I kept thinking today about why we need to check our priorities regularly. Not just once a month, but almost daily. It is simply impossible to say that everything is important. What sense does it make to prioritize at all?
I taught myself to start my day by thinking about the 3-5 most important things I need to focus my attention on. Whatever personal backlog I maintain, my top priorities in work on in private life are visible on the front line: a card or a note, in such a way that I always see them. I’ve built this habit to such an extent, that I do it automatically without even thinking. What is more, whenever I finish my work on that day, I close it with a clear mind – because I did what was most important on that day, the rest will wait for its priority:)
It does not mean I don’t care about other things at all. I actually do. If those “to do” are not important today, they can become super urgent tomorrow and I will keep “firefighting”. This is why it is super important to do one more thing – keep a bigger picture in mind to know why your priority is a priority and to know how long you can delay a non-priority before it transforms into the burning necessity and eat your free time:).
And you? Do you keep checking your priorities or do you do everything as long as you have power and jump into firefighting again?