Have you ever felt the stress of “everything is important and it has to be done now… but I can’t do it all” I often work with high achieving individuals who struggle with how to juggle it all. We all have been there, we feel divided between our many roles and split between the responsibilities that are pulling us in different directions. Trying to be a superhero and do it all can easily become overwhelming and exhausting. Let’s be realistic, superheroes only exist on TV. You can’t do it all, nor should you. When everything feels important it can be hard to find an effective way to prioritize.
Here are some tips and tricks to help you prioritize when everything is a priority:
- Write it down: Whether you use a piece of paper, a digital calendar, a journal, or your phone find a way to write down the things you need to do for the day. This technique will not only help you clear your mind, but it will also help you get organized.
When we are overwhelmed by the many things on our plate, we tend to see everything as a priority. We have a huge mental list of everything that needs to get done now and may feel that everything is urgent. Sound familiar? What happens next is that we are left feeling like a failure and all the things that we did not accomplish become evidence of this statement. By making a list and subcategorizing the items under Urgent, Important, and Non-important you can find clarity and get a better idea of how to better manage your time.
Pay attention to the items on your list, is everything really a priority? Most likely they are not. Many things may be important, but they are NOT urgent therefore they do not have to get done immediately. You may find that some things on your list aren’t even that important. These not-so-important tasks often become a distraction that keeps us from focusing all of our energy on the things that actually matter, the things that do need to get done “today“… and maybe they belong on a separate list under “someday“ or “ideas“ category. After you have placed all your to-do items under the Urgent, Important and Non-Important categories then identify what the next action will be. Each task will be easier to tackle if it is broken down by step-by-step.This will help keep your motivation up since every little step that’s completed will feel as a victory. Plus, this way you can actually have a visual way to measure progress. Nothing more satisfying that checking things off your list! Am I right?
I recommend you make time to write things down every evening and make it a routine. This may help you “dump“ everything that’s on your mind and reduce the anxiety provoking thoughts that will keep you up at night. Getting your to-do list ready the day before can also help your feel more prepared the next morning. If the evening is not a good time for you, then try to write things down first thing in the morning while enjoying a fresh cup of coffee or herbal tea.
- Delegate and Divide: Delegating an dividing tasks is a tool that will further help you get organized and get things done more efficiently. Be aware that this tool applies in any setting, for example at home or at work. The first thing is to identify which tasks do not need you particularly to be completed, then delegate and trust that the person will get it done. There is no point in delegating if you’re going to carry the worry with you. Once you have assigned a task to someone, let it go… it no longer belongs in your list.
Something important to remember is to be flexible and be kind to yourself throughout all of it! Some days you are going to ace it, and some days you are going to drop the ball and “screw up“. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Life happens. Everyone’s journey is different and you will find something that works for you!
I hope these tips help you get find clarity, focus on what matters, and feel you have a better grip on life! If you have any tips, dropped them in the comment session. I would love to learn from you too.
Love,
