How do you choose your daily priorities?

1 Assess your workload

The first step to choosing your daily priorities is to assess your workload and identify all the tasks and projects that you have to complete or contribute to. You can use a tool like a to-do list, a planner, a spreadsheet, or a calendar to keep track of your assignments and deadlines. Make sure to update your workload regularly and communicate with your manager, colleagues, and clients about any changes, delays, or issues that may affect your work.

2 Categorize your tasks

The next step is to categorize your tasks according to their urgency and importance. Urgency refers to how soon a task needs to be done, while importance refers to how much impact a task has on your goals, performance, or reputation. You can use a matrix like the Eisenhower matrix to sort your tasks into four categories: do first, schedule, delegate, and eliminate. Do first tasks are urgent and important, and should be done as soon as possible. Schedule tasks are important but not urgent, and should be planned for later. Delegate tasks are urgent but not important, and should be assigned to someone else if possible. Eliminate tasks are neither urgent nor important, and should be avoided or minimized.

3 Set your goals

The third step is to set your goals for the day, week, month, and year. Goals help you align your tasks with your vision, mission, and values. They also help you measure your progress and achievements. You can use a framework like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to set realistic and meaningful goals. Write down your goals and review them regularly to stay focused and motivated.

4 Plan your schedule

The fourth step is to plan your schedule and allocate time for your tasks. You can use a tool like a calendar, a scheduler, or a timer to create a daily or weekly plan that shows when and how long you will work on each task. You can also use a technique like time blocking, where you divide your day into blocks of time dedicated to specific tasks or categories. Planning your schedule helps you manage your time, avoid distractions, and balance your workload.

5 Prioritize your tasks

The fifth step is to prioritize your tasks and decide which ones to do first, second, third, and so on. You can use a method like the ABCDE method, where you assign a letter from A to E to each task based on its importance and urgency. A tasks are the most important and urgent, and should be done before anything else. B tasks are important but not urgent, and should be done after A tasks. C tasks are nice to do but not essential, and should be done only if you have time. D tasks are those that can be delegated to someone else, and should be done by someone else. E tasks are those that can be eliminated, and should be removed from your list.

6 Review your progress

The sixth step is to review your progress and evaluate your results. You can use a tool like a journal, a tracker, or a dashboard to record your accomplishments, challenges, feedback, and lessons learned. You can also use a technique like the Pomodoro technique, where you work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break, to monitor your productivity and energy levels. Reviewing your progress helps you celebrate your wins, identify your gaps, and improve your skills.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?