Three full-proof methods for prioritizing!
I think matching your goals to your values and needs is one way to stay on track and ensure you are working on what is most important. Matching your goals with your values and needs, it gives you something to hold your goals up to make sure you are following the right path.
Sometimes though, it all feels essential. Do you work on the email to your list or schedule social media posts? They are both critical and have the same deadline, so what do you work on first? When you are stuck and unsure which direction to go, here are some additional methods to get you moving forward.
Deadline Driven
I start with a deadline-based approach, assigning each task a deadline as it comes in. I work on the items with the nearest deadline. If multiple deadlines are due, I will use one of the other methods to gauge the importance of each task.
You can also break larger projects into smaller tasks assigning the smaller tasks deadlines. This way it doesn’t feel overwhelming, and your projects will stay on track with work being done a little at a time.
Ivy Lee
Productivity Consultant and pioneer in the public relations industry Ivy Lee devised this surprisingly simple technique:
Write down the six most important things you must accomplish for the next day. You will be tempted, but do not write down more than six tasks.
Prioritize each task in order of importance.
When it is time to start working, concentrate on the first task. Finish that first task before moving on to the second task.
Follow this approach with the rest of your tasks for the rest of the day. Any unfinished tasks can be moved to a new list of six tasks for the next day.
Repeat this process every working day.
Why does it work?
For one, it forces you to make a hard decision as to what comes next. Six tasks can be a lot when you consider distractions and interruptions. It also helps you just to get started. It is harder to procrastinate when your first task is staring you in the face.
Eisenhower matrix
Have you heard of the Eisenhower Matrix? It goes by many names. The Four Quadrants, The Urgency Matrix, and The Priority Square are just a few. So, what is this matrix, and how does it help?
The Eisenhower matrix, also known as the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, is a popular decision-making tool developed by former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The matrix is designed to help you prioritize tasks to be more productive and efficient. It divides tasks into four categories based on urgency and importance. The categories are Urgent and Important, Important but Not Urgent, Urgent but Not Important, and Not Urgent and Not Important. By evaluating tasks using this matrix, you can easily decide which tasks should be completed first and which can be delegated or set aside for later. The Eisenhower matrix is a great way to become more organized and productive, so give it a try today!
Here is an example of the Eisenhower Matrix.
If you are new to prioritization, a good exercise is to sort your task list into the matrix. You can then move tasks around as your priorities, or better said, the urgency and importance of your tasks change.
Have you tried any of these methods? Comment below and let me know.
If you want more information, check out the video in Positively Productive for more information.