How often do you feel like you want to accomplish the important tasks each day, but find that you are completing the urgent tasks instead?! If this is you – keep reading as I give some suggestions to overcome . . .
Real Life Time Management Scenario #7 – “I set my goal and detailed daily action steps, but the demands of the day always take precedence and real progress continues to elude me.”
Prioritizing (and accomplishing) the IMPORTANT over the URGENT is difficult!
My advice – schedule! Really, it is as simple as 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . .
- Decide on the important task you want to complete.
- Schedule a date and time in your calendar to complete this task
- Complete the task
Step #2 is the key to this strategy. By scheduling a time in our calendar to complete the task, we give more importance to the task than if it was buried on an endless to do list.
Plus, by scheduling a specific time to accomplish the task – we start to view this as an appointment. You wouldn’t miss an appointment with a prospective client, or a doctors appointment, or an appointment with a friend – right? The same philosophy holds true in this scenario.
Did this real life time management scenario speak to you? I’ve offered suggestions on a couple of other challenges this month. Check out any that apply to YOUR life.
- “This may sound ridiculous, but I’m so busy, I don’t even have time to read about time management techniques, let alone practice them.”
- “I’ll look into streamlining my schedule a few weeks from now when I have a little more time.”
- “When I’m trying to reach a goal, I track my progress on notes of paper that I keep all over the house, and my system is taking me more time than it saves me.”
- “I want to take steps to use my time better, but I when I slip up I get down on myself. It’s hard to keep putting the effort in.”
- “I’m working hard to use my time better and make progress towards my goals, but it’s sort of a lonely process, and I think it would be more inspiring if I had people encouraging me and noticing the small successes.”
- “I have a great idea, but I don’t know where to start, and the project is floundering. I will probably give it up and just keep on with my regular routine.”
Be sure to stop back as I tackle Real Life Scenario #8 – “I feel that I must read newspapers before I can recycle them. I don’t put my subscription on hold when I go out of town. So then I have a ton of papers to go through when I get back, along with the new ones. I feel that I might be missing something that I should or would want to know about. Then I feel that I can’t read other material such as books or newsletters that I would like to read. I know logically that there isn’t enough time in a day or a month (or longer) to read everything that I would like to read – so much to read & not enough time.”
Your turn! How do you make sure you accomplish the IMPORTANT tasks each day? Please share!
Would you like to join my supportive environment as you diligently work towards accomplishing the IMPORTANT over the URGENT? The Motivated for Action Group Coaching Experience starts soon. Here you can be a group with like minded individuals striving to create change!
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Lisa, this idea of making an appointment with yourself to get a task done is really key. When people come to my door or call, I say, oh I’m sorry, I have a Thing at 3 pm! May I call you around 5, or tomorrow? Writing an article each day during this month has been a commitment, an appointment, that I have with myself every day. Thanks for the good advice and telling it really well. I tweeted and will post to FB.
Kebba
Thanks for the comment – and sharing!!! Recently I’ve had a number of people “stop by” – which can become quite an interruption since I work at home. I now keep my car in the garage with the garage door down – and the front door closed. This way, it looks like I’m not home!!!! Once I’m finished “working” then I’ll open the doors. WOW – such a simple solution with such HUGE results!
Hi again, Lisa, delighted your post popped up today in front of mine in the UBC. These are such great tips. My clients really struggle with time management and prioritizing their activities. You are such a fountain of knowledge! Love all your tips.
Minette
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Minette Riordan, Ph.D.
CEO, MinetteRiordan.com
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Minette
Thanks for the comment! Love when we connect through the UBC! Which is your favorite technique for prioritizing the important over the urgent?
Lisa
Yes, the appointment with yourself is a great idea – I’ve practiscd this for a long time, while interruptions still happen, the appointment doesn’t disappear and you do get to it sooner rather than later
I agree – you can always “reschedule” the appointment with yourself if you need to. If you are looking for some advice on how to reduce distractions / interruptions please sign up for the free download on my site. Lots of great strategies in 7 minutes! Thanks for your comment!
My favorite way to prioritize is to do my money-making activities first! Those might include submitting proposals to speak, social media or making sales calls! They are activities directly linked to lead generation. I find that many business owners put these off until the end of the day and then don’t get them done at all.
I agree, Minette! What can I do to move my business closer to the money is my mantra each evening as I prep for the next day. That activity is then scheduled first!
Those are such great tips! Just shared on twitter!
Thanks Yonca!
I know Real Life Time Management Scenario #7 only too well and somehow because i am in Australia, I allow myself to get caught up in Social Media in the morning often when doing 1,2,3 would benefit me no end. I am writing this What can I do to move my business closer to the money on my heart posits and putting it on my to do book thank you
Thank you, Suzie for stopping by! I am thrilled you found value with some strategies to overcome #7! You can accomplish your #1 most important task each day!
Hi Lisa, I agree scheduling time to get things done is a must other wise for me, it just won’t happen. I have to set boundaries for my time, as it is very precious these days. Scheduling is key in there ever busy world
Hi Lisa
I’d be LOST without my schedule! When I put it on the calendar – it gets done!!!! Thanks for stopping by!
Lisa
Lisa, I still struggle with this. I am definitely getting better and getting the important stuff done by creating more space in my life. I turn down the many distractions, and I limit the amount of goals I want to accomplish daily. I’m still a work in progress but appreciate that you produce content that resonates :)
Hi Sherri
Thanks for stopping by! I agree – we are ALL still a work in progress. My philosophy “be a little better today than I was yesterday”.
The number of daily tasks seems to increase day by day, that’s why I like this post: distinguish & schedule… thanks Lisa!
Clara –
You are most welcome!!!!
One thing I find out it works for me is to write down the task on my agenda every single day. It helps me have it under my eyes all the time and so sooner than later I either complete it or some part of it and maybe the rest is not that important :)
Thanks for the tips, Lisa!
Delia –
Thanks for the comment! Top of mind is a great strategy!
Lisa
As always I try to focus in writing them, however, sometimes I put a huge list on my fridge I know, I know typical mom, but this way everybody can see it too.
A list on the fridge is a great resource! Thanks, Remy, for stopping by!
Yes Lisa scheduling things like blog writing time and project working time has helped me too. Also my emails have taken a new life. Now I sit with a note pad and jot down replies I need to send that I can do later during my afternoon down time. This frees me up in the mornings to exercise and work on a creative project.
Kristina
Love how you are blocking your time – exercise and creative pursuits in the morning, communication in the afternoon! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa