How to Set Priorities

If you had only a year to live, what would you do? How you choose to spend your time reflects what's truly important in your life. If you're constantly longing to have more time for the things and people you love, perhaps you need to shake up your priorities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. See 16 Set Goals. When your values are clearly defined, you can look at the things that are most important to you and compare them with how you actually spend your time and money.
2. Examine how you handle the conflicting demands of home, family, relationships and work (see 14 Balance Home and Work).
3. Pay attention to resentments--they often reveal needs that aren't being met. If you're growling at your children or spouse, you may be running on a deficit of time to yourself--to work out, read or simply be. If you resent the tasks that fill your workday, examine how they stack up to your career expectations (see 167 Prepare for a Career Change). Re-establish balance in your life by delving into the true source of your anger.
4. Say no to additional commitments. Sure, it feels great to be in demand, but consider what it will cost you to take on yet another thing you don't have time for. See 13 Say No Without Feeling Guilty.
5. Prioritize your spending. Write down what you'd like to have and be brutally honest about how much it will improve your quality of life. Then assess what it will really cost you to get the item-- bearing in mind upfront costs, maintenance and potential credit card debt. When you spend your money on what you really need (like a reliable car), it makes it less painful do without things you merely want (like another pair of shoes). See 15 Live With Less and 228 Design a Savings Plan.
6. Keep the 80/20 rule in mind: 80 percent of the time is spent doing 20 percent of the work. Be aware of your peak energy periods and schedule your most critical tasks at those times. Bring the best of yourself to bear on the problems at hand and complete them more quickly and effectively. See 188 Organize Your Workday and 191 Schedule Appointments Efficiently.
7. Resist wasting time and energy surfing the Internet or constantly checking e-mail. Schedule those tasks after critical work is completed or in short power bursts. See 189 Get a Handle on E-mail.
8. Prepare for tomorrow. At the end of each day, make a to-do list for the next one. You'll keep track of your tasks and save valuable time. Prioritize critical or urgent items. See 3 Write an Effective To-Do List.
9. Reward yourself for priorities well set--and achieved. See 405 Plan a Trip.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can put off a task without penalty, do it.
• Tackle fewer but higher priority tasks--you'll meet your goals faster.
• Schedule time in your calendar to play, rest, exercise, visit friends, have a date with your significant other or kids, or just be alone. Actually seeing your priorities in writing can make it easier to set aside time for them.
• Don't be seduced by how easy a task appears--your time will be eaten up regardless of how important the job is, so spend that time wisely.

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