Ever get to the end of the day and think, “Wait… what did I even do today?”
Same, friend.

It’s not that you weren’t busy—you probably sprinted from one task to the next like your shoes were on fire. But being busy with everything isn’t the same as making progress on what matters most.

Over the last year, I’ve been leaning into one simple shift: working my top three priorities each day.
Not ten. Not everything on the never-ending list. Just three.

Here’s the magic: I’m not limited to three tasks. If I finish early, I can tackle more. But those first three? They’re the ones that truly move me forward—and I can actually remember what I accomplished when I close the planner at night.

This is how I made it work, how you can too, and why your planner (or my personal favorite—the Dot Grid Journal) can become your accountability partner.

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Why Working Your Top Three Priorities Works

When you dump an overwhelming list in front of your brain, one of two things usually happens:

1️⃣ You jump between tasks without actually finishing much.
2️⃣ You freeze because it all feels impossible.

Working your top three priorities forces you to narrow your focus. You know exactly where to start, and you give yourself built-in wins when you finish. Who doesn’t love the feeling of crossing something off?

And yes, you’ll still do other things. But your Top 3 are your must-do’s. Everything else becomes “extra credit.”

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How to Choose Your Top Three Priorities

If you’re like me, you open your planner already feeling the weight of your to-do’s. Here’s how I simplify:

• Check commitments: What truly has to happen today? Not the appointment itself—but the prep for it. Example: paperwork for the doctor, slides for a meeting, forms for the PTA.
• Focus on forward movement: Which tasks move you closer to your goals instead of keeping you “busy”? Big projects become bite-sized steps (like laundry loads—one at a time).
• Leave space for real life: A sick kid, a work fire, or a last-minute errand will pop up. Three priorities give you room to adapt without feeling like the day was a loss.

I brain dump everything in my Dot Grid Journal, then circle my top three priorities for the day. Those circled items are my focus—no matter what curveballs come my way.

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Grace for Imperfect Days

Some days will laugh at your Top 3 list. You’ll glance up at 8 p.m. and realize you didn’t touch a single one. That’s okay.

Working your top three priorities isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction. You practiced identifying what matters. Tomorrow, you try again.

The Dot Grid Journal never judges. I just move that unfinished priority to the next page and keep going.

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Keeping Your Priorities Visible

My secret? Keep them in your direct line of sight all day.

For me, that’s a bold spot in my planner. For you, it might be sticky notes on your laptop, a dry erase board, or phone reminders. Out of sight = out of mind.

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Turning Priorities Into a Plan

Knowing your Top 3 is great. Planning when you’ll tackle them is better.

Block time—loose or specific—so they’re not left in “I’ll get to it later” land. This avoids the 4 p.m. scramble.

This is exactly the kind of habit we practice inside my planning community: finding ways to make your planner work for you so your top three priorities actually get done.

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Making It a Habit (and Fun)

• This or That: Write your Top 3 in your Dot Grid Journal or set them as phone reminders—pick your favorite and stick with it.
• Daily Check-In: Ask, “If I could only get one thing done today, what would it be?” Then build the other two around it.
• Theme Days: Assign recurring priorities to specific days to make planning easier.

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After One Week

After just one week of working my top three priorities, I noticed:
✅ I finished the things that mattered most.
✅ My to-do list felt lighter.
✅ I went to bed feeling “done,” not drained.

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For Business + Life

If you run a business while managing home life, this is a game changer.

Example business Top 3:
1️⃣ Follow up with three potential customers.
2️⃣ Create next week’s social media posts.
3️⃣ Prep for a sales call.

Example home Top 3:
1️⃣ Pay bills.
2️⃣ Order groceries.
3️⃣ 30-minute workout.

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Final Thoughts

Working your top three priorities isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters most. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes to focus on the things that truly move the needle—in your home and in your business.