I prefer a handwritten list of tasks over a complicated to-do list app, but there’s still room for innovation. When I heard about the Ivy Lee Method, it seemed worth a shot, so I gave it a go.

​What Is the Ivy Lee Method?

The Ivy Lee Methodgets its name from Ivy Lee, a consultant who shared this method with a team of business executives at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Pennsylvania. When? Way back in 1918.

Instead of managing an exhaustive list of to-dos that you may’t possibly hope to complete in one day, the Ivy Lee Method tasks you with prioritizing six tasks that you can actually hope to complete.

The premise is simple. Pick six tasks and arrange them in order from most important to least. Then, work your way down the list.

​I Tried the Method Using My Phone (Specifically, Samsung Notes)

For this experiment, I stuck with my phone. I keep my phone near me, andI work from my phone as a PC replacement, so it’s a logical choice for me. My list would always be accessible.

I used the Samsung Notes app. Again,I already use Samsung Notes daily, so this just made sense. I decided to handwrite my note and use a to-do list style template. That way I could check the box next to an item as I completed it.

​I Attempted to Form a Habit Before Bed​

The Ivy Lee Method advises you to write down six tasks in the evening so that you know what you’re going to work on the next day. In a professional setting, this can mean pausing at the end of your workday to note down what six tasks you’re going to work on when you return to the office.

I didn’t use this method strictly professionally. In my case, work-related tasks blended with family tasks and household chores that really need tackling.

My evenings tend to be a blur once the kids get home from school, so I didn’t sit down to write my tasks until right before bed. I pulled out my S Pen, grabbed my phone, and thought about what six things I could feasibly do in the day ahead.

Here’s How the Ivy Lee Method Was Helpful

The beauty of the Ivy Lee Method is its simplicity. Here are some strengths I really appreciated about this approach:

Trying out the Ivy Lee Method was a worthwhile experiment, but I don’t think I’ll be sticking with it.

The Method Isn’t For Everyone

At the end of the day, the Ivy Lee Method is still a to-do list, and it comes with the same core downside as other to-do lists. Namely, I’m just not able to complete everything on my list every day. That makes lists feel like a catalog of all the things I haven’t done yet.

In some ways, the Ivy Lee Method can actually be more discouraging. Reducing the list down to six makes the ask seem simple. That just makes it all the more depressing when a week has gone by and half of my list on Friday still looks the same as it did on Monday.

I have two young kids, and while I do work from home professionally, a large chunk of my day revolves around parenting. Whatever I have on my to-do list, my kids will come up with a list of unpredictable tasks for me twice as long. That means that even if I have a day filled with accomplishments, those accomplishments aren’t reflected on my to-do list. For that reason, I see more value inhaving a done list instead. Or your evening can involve both planning out a to-do list but taking time to also note all the things you’ve done.

Personally, at the end of yet another exhausting day of parenting, that just sounds to me like more work. Therefore, I’m drawn to the idea oftracking monthly goals rather than daily tasks. That allows more room for reflection, keeping track of the bigger picture, and the reality that many things just take time.

That’s not to dismiss the Ivy Lee Method. If you really want to lean in, here aretips to get the most out of the Ivy Lee method.