Table of Contents
Prioritizing can be a very important practice. It can make or break your day. So why is this so important and how can I learn to prioritize you ask? Read on to find out.
Prioritizing, What is it?
When one prioritizes they organize or complete things in order of their importance. This can be a simple “to-do” list, appointments, tasks, etc. You determine what is most important or urgent for the matter at hand.
If everything is urgent, then everything loses its urgency. Same way with importance. If everything is important, then it becomes no longer important. Hence, we need to prioritize.
Why Is It Important to Prioritize?
If you struggle to prioritize you can get stuck in doing many things but not getting anything that needs to be done, accomplished. In fact, you will then most likely have a sense of frustration that will trickle into many other negative issues.
When we learn to prioritize, we are more efficient during the limited time we have. Prioritizing is very essential for productivity. And when you can master this, it will serve you well from work-life balance to time management.
Five Proven Ways To Tackle Prioritizing
Prioritizing involves two steps: identifying the most important work to be done and taking the time to do it.
1. Do not let deadlines be the “end all”
The deadline’s approaching, then it has to be prioritized, right? Nope, not always. Urgent doesn’t always mean important, even if that means needing to ask for another day. It’s okay to ask for an extension if time warrants the same. Don’t be shy, ask.
2. Eliminate distractions
It appears as if those that start their days by planning, manage their time more efficiently, are more engaged and more productive at work. That is unless they kept getting interrupted or distracted. Hmmm, what could this be? Do you have a phone, laptop, TV, children? It could be the simplicity of nature running outside. Whatever “it” is that distracts you, it would be in your best interest to ignore it until necessary.
Why plan the night before?
- Your stress level diminishes
- You don’t get insomnia
- When you wake, you wake to a purpose
- One can enjoy your family time more
- If you find out your schedule is too full to accomplish the things that must be done tomorrow, you can delegate, delete, reschedule meetings, move tasks ahead a day, etc. You will know if you have made realistic plans for the day
- . You eliminate the “Decision Dilemma”—“What do I do next?”
3. Be Willing To Revise
Sometimes to assess what’s most important, you might find you need to adjust your priorities. That decision can be especially hard if you are struggling with a project or making a deadline. However, it can mean the difference between failure or success.
On a positive note, either is fine, but we choose to succeed. Failure should be accepted if you are willing to learn from it. But executing on what’s most important must also mean letting go of what isn’t.
4. Make The Time To Review
It’s so easy to focus on what is happening now, all while losing sight was what is most important. So what can we do? How about taking a step back to reflect on effective prioritizing and gaining perspective? Take the time to review and confirm what your true priorities are. Be clear on what really takes priority.
5. Design The Best System
Setting priorities and sticking to them is about being prepared. It’s not a talent that some have and others lack, but it does take discipline. Everyone can optimize their days to get their most meaningful work done when they have the right system in place. It’s all an art to using efficient and effective workflows and using the correct tools.
How Prioritizing Can Make You Successful
Here are 5 ways in which you can master prioritization and unleash your productivity.
1. Stick With Your “To-Do” Lists
When using lists, priorities are not necessarily where you start. Surprisingly, the most important thing on your list might be at the end. A list is comprised of all the things you need to get done. Not all lists are prioritized. You just know these are items you need to complete. They help you understand what you are facing and they can pretty much set up your day. And when completed, you feel a sense of freedom.
2. Create And Stick To Your Timeline
So, not only are you prioritizing items, things, events, etc, many will place a timeline to these items, things, events, etc, to stay focused and on track. Actually, when a timeline is applied, it can be said for many that they stay ahead of their deadlines. This also allows for any unexpected delays or situations that may arise and to still stay on track.
3. Set Goals For Yourself
With each goal achieved comes a mini celebration. When you set goals, you are clear about what you want to achieve. Setting goals makes you more focused on the tasks at hand.
4. Reverse Planning
It’s kind of like writing a story or article. Sometimes you might write the story or article before you even come up with a title. The same goes for prioritizing. You might have a list you start from the top and venture off to another task out of order. Only then to return and complete the list in a different order. Either way, the list or timeline is completed.
5. Use A System That Works For You
Prioritization is all about self-motivation. But sometimes motivation is difficult. So why not set up micro-goals to keep you on task? Micro goals are simply your long-term goals broken down into everyday mini-goals, or mini-milestones. They can also be seen as subgoals. Micro goals are extremely specific—they are task-specific goals and deal with everyday tasks that need to be done in order to achieve bigger goals. Then reward yourself.
Tools For Prioritizing
The Important/Urgency Matrix
- The first thing to do is to put down things that are important and urgent.
- Then we can focus on things that are important but not so urgent.
Tournament Challenge
- List all items that need to be prioritized, then start making the choices
- This tool is used when you have multiple things to prioritize
Forced Choice Clarification
- This tool is used for a much more “in-depth” approach to prioritizing
Decision-Making Matrix
- This tool is used if you are looking to decide between different projects that all seem important to you
Action Priority Matrix
- Use this tool to focus on Impact and Effort
As usual, these are just guidelines to get you thinking about productivity and how you can be more efficient and effective while prioritizing. Be creative with your thoughts. The more fun you have with prioritizing, the more focus you will remain and the easier the tasks. Remember to work smarter, not harder and Think Me First! 😊
Check out my store Rock Your Vibe Apparel!
Welcome to Rock Your Vibe Apparel. My goal is to design apparel that will make a statement! Its full purpose is for you to be happy, confident, and comfortable with who you are. These are a few basics necessary to being happy internally and eternally!
“Your life becomes a Masterpiece when you learn to master Peace. “~Unknown
Get your FREE “Be Your Best Self Course” HERE!!!
Get your FREE “BE YOUR BEST SELF” course here!
DO YOU WANT TO PURSUE LIFELONG HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS?
Discover the TOP METHODS many of the most SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE are using to MAINTAIN LIFELONG HAPPINESS and ONGOING SUCCESS, for FREE!
Click here to get your 10 Free video modules and get you on your way to a HAPPIER YOU!
Learn more from WTF, Wednesday Thought Forum
If you like this video, be sure to check out my YouTube channel for more self-growth information, interaction and to find WTF live every Wednesday at 7 pm EST.
You can also find me on Facebook.
Want more? Sign up for my emails…
Want more articles, tips, tricks, and hacks to read with your morning coffee? Sign up here to get the latest. I only send two emails a week.
Yes! I am on Pinterest too!
You can find me on Pinterest here!
