You're looking at your to-do list with 17 things on it, and you already feel defeated before the day even begins. Sound familiar? Here's the thing, your brain can only handle so much before it goes into overwhelm mode and shuts down completely. But there's a simple daily productivity framework called the 1 3 5 Rule. That can transform your chaotic to-do list into a focused, achievable daily plan. In this episode of Thrivent five, I'll show you exactly how the 1 3 5 Rule works and why limiting yourself to just nine tasks can actually make you more productive than tackling 20 Welcome back to Thrive in Five, where I give you a quick burst of motivation and productivity in five minutes or less. I'm Cindy, your host, a self-made entrepreneur, busy mom, and a business coach. I've built and sold several digital businesses ranging from five to six figure successes. So when it comes to managing time and priorities in both life and work, I get it. I've been there and I am here to help you thrive. so let's talk about what happens when you try to do everything at once. Maybe you write down 15 tasks in the morning, thinking that somehow today will be different and you'll magically complete them all. Maybe you bounce between projects without finishing anything, or you spend so much time deciding what to work on next that you waste half your day in decision paralysis. Or maybe you're someone who gets distracted by every urgent task that pops up leaving your important work untouched. Here's what's really happening. When you don't have a clear framework for prioritizing your day, your brain treats everything as equally important. This creates decision fatigue. Overwhelm and the constant feeling that you're always behind. You end up being busy, but not productive. You're moving, but not making progress. The problem isn't that you need more time, it's that you need a better system for focusing your energy on what actually matters. Over the years, I've built several businesses while managing my family. I've tested just about every productivity system that you can imagine. The 1 3 5 Rule has quickly become one of my favorites because it is the perfect balance between structure. And flexibility. It gives me enough focus to make real progress while being realistic about human limitations. When I teach this framework to overwhelmed entrepreneurs, it's often the first time that they finish their daily priorities without feeling scattered or guilty about what didn't get done. So here's how the 1 3 5 Rule works as your daily productivity framework. It's beautifully simple. Every day you commit to completing one big task. Three medium tasks, and five small tasks. That's it. Nine total items strategically chosen by importance and effort. First, you choose your one big task. This is your most important work for the day. The one thing that if everything falls apart, you still feel good about accomplishing it. It's usually something that requires deep focus and takes significant time, but moves your biggest priorities forward for a small business owner, this might mean you're working on a presentation for a key client or writing a proposal or having an important strategic conversation. The key is that it's truly important and not just urgent. Next, you're gonna identify your three medium tasks. These are important, but less time intensive than your big task. They might take 30 to 60 minutes each require some focus, but they are not your make or break priorities. These are things like. Returning important calls, reviewing a contract, preparing for tomorrow's meeting, or doing a weekly business review. These tasks matter for keeping your business running smoothly, but they won't derail your whole entire day if one gets pushed to tomorrow. And finally, you list out your five small tasks. These are your quick wins, things that take 15 minutes or less, but still need to get done. Sending that follow up email, updating your calendar, ordering supplies, or scheduling an appointment. These tasks often create mental clutter when they're left undone, but they are easy to knock out between bigger priorities. The magic of the 1 3 5 Rule isn't just about limiting your commitments. It's about creating a balanced day that works with your natural energy patterns. You start with your big task. When your focus is the strongest, you do the medium tasks to maintain momentum and you fill in the gaps with the smaller tasks to clear mental clutter. I use the 1 3 5 productivity framework every week, and I've seen how it can transition my clients in their approach to their work as well. Another client with A DHD recently told me that the 1 3 5 rule gave her brain the structure that it needed to stay focused instead of jumping between tasks randomly. The beauty of this daily task management system is that it's flexible enough to handle the unexpected priorities while keeping you anchored to what's truly important. The systematic approach to daily planning is actually one of the foundational principles that I teach in My Overwhelm Cure program because you can't build an effective business without first mastering your daily focus. So here is your challenge. Tomorrow morning. Before you do anything, write down your 1, 3, 5 for the day. One big task that absolutely must get done. Three medium task. That will keep things moving forward and five tasks to clear the mental clutter, then work through them in the order of importance and not urgency. You don't need superhuman productivity. To build a successful business, you need a system that works with your brain instead of against it. The 1 3 5 Rule gives you permission to be human while still making consistent progress on what matters most. Nine. Intentional tasks will always beat 17 random ones. You've got this. Thanks for tuning into the Thrive in Five podcast. If you found value in today's episode, I'd love for you to leave a review. It helps more listeners discover the show and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a dose of productivity, motivation, and success tips. And hey, share this episode with a friend that could use a little extra inspiration. Until next time, keep thriving. And remember, you've got this.