A Regra 1-3-5: Uma Técnica para Organizar Seu Dia
May 11, 2025
Organizing the day doesn't have to be a nightmare
Organizing your routine can be a constant challenge. With so many demands vying for our attention, it's common to end the day feeling like we've done a lot but haven't made progress on what truly matters.
This is where the 1-3-5 Rule comes in: a simple yet powerful technique to structure the day in a clear and balanced way. The proposal is straightforward: instead of endless lists, choose just 1 big task, 3 medium tasks, and 5 small tasks.
This format reduces overload, directs energy toward what has value and creates a real sense of progress.
Why endless lists don't work
How many times have you created a huge list of tasks in the morning and at the end of the day realized you only completed a part of it? This habit is more common than it seems.
Long lists have some issues:
Create anxiety due to the number of pending items.
Make it difficult to differentiate what is a priority from what is secondary.
Give a constant feeling that “something is missing.”
Can lead to paralysis: with so many options, we don’t know where to start.
The 1-3-5 Rule emerges precisely as an antidote: it simplifies, organizes, and brings clarity.
How the 1-3-5 Rule works
The logic is to divide the day into impactful blocks:
1 big task: something strategic or requiring prolonged focus.
3 medium tasks: important commitments but of lesser complexity.
5 small tasks: quick or operational activities.
This structure fits any agenda, whether for an executive, an entrepreneur, a family, or even someone looking to balance personal and professional life.
The power of “1”: the big task
The number 1 represents something that cannot be left aside. It could be:
Completing a strategic report.
Closing a negotiation.
Preparing an important presentation.
Resolving a personal matter of great impact, like signing a contract or organizing a house move.
By choosing just one big task, you direct energy to what truly brings results. Even if other things are pending, if this task is completed, the day will have been worthwhile.
The balance of “3”: the medium tasks
The three medium tasks are commitments requiring attention but don’t take as much time or energy as the main task.
They can be meetings, appointments, intermediate deadlines, or support activities. They are important but should not compete with the big task for center focus.
This category brings balance to the day: it’s not just one big challenge but also progress in complementary areas.
The practicality of “5”: the small tasks
The five small tasks represent quick but necessary activities. Here they include:
Sending an email.
Paying a bill.
Confirming attendance at an event.
Booking a medical appointment.
Resolving a simple household issue.
The problem is that when not organized, these small demands consume time and energy disproportionately. Often, they are what creates the feeling of “constant hustle.”
This is where support makes all the difference. Delegating these tasks to a virtual personal assistant or digital secretary, like those from Aurora, is the best way to have them resolved without hassle. Instead of interrupting your day to pay a bill or confirm an appointment, you can trust that everything will be handled with efficiency and discretion.
Thus, the number 5 of the rule doesn’t turn into overload but becomes part of a natural and smooth flow.
Why the 1-3-5 Rule works
The strength of the technique lies in simplicity: it reduces the anxiety of extensive lists and provides a clear view of what truly matters. Some benefits:
Priority definition: there's no room to include everything, only the essentials.
Sensation of progress: at the end of the day, you notice concrete advances.
Energy balance: it blends big, medium, and quick tasks.
Greater focus: you avoid the typical dispersion of long lists.
How to apply the 1-3-5 Rule in practice
Plan the day before: spend a few minutes choosing your 9 tasks (1 big, 3 medium, 5 small).
Be realistic: do not include more than fits the structure.
Delegate what doesn’t require your presence: especially the small tasks, which can be managed by a remote secretary.
Protect time blocks: dedicate high-energy hours to the big task.
Review at the end of the day: acknowledge what was done and adjust for the next day.
The role of specialized support in the 1-3-5 Rule
Many people get lost in execution because they try to tackle even the small tasks. It's precisely here that having Aurora's support changes everything.
While you focus on tasks requiring presence — the big tasks and part of the medium ones — the team handles the smaller tasks: payments, appointments, suppliers, routine contacts. Thus, the 1-3-5 Rule is not just theory but becomes daily practice.
Simplicity that creates impact
Organizing the day doesn't have to be complicated. The 1-3-5 Rule shows that less is more: choosing 9 tasks with clarity is more effective than carrying an endless list.
And when you learn to delegate, especially the small tasks, the technique becomes even more potent. With the support of a remote executive personal service like Aurora, your energy is directed to what truly matters — and the pending issues are resolved without rush.
Because productivity isn’t about doing everything. It's about doing what matters, with ease.
