Good New York planning is less about collecting the longest attraction list and more about arranging each day so the geography makes sense.
Use neighbourhoods as your planning unit
Group nearby places together. It reduces time lost in transit and leaves more room for spontaneous local discoveries.
Ask specific questions
Tell a local what you enjoy, who you are traveling with and what you definitely do not want. Specific input produces much better recommendations.
Build buffer time
New York rewards curiosity. Leave some space between fixed reservations so a market, view, cafe or neighbourhood recommendation can become part of the day.