Get your priorities right

This week's Tip:

Overcome procrastination by setting priorities right

Action items:

Procrastination or tendency to put it off is #1 obstacle in time management. We are all tempted to do this. Be aware of this tendency, catch yourself doing this and take conscious efforts to overcome this tendency. 

How do you know you are putting off something?

When your thoughts match any of the following

• I can't do this now, I have other 'important' things to do.
• It will take lot of time, I will do it later (that later never arrives)
• This is not the right time.
• I am busy

We have a very innovative mind. Our mind can come up with hundreds of valid 'excuses' when required. 

In my opinion, putting off happens when we can't set our priorities right. When you plan the day it is also important to identify priority of the the task. There are four categories of priorities

1. Very important (Q1): deadlines, fire fighting tasks
2. Important, but not urgent (Q2): Planning, Holidays
3. Not Important, Urgent (Q3): Interruptions, Meetings
4. Not important, Not Urgent (Q4): Junk Mail, time wasters 

By working on Q1, Q2 tasks first we can be more effective. If you don't have any Q1 tasks work on Q2 tasks. If you neglect or keep postponing Q2 tasks they will become Q1 tasks. 

e.g. Your supervisor asked you to prepare a report and gave you one week time. Add this as Q2 priority task on your planner tomorrow. You have some free time (like a meeting cancelled) do it tomorrow. By completing Q2 task ahead of time, you gain lot of advantage and you become proactive. If you put this task on a day prior to the deadline, it becomes a Q1 task. 

Summary