WSC 2026 3. More to do than can ever be listed

Zeigarnik effect

our brains nagging about unfinished to-do lists as uncompleted and unmet goals pop into our minds

Eisenhower Method

4 quadrant time management framework to prioritize tasks by sorting them based on urgency and importance

• focus on high impact work and focus on long term goals

1-2-3 Method

reduce overwhelm by prioritizing tasks into 3 tiers

• one major mission

• 2 big tasks

• 3 small tasks

  • not ideal for complex projects

  • Greg McKeown - Essentialism

Ivy Lee Method

maximize focus by limiting daily tasks to 6 high-priority items - at the end of each day list the 6 most important tasks for the next day

• simple forced prioritization

• Charles Schwab worked with productivity consultant Ivy Lee

4-D Method

discerns whether or not a task is worth your time - do it, delay it, delegate it, delete it

• originates from the Eisenhower matrix

• good for inbox control

Eat that Frog

Brian Tracy - stop procrastinating and tackle the most important and dificult thing first in the morning

• mark twain - if you have to eat a live frog do it first in the morning - nothing can get worse

Must-Do

1-3 must-do tasks for the day

Bullet Journal

customizable, analog organization system designed by Ryder Carroll to track tasks, events, and notes using rapid logging

• index, future log, monthly log, daily - for ADHD

“done list”

Oliver Burkeman - start each day at a zero and everything you accomplish is even better

The infinity of Lists

Umberto Eco - list-making is a fundamental human tool used to make chaos, excess, and the concept of infinity comprehensible