Stephen Gilmore

Index card productivity systems

Aug. 18, 2025 #Goal Setting #Index Cards #Productivity

Index Card Productivity System

Each project has its own card (or cards). Each has steps written out in chrono order. Each project listed in order of importance. Work on the most important project until you get bored or burned out on this project or antsy (an hour or so). Then move that project to the back of the line, and work on the next most important project. Rinse and repeat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaEa0afuCfM

Leadership Plus

Follows Getting Things Done. From a master To Do list, he creates an index card with 3-5 things to do that day. Then he keeps that card in his shirt pocket as a reminder/accountability partner. As things come up during the day he needs to add to his Getting Things Done lists, he writes it on the back of the index card and then adds them at night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqM4k5-FTvA

"A Ha" Index Card Method

For content creators. Figure out the main point of your blog post, video, tweet etc. Write it in the middle of an index card. Above, lay out the problem your A Ha moment solves. Below, categorize all the benefits of the solution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ptU71EMvw

Peter Attia To Do Index Cards

Color-coded system. Today's to do's on top on a green card. Weekly to do's next on a pink card. Monthly to do's next on an orange card. Then a white card with low priority/low urgency projects.

Each has a box next to each item. One slash means the item has been started. An X means it is done. Empty box means it has not started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWuUeL33ER0

Life Planning on Index Cards

Every role in your life gets a card outlining a goal you want to accomplish before you die and what you will do this year to move towards that goal.

A weekly card that creates the top near term goal for each role that week. A daily card on top of the stack prioritizing that day's to dos that move each role goal forward. Then a "Shit List" card to make sure mundane stuff doesn't fall through the cracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9IH8lOzWQ8