Create a list of tasks and allow your brain to go into,"Assessment Mode" In the Assessment Mode, the brain will function as the,"Issue tracker" and subconsciously decides what is important Make a quality list, consider all tasks, determine what you can realistically do in a day Some factors impact prioritization: Urgency Value Cost Timing Return On Investment (ROI) Take time to learn about your company and industry Firmly understand organization's goals,inner workings and shortcomings If workflows appear out of sync, quickly chat, realign deadlines Don't be afraid to cross out tasks which are not-urgent, not-important Prioritizing tasks, projects sometimes needs to include knowing how to prioritise yourself

When you receive an urgent task from a critical client, evaluate whether it truly requires immediate attention. Can you prioritize this task? Will it add value to the client, or is it creating unnecessary urgency? If it seems urgent, take a moment to assess its impact on your ongoing projects. Communicate with your team to understand their capacity and any potential ripple effects on current commitments. Finally, determine whether this task aligns with long-term objectives or if it’s simply a reactive measure.

When everything on your to-do list is suddenly flagged as 'urgent,' it’s like trying to juggle chainsaws. The trick? Take a deep breath and assess what’s truly mission-critical. I start by figuring out which tasks will have the biggest impact—whether that’s on the business or the client’s happiness. Then, I’m all about clear, open communication. If resources are stretched, it might mean calling in reinforcements or shuffling tasks to keep things moving.

Prioritize based on criticality. Divide the time you have to finish the task into a 20/80 or 30/70 ratio. First, take a chance at completing the task as it was intended at first, if you fail, take the shortest possible route to complete the task and optimize and scale on it later.

When overwhelmed with urgent programming tasks, prioritize a critical client request by: Assessing urgency and impact: Determine how the client request affects business operations or deadlines and how it compares to your other tasks. Communicating transparently: Inform the client of timelines, progress, and any challenges. Set realistic expectations from the start. Reallocating resources: If necessary, delegate less urgent tasks or bring in additional team members to handle the workload. Time-blocking: Focus solely on the critical request during designated periods to avoid distraction and maintain productivity.