How to Focus on What’s Important, Not Just What’s Urgent

Research shows that people typically prioritize tasks with the shortest deadlines — even if those tasks aren’t the most important or valuable. In this piece, the author suggests several strategies to help you be more intentional about what you spend your time on: First, schedule important tasks, and give yourself way more time than you’ll probably need to complete them. Next, isolate the most important elements of important tasks and find ways to make incremental progress. Third, anticipate the feelings of anxiety that likely surround working on more important tasks, and prepare yourself to manage them. Fourth, spend less time on unimportant tasks, and prioritize actions that will reduce the number of these less-important tasks you’ll have in the future. Finally, pay attention to the things that help you see the big picture, whether it’s travel, catching up with friends, or time-tracking exercises. Struggling to prioritize your most important work is extremely common — but with these simple tips, you’ll be set up for success.