# A productivity hack I actually use

> The one-card Kanban: pick one to three needle-moving tasks the night before, do the first one first, and the rest of the day takes care of itself.

- Author: Rajesh Namase
- Published: 2026-03-02
- Category: Time
- Canonical: https://namase.com/journal/productivity-hack-i-use

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Have you ever spent more time setting up a productivity tool than actually doing the work? You’re not alone! Don’t worry, let me share the simple yet effective productivity hack that I use every single day.

Here is my simple, daily Kanban setup (Use Todoist or Google Sheet with Tabs):

- The Night Before: Pick 1 to 3 "needle-moving" tasks (using the Pareto Principle, i.e. 80/20 rule).

- The Morning Of: Focus entirely on that primary task until it's done.

Once you start following this, you will achieve more than you planned, because when we focus on one task, the chances of procrastination are very low. Also, once we finish that important task, you are likely to continue and finish more tasks.

This method works because once you finish the important task of the day, you get a dopamine boost and feel satisfied. There will be no regret at the end of the day, and you can enjoy your family time or personal time once working hours are over.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts and let me know if you like such productivity and motivation tips.