Ultralist Templates for Faster Daily Planning
Ultralist is a lightweight approach to daily planning focused on clarity, minimalism, and actionable tasks. Using templates speeds planning by removing friction and giving your day a predictable structure. Below are five simple, customizable Ultralist templates plus tips for using them effectively.
1) Daily Focus Template (best for high-priority work)
- Top 1: (single most important task)
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MITs (2–3):
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Quick Wins (3):
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Appointments / Timeblocks:
- Notes / Follow-ups:
How to use: Start by filling Top 1, then add MITs. Use Quick Wins for short tasks to maintain momentum.
2) Time‑boxed Template (best for calendar-driven days)
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Morning (7:00–11:00):
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Midday (11:00–15:00):
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Afternoon (15:00–19:00):
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Evening wrap / Review (19:00–20:00):
- Daily Reflection (one sentence):
How to use: Assign each task a time block and move items if you finish early or overrun.
3) Context-Based Template (best for multitasking across contexts)
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Work:
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Home:
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Errands:
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Calls / Emails:
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Personal / Health:
How to use: Check one context at a time to reduce switching costs.
4) Energy-Matched Template (best when energy fluctuates)
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High‑energy (deep work):
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Medium‑energy (routine tasks):
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Low‑energy (admin / small tasks):
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Recharge (breaks / movement):
- End-of-day tidy (5–10 min):
How to use: Schedule tasks to match predicted energy peaks and valleys.
5) Weekly Snapshot Template (for planning each day from a weekly view)
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Weekly priorities (top 3):
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Today’s focus (from weekly priorities):
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Daily MITs (2):
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Carryovers / Backlog:
- Wins (today):
How to use: Pick Today’s focus from the weekly priorities to keep alignment across days.
Quick setup and customization tips
- Keep templates short — 5–8 lines prevents decision fatigue.
- Make one template your default morning ritual; switch only when needed.
- Use tags or shorthand (e.g., @email, #home) to scan quickly.
- Review and migrate unfinished items once per day — don’t let lists grow indefinitely.
- Combine templates: e.g., use Weekly Snapshot to choose the Daily Focus, then apply Time‑boxed slots.
Start with one template for a week, adjust fields that didn’t help, and iterate until the template fits your rhythms.
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