How to Prioritize

To prioritize, first categorize your intended activities according to just two aspects: importance and urgency.

* Category A is important and urgent.

* Category B is important but not urgent.

* Category C is not important but urgent. This can be a trap, because the urgency inflates its apparent importance.

* Category D is neither important nor urgent, e.g. cleaning drawers, straightening files, etc.

By categorizing your intended activities like this, you've also prioritized them, because you now complete Category A activities first, then B, and C. If you never get to the D jobs, what has been lost?

Activities can change their urgency as time passes, so it's important to review and revise your categories each day.

Milton R. Stohl

How to Prioritize - To learn more about this author, visit Donald F. Pooley's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

E-Mail | Print | More

Related Articles
Time Management Priorities
	Play a little now. You receive a check for $86,400. You have just 24 hours to spend it. How do you decide what you will spend it on? Do you spin a wheel? Do you throw darts? How do you decide what to spend your new...
Get More Focus and Get More Business
	As a business owner, you’ve got a lot going on. Sometimes it’s hard to know what your top priorities are and where to put your focus.
Make Time for Balance
	Balance doesn't just happen. You need to make time for balance just like you do for everything else. Some simple reminders to help you on your road to balance.
Time Management - How To Prioritize Your Tasks
	Managing your time more effectively is vital for productive working. Yet how many of us actually do it? Don't have the time to do it! Read on to find out some tips.
Extra Work Should Be a Welcome Opportunity
	A co-worker is off sick for the day. Your boss gives you her work to do. How would you react? Get all of the extra work done? Get most of the extra work done? Get some of the extra work done?

---

Related Forum Posts
	Starting a New Business