Strategies for Setting Priorities.

Photo by Tommy Lisbin on Unsplash

It’s not all about the result, it’s about the journey

Being productive and accomplishing things is one of our biggest challenges, and can make us feel really good about ourselves. Nobody's going to feel that great with a grimey kitchen and a full ashtray on the coffee table, in a pipe dream surrounding success. I've been there and it isn't pretty! Prioritising your activities is a way to help you work smarter not necessarily harder. Try these techniques for getting what is important done and out of the way.

To Do List.

Write a to-do list for the day. Try to numerically order it in terms of importance. Rewrite it, then tick things off as you go.

Grid

Use this grid to block off your time. You can use it for your main tasks every-day, or you can change it from day to day.

Important and Urgent	Urgent but not Important
Important but not Urgent	Not Urgent or Important

Work Backwards

Work backwards. Imagine the end point and work backwards from there to the beginning, now follow the steps.

Use the ABC method.

Assign A for the most important, B for medium importance and C for not as important. If things are conflicting in importance assign A1, A2, A3. Do A first.

Assign value.

Which task has the most value. At the same time, try to estimate the time and effort it will require.

Categorise.

Some main categories would include:

Housework

Work

Projects

Social

Errands

Do it now

Start something straight away. Do it now! Just do it! Put your gear on; Show up!

Use the 20/80 rule.

The 20/80 rule, is where 20 percent of your efforts leads to 80% of the outcome. For instance if the kitchen is half of all of your housework; therefore focus on keeping your kitchen tidy, first and foremost. Then, half the housework is done already, and it’s a load off your mind. Or the housework takes 35% of your time, therefore you might be better off hiring a cleaner. Or the dishes take 10% of your efforts, therefore it might be better to invest in a dishwasher.

Do the toughest thing first.

You’ll not only feel relieved but also that you’ve achieved a lot.

Use the year from now method.

In a year will this be important, how will I feel about this a year from now? What could this project look like in a year from now?

Praise

Make sure you acknowledge what you have accomplished, give yourself credit,  half of the reward is getting it done. Also, after a productive week, buy yourself a magazine or something like that, or go out and celebrate.

Deadlines.

Set realistic deadlines for tasks. Be prepared for interruptions and Murphy’s law. A deadline can help you structure your time and energy, plus it can spur you on to work harder. It will also make you dependable and more indispensable to your boss.

Reminders.

Remember to remember what to focus on. Your calendar app is good for this, or check in with a buddy by telephone. You can place sticky-notes at strategic points around the house, or try a cuckoo clock or an alarm.

By the way, I hope you are still focused on your one major goal. Is it at the top of your list? Have you worked on it today, are you progressing with it?  And as well as focusing on goals and rewards, try to enjoy the journey. Also, do you have your share of health, wealth and contentment. There are some things that you shouldn't sacrifice or take for granted. It might not all be about money but you will know it if your income is too low. Try to negotiate your pay before you start a new job. Lastly, don't forget a to give yourself some me-time, take just a few moments, take some deep breaths and reconnect to your centre.


Priotity Setting Template Memory Board: Here