The best way to accomplish your goals, while also simplifying your life, is to have a daily plan in place. Like a to-do list but better, your priority list will clarify your priorities for the day and what needs to happen first.
In this post, I’m going to share with you how I set up my daily priority list to help organize my day to be as productive as possible. You don’t even need a schedule book if you’re not that hyper-organized. This list alone will do a lot to help you maximize your day.
SETTING IT UP
- First I find a blank sheet of paper. I prefer unlined.
- At the top of the page I write “My One Thing” and leave a blank space below followed by a horizontal line.
- I then write the letters A, B, and C, rather largely, down the left hand side of the paper, spacing them out well. Next, I draw a vertical line down beside the letters.
- I then start writing down each thing I need to do that is floating around in my head, taking up mental energy, but just lingering there. It’s like what some call a “brain dump” where you just get all of those thoughts out of your head and down on paper.
- I use bullet points to list out each thing that needs to be addressed and as I think of each point to write down, I quickly consider which category it should be placed under.
MY ONE THING
At the very top of the page I will list out the one big thing that I need to do that day that is either essential to future tasks getting done, such as a step in a project, or will add the most value to my life.
Most people only have time to work on one big task, three medium tasks, and five small tasks each day, so keep that in mind as you move on with your list.
A | MUST DOS
Things that must be done today
The A section is reserved for the most pressing or important tasks that really impact my life or my success. I do these items first, when my mind is fresh. I also put any pesky tasks that have a deadline looming here, such as a bill that needs to be paid.
B | SHOULD DOS
Things that should be done today
The B section is for less impactful tasks that need to be done but can wait a little longer. These items don’t usually require A-game level focus, so they are put further down the list, and therefore, completed later in the day.
C | WOULD LIKE TO DOS
Things that it would be nice to get done today
The C section is for items I know I need to do soon. It would be nice to get them out of the way, but they aren’t the most pressing priorities on that day and it’s fine to carry them over to the next day’s task list.
WORK THROUGH THE LIST
Once I have created my daily priority list I start working my way down the list, starting with the “My One Thing,” if possible. If I need to wait for a certain time in the day to finish that particular task, I will instead start with the A items and work through those first, when my mind is sharpest.
As the day goes on I usually lose focus and drive, so that’s why I arrange for the less pressing items to be later on in the B and C categories, in case I don’t get around to them.
INSERTING INTO YOUR SCHEDULE
If you like to use time blocking or a daily schedule book, you can take this priority list a step further and plug the items from your list into your schedule in specific time slots, prioritizing the A category items at your peak performance times.
WHY PRIORITY LISTS WORK
I find my daily priority lists to be one of the most important things I have ever done to make the most of my days. Making the lists simplifies my daily life and soothes my often-frantic mind, plus I’m crushing goals left and right- things that I never dreamed I would get done.
Priority lists are so effective, in my opinion, because they free up your mind and help clarify your life. When all of those tasks are just floating around in your head, they all carry equal weight. In reality though, scheduling that hair appointment is not as pressing or important as writing the next chapter in your novel.
When your mind is filled with pesky little tasks, it is easy to feel over whelmed, like you are drowning in things to do, yet never seem to get anything accomplished. By writing things down and prioritizing tasks into three simple sections, you are clearing out your headspace so you can freely and fully concentrate on just one task at a time.
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