down

If this big boy task is too vast, or too intimidating, then we’ve got to move like DX and break it down.

Deconstruct the task into simple, actionable steps using clear verbs:

• Write newsletter

• Compose email

• Film two reels

If the task requires 5 mini steps, then so be it. Even if you only complete 2 today, that’s progress.

Breakdown done? Now it’s time to do the things on the list.

Yes, at some point we do need to execute.

If you can’t do that, then that’s another topic for another time. Let me know if this resonates by replying to this email or leaving a comment. I can write about procrastination for days (as long as I’m not procrastinating about it).

The Reality Check

I've screwed this up countless times.

But every single time I stick with it, I feel better. And every single time I don't, I feel much worse.

So now I remind myself: "I prefer to feel better."

And weirdly enough, my body actually listens.

This is why I always go back to this one when people ask for me help or advice.

It’s so foundational for positive progress in whatever I’m building; it’s so essential for a good, mindful, creative and productive day.

There are a million hacks, strategies and tactics for business, creation and wellbeing, and I love talking about and implementing so many.

But without the list: I don’t do any of them. So it HAS to come first.

Your Turn:

Make yourself feel better today.

Write the list.

See you out there.

Jon x