I thought to-do lists were the simplest productivity hack. But they sometimes overwhelm me, and I don’t find them too intentional. That’s when I discovered a simpler yet transformative method that gives me more fulfilling results.

What’s a Daily Highlight and Why It Works

I used to start my day with a long to-do list. Ticking off a few tasks felt productive until I realized I was always busy but rarely fulfilled. That’s when I came across the concept of a Daily Highlight in the book Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky.

The idea is simple: each day, choose one thing that matters most and protect time for it.

Make Time is a framework for choosing what you want to focus on, building the energy to do it, and breaking the default cycle so that you can start being more intentional about the way you live your life. Even if you don’t completely control your schedule—and few of us do—you can control your attention.

Your highlight can be something Urgent, Satisfying, or Joyful. The point is to work on something meaningful instead of reacting to the most urgent task.

Think of it as the answer to the question: “What do I want to be the highlight of my day?” Whether making progress on a project, calling a loved one, or simply going for a run, this method prioritizes what truly matters over busywork.

Traditional to-do lists often overwhelm us with dozens of tasks. The Daily Highlight narrows your focus. Every research has shown that focusing on fewer priorities improves clarity and reduces decision fatigue. By dedicating 60–90 minutes to your highlight, you can enter a flow state and a zone of deep work.

This approach works as the Daily Highlight cuts through the noise of endless tasks. Instead of spreading yourself thin across multiple tasks, you focus with your entire energy on what truly matters and a single win that will make your day feel worthwhile.

My Experiment With the Daily Highlight Method

When I first tried this method, I was skeptical. Could focusing on just one task when there are so many demands really make me feel better?

To test it out for a week, I started small with the simplest tools at my disposal. I chose one highlight—something urgent, satisfying, or joyful—and planned my day around it.

My setup is an organized table in Google Sheets, as you can see. It takes a few seconds to set up Google Sheets Tables and format it.

The productivity system always matters more than the tools. For more detailed notes for my Daily Highlights, I use Google Docs to journal my progress and emotions. You can even set up Google Docs for task management on longer projects. I kept it simple to use tools readily available like Google Docs, the Notes app on iOS. I even insert notes in the Google Sheets table.

Here are some examples from my experience.

• Urgent highlights: Completing a 1000-word article in 6 Pomodoro sessions.
• Satisfying highlights: Walk 10K steps before sunset.
• Joyful highlights: Taking my niece to the park or cooking a new recipe for the family.

There are no hard and fast rules, as the system is simple. You can use a combination of productivity apps, a single app, or just a paper and pen. Your choice can also depend on the task. The goal is completion, not perfection.

You can even find Notion templates with different variations on daily highlights.

Pro Tips to Make the Daily Highlight Method Better

If you’re interested in trying the Daily Highlight method yourself, here are a few tips that helped me stick with it:

Choose it the night before. When I wait until morning, I often lose steam or second-guess my priorities. Picking the highlight in the evening preps my subconscious for the next day.

Write it down. Don’t just keep it in your head. Writing it on a sticky note, in a journal, or in your favorite app makes it feel more concrete and doable.

Be realistic. A highlight doesn’t need to take all day (which defeats the purpose). Think 60–90 minutes of focused effort. If it’s a big project, break it into chunks and make each one a highlight over several days.

Time-block it. Schedule it where it’s visible and protect it. Treat it like an unmissable meeting. Strict time blocking may not work for everyone, so review and adjust.

Keep it flexible. Life happens. If your day goes off track, reschedule the highlight. Or pick a lighter one. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Keep a mini highlight as a backup, maybe a 10-minute version of your goal like “Read 5 pages of my book” instead of 30.

Related

Beat Procrastination With This iPhone Voice Journaling Hack

Too lazy to journal? Just talk. Your iPhone will do the rest.

At the end of the day, I pair my highlight with a 2-minute journaling habit. I use Apple’s Journal app, but the tool doesn’t matter. Even logging a few sentences a day helps me spot trends, find what energizes me, and where I can readjust.