Getting Things Done – How Prioritizing is More Than Just a To-Do List

Too much to do.  Too little time.  Too many obligations.  Given the fact that each one of us is given 24 hours in a day, how do we figure out what is the best possible use of those hours? 

Simply put, setting priorities means you have a ready answer to the question: “In this particular moment of time in my day, should I do this activity or that one?” 

What is the best way to answer this question?  What criteria can be used to answer it? 

That’s when things become interesting.   

Setting priorities is more than just creating endless to-do lists. It goes much deeper than that.  Prioritizing means getting the helicopter view of our life – stepping back – way back – and figuring out where the heck we are going.  

And one of the best sign posts along the way are our life values.  Here are a few: community, family, health, creativity, wisdom, prestige, power, and you get the picture.  

Then with these life values firmly in hand, we can assign them goals.  If health is a life value, then a goal might be exercising regularly.  If wisdom is a life goal, then setting aside time to read a book or take a class or attend a retreat would be potential goals. 

Values and goals can change throughout life – that is actually very healthy.  But since we are all living in the present tense, it’s a good thing to know what your top five life values at this moment. Feeling stumped?  Well, I love a good online quiz as much as the next person, so follow this link to a very nice free assessment:  http://www.career-test.biz/values_assessment.htm.  It’s a good start. 

Those of you who have worked with Empty Your Nest organizers know that we’re fond of asking Three Magic Questions to determine if particular objects are clutter or not.  Asking those questions - Do I love this?  Do I need this?  Do I use this? – are a pretty easy way to ferret out stuff masquerading as helpful but in reality is clutter.  

So I just made up the Three Magic Questions for Prioritizing.  Test these babies out and let me know if they help you arrange your task priorities,  knowing the first step is figuring out your life values and goals.  

1. Does this activity feel important to me – not to someone else, but me?
2. Does this activity move me closer to my goals?
3. Does this activity make me feel happy and/or at peace when it’s done?

I’d love your comments or suggestions for other Magic Questions for Prioritizing.