How to Prioritize When Everything is Important
Everything might be important, but asking clarifying questions will help you determine how to prioritize. This situation often comes up in the workplace. You know the drill, it’s 4:45 pm on a Friday and your manager comes in with a task s/he needs done “right away.”
Before you get too stressed out and cancel your weekend plans, simply ask:
Why is this important now? What is the urgency?
Can you tell me more about this project? Get some background and context.
Agree on when it’s actually needed.
Most likely, the turnaround time does not need to be immediate and there will be options. Remember you always have a choice.
Make sure you are the best person to complete the task, as well. And if you have a better idea altogether of how to handle the situation, make sure you say it.
This isn’t just a workplace issue that comes up, it comes up in life, too. And guess what, it’s an opportunity for you!
Look for support and look for solutions everywhere. Work smarter not harder!
If you are that parent baking cookies at midnight for your kid’s bake sale because you feel like that’s what you are supposed to do, take a breath, and next time, think support and solution. Head to the bakery and pick up the cookies. They will still be great quality, you give business to a local place and you save yourself time and energy. Little things like that help our mindset so much more than we know. And you actually can get some sleep.
And get silly. Sometimes when we are so busy and can’t calm down, we just need a good old-fashioned belly laugh to pull us through.
I know for me it’s watching Wendy Williams and Real Housewives clips. They make me belly laugh and smile - it’s an escape from my to-do list for 30 minutes. When I come back to my workload, I’m more refreshed and feel clearer, because I’ve given my brain a stress detox.
Everything might be important, but YOU are the most important thing of all. If you need help balancing, please contact me and let’s chat.