What and who is more important to you?

Setting priorities is the prerequisite to a successful outcome in your career, life, relationship, financial goals. We all have the same amount of time in a day, use it wisely by knowing what is most important to complete or tackle first. For example, in your task list, try to complete the lower hanging fruits first, go with the easiest and work your way to the more difficult ones. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and boost you to progress.

Focus on the Major; power through the Minor.

There will always be items that you need to advance first before other items that hinge on that item’s progress can move forward. In this case, always be clear of how major or minor that particular item is. Weigh it against time, affected people and consequences.

Below are 3 quick guidelines to help you prioritise and make the wisest decisions.

1. Make a List and Tag Them

Our minds can be clouded. Having an itemised priority list helps you visualise the importance of each item / task. Number them accordingly. Add another column beside each number, stating what needs to be done in order to check off that item. Try not to make a long list as this will be counterproductive. No more than 10 in your priority list.

2. Know The Consequences

The danger of not knowing your priorities will cause you a lot of hardships in the future. Knowing the consequences of not pursuing or doing something now helps you set importance to each item. For example, ask yourself, which is more important – your relationship with your children or your current job opportunity that will take up 90% of your time? Which will have a negative impact in the long term? Every action of yours yields consequences, make a wise choice now.

3. Run It By Someone You Trust

Having a second opinion will help you stay focused on your top priorities. Fresh pair of eyes and an unbiased viewpoint. Explain the context / situation, show them your priority list, tell them your consequences for each item, and let them share with you their opinions. Be humble and listen. Ultimately, the choice is still yours to make. Know your what, who and which item is most important.

To help you solidify your priorities, use facts and some of your gut feeling to help you make a wise decision.