Let me guess: you’ve got a to-do list longer than a CVS receipt, and instead of knocking things off, you’re doom-scrolling LinkedIn because networking feels productive. (We’ve all been there.) You’re not lazy—you’re overwhelmed. And the problem isn’t how much you’re doing. It’s what you’re doing.
Enter the two tools that could save your sanity (and your productivity):
👉 Singular Focus
👉 The Might-Do List
Before you roll your eyes and say, “Oh great, another productivity hack,” hear me out. This isn’t about color-coded calendars or waking up at 4 AM to meditate like a Silicon Valley bro. It’s about getting real with your priorities—and giving yourself some grace in the process.
The Problem with Doing All the Things
Ever opened your email in the morning and thought, “Yep, I’m definitely working until 2075”? Yeah, me too. The thing is, trying to do everything at once doesn’t make you productive. It makes you stressed, scattered, and—dare I say—ineffective. (A little harsh? Maybe. But true.)
Here’s the reality: most of what you think you “need” to do doesn’t actually matter.
What does matter? That one thing. The big one. The task that, if you crushed it today, would make everything else easier—or completely irrelevant.
This is where Singular Focus comes in.
Singular Focus: The One Task That Rules Them All
Think of your workday like a heist movie. There’s a crew of secondary players (the tech guy, the getaway driver, the person who’s probably going to double-cross you), but there’s only one George Clooney. Singular Focus is your Clooney. It’s the star of the show.
Here’s how to use it:
☑ Pick Your Most Important Task (MIT):
What’s the ONE thing that will move the needle the most today? Not five things. Not three. ONE.
☑ Make it Specific:
“Work on the project” is vague. Try “Draft two slides for the Q4 presentation.” Boom. Clear.
☑ Guard It Like a Dragon Guards Treasure:
Your Singular Focus is sacred. Block your calendar. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb. (Yes, even from your group chat about last night’s episode of The Crown.)
☑ Celebrate Small Wins:
Finished your Singular Focus by 11 AM? You’re not slacking if you grab an oat milk latte and chill for five minutes. You earned it.
But Wait, What About All the Other Stuff?
Let’s not pretend the rest of your to-do list magically disappears because you picked one big task. You still need a system for the smaller stuff—the emails, follow-ups, random Slack messages asking for “a quick favor.”
That’s where The Might-Do List comes in.
The Might-Do List: Your Secret Weapon for Staying Sane
Think of the Might-Do List as your personal task dumping ground. (In a good way.) It’s not your main priority, but it keeps everything else organized so you’re not trying to remember if you replied to that email from Accounting at 2 AM.
Here’s how to create your own:
☑ Brain Dump Everything:
Write down all the random tasks floating in your head. Big, small, stupid—just get them out.
☑ Keep it Flexible:
Unlike the Singular Focus, you don’t have to tackle everything here. These tasks are might-do, not must-do.
☑ Prioritize on the Fly:
Got 20 minutes between meetings? Check your Might-Do List. Knock out a quick win or two.
☑ Let Go of the Guilt:
Didn’t get to half your Might-Do List? Who cares? You tackled the big stuff. That’s what counts.
In the next section, I’ll share my exact step-by-step strategy for seamlessly combining these two tools into a productivity system that actually works. Plus, you’ll get access to my downloadable guide, The Prioritization Blueprint, packed with actionable templates and tips to help you stay consistent and avoid common pitfalls.
