Priority Management Top 5
You know that feeling when your to-do list is so long it feels like scrolling infinity—with nothing ever really getting done? You’re not alone. Prioritising your time isn’t about cramming more tasks into your day; it’s about focusing on what moves the needle. Here are my top five tips to help you cut through the noise and get the right things done.
1. Zero In on Your “Big Three”
Every morning (or the night before), pick three tasks that, if completed, would make the biggest impact on your goals. Maybe it’s drafting that project proposal, finishing a client deliverable, or even carving out marketing copy for next week. Three feels manageable—anymore and you’ll spread yourself too thin; any fewer and you risk underutilising your day. Do these first, when your energy and focus are at their peak.
Why it works:
Keeps decision-fatigue at bay (you’re not juggling ten options).
Creates quick wins that build momentum.
Gives you a clear “yes”/“no” filter: everything else is negotiable.
2. Embrace Time-Blocking
Time-blocking means assigning chunks of your calendar to specific activities. Instead of “work on website,” you schedule “Website Design: 9–11am.” Then treat it like an appointment—no calls, no emails, no context-switching allowed.
Quick setup:
List your tasks (including breaks!).
Estimate how long each will take.
Drop them into your calendar.
Pro tip: Leave short buffers (5–10 minutes) between blocks to handle overruns or take a breath.
3. Slash Your Notification Overload
Notifications are productivity kryptonite. Each ping is an invitation to switch gears—and each switch costs you valuable focus time.
Action steps:
Turn off non-essential app alerts (social, news, etc.) outside work hours.
Batch-check your inbox and messaging apps at set times (e.g., 10 am, 2 pm, 4 pm).
Use “Do Not Disturb” or Focus modes on your devices during deep-work blocks.
By containing notifications, you reclaim control of when—and how—you engage.
4. Apply the 80/20 Rule to Your Tasks
Also known as the Pareto Principle, the 80/20 rule says roughly 80 percent of your results come from 20 percent of your efforts. Identify the high-leverage tasks—those few activities that drive most of your outcomes—and prioritise them.
How to spot your 20 percent:
Look back at the last week: which tasks produced the biggest wins?
Ask yourself: “If I could only do one thing today, what would it be?”
Weed out low-impact busywork—meetings with no clear agenda, endless administrative chores, etc.
Focus on the vital few, and let go of the trivial many.
5. Build a Weekly Review Ritual
Daily check-ins are great, but without a weekly review, you risk letting priorities drift. Carve out 15–20 minutes each Friday (or Monday) to:
Review what you finished and what slipped.
Celebrate wins, big and small.
Reassess your upcoming “Big Three.”
Shift or remove tasks that no longer fit your goals.
This ritual keeps your plan agile and ensures you’re always working on what really matters.
Putting It All Together
Prioritising isn’t a one-and-done checklist—it’s a mindset. By zeroing in on your top tasks, structuring your day, cutting distractions, focusing on high-impact work, and regularly recalibrating, you’ll stop feeling like you’re firefighting and start steering the ship.
Go ahead—close those extra browser tabs, set up your first time-block, and pick your three big wins for tomorrow. You might just surprise yourself with how much you can accomplish when you focus on the right things.
