Priorities versus To-do’s: How to Succeed Daily

This post is a glimpse into my thoughts on a way to move forward in your daily routine and start winning more regularly with your schedule. After several posts that focused on planning, I had several questions about my priority list. I do not use a To-Do List. I will say it again I do not use a To-Do List. Many people use them and can get a lot of tasks accomplished throughout the day. I used to use them. All the time. I am a planner and most planners love list making. I am not any different. I make lists for everything. I have notebooks that contain my lists. I read over my lists. So having To-Do List seems natural.

But I now use a Priority List for increasing the efficiency of my day. I have been using this type of list for awhile now. Priority : a thing that is regarded as more important than another.

I use my brain dump process and then create my priority list. Did you read my post about using a brain dump and how helpful it can be to you? Check it out here.

After my brain dump and task organization, I review my list and choose my top 3 priorities.

I define my daily priorities as what I MUST accomplish during that day in order for me to define my day as a success. I am a total believer in the fact that if you do not plan your day, other people and other things will plan your day for you. Your day can be filled up with tasks that relate to nothing that you need to get done or things that are not what you deem important.

I maintain 3 priorities a day.

Now you may say, priorities are not any different that having a To-do list. With a To-Do list, every task has the same weight. Everything is on the same plane. Nothing takes precedence over another task- how do you know where to begin? What happens if you don’t finish all the items on your list? Priorities let you mentally focus on what is important to you for that day. And that can change daily.

Priorities guide you to a specific focus for your day. I even put self care on my priority list on some days. I make myself a priority.

I have adapted my use of a priority list from various sources. Many of my examples come from the business world as I am an entrepreneur. Keeping a household together resembles a business in so many ways: various personalities, different appointments, events that have to happen, deadlines that need to be met. One of the methods I have found that assisted me is the Getting Things Done Method by David Allen. It is a method that relates directly to productivity. I also really like the Eisenhower Matrix that focuses on categorizing tasks from urgent and important to not urgent and not important. Find out more about the Eisenhower Matrix here: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_91.htm

Be 10x More Productive Using the Eisenhower Matrix

If you are really interested in increasing your ability to get things accomplished during your day and move on to new goals, see which of these methods really resonate with you and then try them out. The only way to find out what works is to identify what you like, try it out, and see if it works. You just have to put something into practice.

Why don’t you try making a priority list tomorrow and see how it helps you progress through your day? Let me know what you think about using a priority list.

I am passionate about optimal work life balance and I can help you excel in both areas without compromise because I have found systems of planning, organization, and personal development that help achieve goals.

We all want to accomplish more in a day. You will be able to do that once you try a priority list. I encourage you to try it, so you can create a daily routine you can follow that helps reduce your stress while allowing you to do more things you enjoy!

Be you, be focused, be well! Find Your Flourish! |Shanna|

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