Every productivity system eventually invents a complicated way to prioritise tasks.

Eisenhower matrices. RICE scores. MoSCoW frameworks. Numbered scales from 1 to 10.

Here's the thing: you don't need any of that.

The Problem With Complex Priorities

When you have too many priority levels, you spend more time deciding the priority than doing the task.

"Is this a 6 or a 7? It's urgent but not that important. Maybe an 8? But then what about..."

Stop. This is not productive thinking. This is procrastination wearing a productivity costume.

Three Levels. That's It.

★★★ Do this today. If you don't do this, you'll have a real problem.

★★☆ Do this soon. Important, but the world won't end if it waits.

★☆☆ Do this eventually. Nice to complete, but fine to reschedule.

That's the entire system.

Why Three Works

Three is a magic number for human cognition: - Easy to remember (no reference chart needed) - Fast to assign (gut feeling is usually right) - Clear hierarchy (no "is 4 higher than 5?" confusion)

When you see your task list, the three-star items jump out. You know exactly where to start.

How to Use It

When adding a task: Quick gut check. Would you be stressed if this wasn't done by end of day? Three stars. Could it wait a week? One star. Everything else? Two stars.

When planning your day: Start with three-star tasks. If they're all done, pick some two-stars. One-stars are for bonus time.

When feeling overwhelmed: Filter to three-star only. That's your real to-do list. Everything else is optional.

The Hidden Benefit

Simple prioritisation does something powerful: it forces you to be honest.

When you can only have three levels, you can't pretend everything is urgent. You have to actually decide what matters.

That clarity? It's worth more than any sophisticated framework.

*Grindpig uses the 1-2-3 rating system. Quick to set, easy to filter, impossible to overthink. Try it now.*