Stop Prioritizing Your To-Do List—Start Prioritizing Yourself

Do you ever feel like you’re busy all day but still end up wondering if you’ve accomplished anything that truly matters? You’re not alone.

The problem is that most productivity tools focus on what you need to do. But real success isn’t just about checking off tasks—it’s about who you are being while you do them.

And in today’s world—where artificial intelligence can automate tasks—it’s your human intelligence that sets you apart. So how do you ensure you show up as the best version of yourself? It starts with scheduling your priorities around your being, not just your doing.

1. Focus on What You Control

Life will always throw challenges your way—emails, deadlines, and unexpected problems. You can’t control the chaos, but you can control your behavior, attitude, and mindset.

Ask yourself:

• Who do I want to be today? Calm? Creative? Focused?
• What daily practices will help me embody that?

Instead of reacting to the storms, build the ballast that keeps your ship steady. Practices like mindfulness, gratitude, journaling, or a few moments of quiet reflection can ground you amidst the chaos.

When you focus on what you can control—your attitude and behavior—you show up as your best self, no matter what the world throws at you.

2. Build Ballast Through Small Habits

Big changes don’t happen overnight. They’re built through small, consistent actions that compound over time. This is the power of atomic habits: tiny practices that strengthen your ability to handle life’s turbulence.

Here are a few ideas:

• Want to be more focused? Start with 2 minutes of deep breathing before work.
• Need to stay grounded? Write down 3 things you’re grateful for every morning.
• Looking for energy? Go for a 10-minute walk at lunchtime.

These small practices don’t just help you “do” better—they help you be better. Over time, they become the ballast that steadies you no matter how busy or unpredictable life gets.

3. Prioritize Your Humanity in an AI-Driven World

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace at an unprecedented pace, and while it excels at automating tasks and processing data, it lacks the very traits that make us uniquely human: empathy, resilience, creativity, and self-awareness.

A recent report from Microsoft and LinkedIn, the 2024 Work Trend Index on the State of AI at Work, emphasizes this point, highlighting the growing importance of human skills in an AI-driven world. The report suggests that while AI handles repetitive and technical tasks, the true differentiators for professionals will be their ability to connect emotionally, solve complex problems, and adapt to change.

When you schedule your priorities around who you want to be, you strengthen your human intelligence—the qualities AI cannot replicate:

• Empathy: Reflection and mindfulness help you tune into others’ needs.
• Creativity: Unstructured thinking time fuels innovation.
• Resilience: Gratitude and journaling create a foundation of inner strength.

By focusing on these skills, you’re not only future-proofing your career—you’re also enriching your life.

4. Learn From Leaders Like Martin Luther King Jr.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we honor a leader who exemplified the power of being over merely doing. Dr. King’s leadership was not just about the actions he took—it was about the values and character he embodied.

He showed us what it means to align your actions with your deeper purpose and stand up for what you believe in, even in the face of immense challenges. Dr. King’s empathy, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice remind us that true leadership starts from within.

As Dr. King once said: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Dr. King’s example encourages us to focus on who we are being each day. Are we acting with integrity? Are we prioritizing empathy and courage in our interactions? Are we standing up for what truly matters?

5. Shift from Doing to Being

Most productivity frameworks, like the urgent-important matrix, focus on tasks. But they don’t account for how you’re showing up to tackle those tasks.

To thrive, you need to align your schedule with your state of being:

• Block time for self-care and reflection—before you fill your calendar with tasks.
• Anchor your day in a powerful question: How do I need to show up today?
• Use small rituals to reset throughout the day. Whether it’s a deep breath before a meeting or stepping outside for fresh air, these moments can help you refocus and recharge.

This shift ensures that your productivity isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about creating outcomes that matter, both personally and professionally.

How to Get Started

If this feels overwhelming, start small:

1. Identify one daily practice that aligns with who you want to be.
2. Schedule it first. Whether it’s 5 minutes of journaling or a walk around the block, put it in your calendar and treat it as non-negotiable.
3. Reflect on your progress. At the end of the day, ask: Did I embody the qualities I wanted to today? What can I adjust tomorrow?

Over time, these practices become habits, and these habits become your ballast—steadying you through the storms of life while helping you thrive.

Call to Action

“How do you prioritize who you are being each day? What small habits or daily practices help you stay grounded? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear how you approach this!”

#MLKDay #Leadership #Productivity #HumanIntelligence #AtomicHabits #AIvsHumanity #TimeManagement #PersonalDevelopment

References

1. 2024 Work Trend Index on the State of AI at Work from Microsoft and LinkedIn: Read the report here.
2. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love.

By focusing on your being and building habits that strengthen your humanity, you’ll achieve more than just a completed to-do list—you’ll create a life that aligns with your values and makes a lasting impact, just as leaders like Dr. King taught us to do.