On Priorities
What are you struggling with completing?
Recently I was looking through one of my notebooks and found a “to do” list from near the beginning of the year. I noticed that while I had completed some of the items on the list, there were a few items that remained uncompleted. This prompted me to think a little bit about why they were still on my to-do list, incomplete, after half a year. There were a few immediate reasons that came to mind:
What are your reasons?
“I don’t know how to do (insert thing)”
“I don’t have the time to do (insert thing)”
“I’m doing too many other things right now”
“I don’t have enough money”
“I don’t have anyone to do it with me”
“I’m too tired”
“I don’t have the inspiration”
Reasons vs. Excuses. Are they legitimate?
All of these reasons for inaction are ones that I know I have personally used in the past. But, objectively speaking, are they legitimate reasons to not accomplish a task?
“I don’t know how to do (insert thing)”
With the information that is available, I know that I am capable of learning how to do practically any task if I truly think it is a priority. This means that ‘not knowing how’ is not a legitimate reason to not do a task - it just means there is a preceding step required: “Learn how to do (insert thing)
“I don’t have the time to do (insert thing)”
Everyone has the same amount of time in the day, the difference is how we spend our time and what we prioritize. ‘Not having time’ really means ‘I am choosing to not prioritize this task’.
“I’m doing too many other things right now”
This is essentially the same excuse as ‘I don’t have the time to do (insert thing)’. Everyone has control over how they prioritize their time. You get to decide what is truly important to you, what activities you are going to prioritize, and what you are not going to make time for.
“I don’t have enough money”
Money and time are, in many ways, exchangeable. Within the scope of accomplishing tasks and endeavors, time can be converted to money. This, then, leads back to a question of whether or not the task at hand is worth prioritizing. If it is a priority, then you can allocate or earn the money required for the task.
“I don’t have anyone to do it with me”
Many tasks are more enjoyable or easier with others, but not impossible to do alone. If the task is truly important, it needs to be considered whether it’s something you need assistance for, or simply want assistance for. If you need assistance, go find it. Wanting assistance is not a legitimate reason to delay if the task is important.
“I’m too tired”
If you’re too tired, it’s likely because you are doing other things that are taxing your energy, or you are not getting enough sleep. If the task at hand is a high priority, that may mean you need to cut out other lower priority tasks in order to have energy to work on the important things. Historically, I know that I often struggle with identifying sleep as a high-priority task. However, when I do prioritize getting sufficient sleep, the benefits are always worthy of the investment.
“I don’t have the inspiration”
Inspiration is an incredible thing to have, but seldom a requirement for progress on a task. If a task is truly a high priority, it will likely require the tenacity to work on it even when inspiration is lacking. In my experience, progress begets inspiration.
It’s all a question of ‘priority’
In the end, it comes down to a question of whether or not the given task is worth the investment of time and resources. If it is worth it, it needs to be a priority. If it is a priority, it needs to get done. If it’s not a priority, it’s not worth pursuing right now. Maybe circumstances will change in the future, and it will become a priority. However, priority tasks need to be finished, with the highest priority task being finished first. If everything is “high priority”, nothing is.
Intentional consideration of the ACTUAL priority structure of tasks allows for realistic assessment of capacity for action. Progress is achieved most quickly when efforts are focused on the top priority rather than being spread across numerous “important” tasks.
So, the question is then, “How do I choose what to prioritize?” The answer to this question is completely unique to you, your goals, your capacity, and your context. There are several factors worth evaluating, like Importance, Urgency, Value, and Effort -- each of these deserves a blog of its own. The truth is, though, that just by looking at your to-do list you will likely have a decent idea of what your first few priority tasks are. Pick one that you can accomplish, and go do it. Lacking any other analysis, the top priority task should be one that you can go get done right now, today. Check that off the list, and move to the next one. Getting started TODAY is more important than being perfect today. A perfect priority list is worthless without execution. Start with the obvious, and then use the knowledge you gain to improve your process as you go. Do this for a year, and you’ll have a better idea of how to accurately assess priorities. Not only that, you’ll also have a lot of tasks checked off of your to-do list!
Be skilled, be equipped, be READY™
~ Eric