We all get the same 24 hours in a day. Yet somehow, some people manage to get way more done without burning out. So what’s their secret? I realized recently that it boils down to just one thing – priorities.
I had this lightbulb moment while listening to investor Naval Ravikant talk about how he always makes time to exercise, no matter how busy he is running companies. He said nothing is more important than his health – not money or success.
That struck a chord with me. In my two years at university, I can’t count how many times I’ve skipped workout. But it’s not because I don’t care about fitness. Actually, staying healthy has unconsciously been my number one priority. And that’s why I never hesitate or make excuses to train, even when I have assignments piling up.
When You Prioritize, Distractions and Procrastination Fade
It dawned on me that when you truly consider something a priority, it takes on greater importance than other tasks. This makes it very hard to ignore or put off. Priorities are like your secret weapon against feeling overwhelmed or stuck in a rut of procrastination.
For instance, if getting fit is a priority, you’ll never consider skipping your regular workout or run. If being present for your family is a priority, you’ll proactively carve out time for them, despite your busy calendar. And if landing a new job is a priority after a layoff, your job will be to search and apply for positions daily.
Being crystal clear on your priorities acts like a filter to separate valuable goals and opportunities from endless digital distractions and time-wasting traps. It guides you to spend time on what truly matters, rather than defaulting to less meaningful activities.
Set Priorities Before Goals Before Tasks
Now, you might be wondering – how do I even know what my priorities are? This is where goal-setting comes in. To identify priorities and take action on them, you need clarity on your direction and definition of success.
The formula goes: Priorities → Goals → Prioritized Tasks
First, get clear on 1-3 priority areas, like health, family, or career growth. Then, define specific, measurable goals that align with those priorities, like run a marathon, have a tech-free family dinner twice a week, or get a promotion. Finally, break down your goals into bite-sized daily and weekly tasks to schedule into your calendar based on priority – like marathon training runs, booking a restaurant reservation, or scheduling informational interviews.
Real Life Example
For example, say one of your life priorities is to better understand your family’s culture and connect with relatives overseas. You then set a S.M.A.R.T goal to become conversationally fluent in your second native language within two years.
The next step is prioritizing tasks that will build your language skills, like using a language learning app for 30 minutes daily or joining a weekly virtual conversation club. As you systematically work through your prioritized tasks, you inch closer to your fluency goal and fulfilling your priority of family connection.
Balance Focused Time and Downtime
Now, having just a few top priorities doesn’t mean you can only focus on those activities, 24/7. Be sure to intentionally build in time for rest, fun, and open-ended exploration too. Great ideas and mental clarity often arise during periods of downtime away from work.
The key is balance – keep your priorities top of mind and schedule focused time to chip away at them. But also carve out opportunities for pure relaxation, distraction-free thinking, or trying something totally new.
Along the journey, you’ll find that showing up day after day for your priorities breeds helpful qualities like patience, perseverance in the face of obstacles, and the ability to observe patterns and feedback. Your priorities may even shift as you learn more about yourself!
Filter Out Time-Wasters With This One Question
When you catch yourself stuck in analysis paralysis about what to do next or mindlessly scrolling social media, ask yourself this simple question:
“Is what I’m doing right now aligned with my priorities?”
This automatic check will help yank you out of low-value time traps and redirect your attention to what truly matters.
Sure, you’ll still slip up sometimes (I know I do!). But having clearly defined priorities acts as your North Star to course-correct when things feel off track or chaotic.
At the end of the day, we all have the same 24 hours. As Naval said, time isn’t the issue – lacking priorities is. So do the important work of getting clear on 1-3 priority areas today. Then use these priorities as guides for goals and tasks to fill your days with purpose and productivity.
