To prioritize effectively, categorize your values into three domains: yourself, relationships, and work, and turn them into tasks that align with your ideal self.
Implement time boxing and assign dedicated time slots for activities related to your values and goals to eliminate distractions and ensure your priorities are given the time they deserve.
Deep dives
Identify and Prioritize Your Values
To prioritize your tasks effectively, start by identifying your values, which are the attributes of the person you want to become. Categorize your values into three domains: yourself, relationships, and work. These values act as a guiding star in determining where to focus your attention. Next, turn your values into time by identifying tasks that align with your values and move you closer to your ideal self. Limit the number of primary goals and tasks to the most essential ones, ensuring they have dedicated time on your calendar.
Create a Time Box Calendar
Implement time boxing, a powerful time management technique, by blocking off specific time slots in your calendar for your top priorities. Use a free schedule maker provided by the article's author to map out your time box calendar. Dedicate time to activities related to your values and goals, such as family time, exercise, and reflective work. By assigning time for each activity, you can eliminate distractions and ensure that your priorities are given the time they deserve.
Turn Your Values into Routines
Overcoming the feeling of not having enough time requires focusing on a few things at a time. Trying to accomplish too much simultaneously can be overwhelming and lead to less commitment and success. By prioritizing your values and focusing on one thing at a time, you increase the likelihood of achieving your goals. Consider giving seasons to different areas of your life, using techniques like the bubble sort method or the 80-20 rule to prioritize your values effectively. Ultimately, turning your values into time and making them routines allows you to have it all, even if not all at once.
Even the most productive person can’t have it all. At least, not all at once.
You can search for the best productivity apps to make you more efficient and focused. You can implement productivity hacks and cut distractions. But you still might feel like there simply are not enough hours in the day for everything you need to get done.
Something has to give. You have to prioritize some activities over others—or else you’ll be spread too thin to dedicate yourself to anything fully.
Nir And Far, a podcast about business, behaviour and the brain by Nir Eyal. If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe on iTunes and leave an iTunes review. It will greatly help new listeners discover the show. Please visit my website Nir and Far for other info about my writing, books and teaching: http://www.nirandfar.com/