Prioritizing
Learning how to prioritize tasks can also help you stay organized. Create a list of all the assignments you need to complete and then rank them from the most to least important, and focus on the most important tasks first.
How to prioritize tasks:
- Use a Master List and arrange tasks by monthly, weekly and daily goals.
- The Eisenhower Matrix hels to separate urgent from important tasks.
- Organize tasks with similar priorities using the ABCDE method.
- Start the day with the most difficult task: Eating the frog.
- Prioritize the most important work during the most productive hours.
Master List
The Master List clearly displays that different tasks deserve different levels of attention. Tasks are defined that need to be done today. The projects are determined that need to be worked on this week or month, and the long term goals are set. Using the Master List, start prioritizing tasks by monthly, weekly, and daily goals. The monthly list pulls from your master list, the weekly list pulls from your monthly list, etc. This way, your daily priorities are always aligned with your bigger goals.
Eisenhower Matrix
Developed by former US president Dwight Eisenhower, the matrix helps you separate “urgent” tasks from “important” ones. In basic terms, urgent tasks are things you feel like you need to react to right away, like emails, phone calls, texts, or news. While important tasks are ones that contribute to your long-term mission, values, and goals:
· Urgent and Important: Do these tasks as soon as possible
· Important, but not urgent: Decide when you’ll do these and schedule it
· Urgent, but not important: Delegate these tasks to someone else
· Neither urgent nor important: Drop these from your schedule as soon as possible
ABCDE method
The ABCDE method offers two or more levels of priority for each task:
- Go through your list and give every task a letter from A to E (A being the highest priority)
- For every task that has an A, give it a number which dictates the order you’ll do it in
- Repeat until all tasks have letters and numbers
Eating the frog
How you start the day sets the tone for the rest of it. And often, getting a large, yet important task out of the way first thing gives you momentum, inspiration, and energy to keep moving.
Most important tasks for most productive hours
Productivity can be enhanced by combining your task and time priorities together. We all go through natural highs and lows of energy and focus throughout the day. There are certain times during the day where you are naturally more productive. If you can find your peak productive times and then schedule your highest priorities during them, you’re setting yourself up for the best day possible.
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