I first learned this idea when reading Tim Ferriss’ book “The 4 Hour Work Week”. Get your most important thing done by 11 am – every day. Don't respond to emails before 11am. Train the people around you so they know how to reach you (text, phone) for something truly urgent.
I typically plan for the day the night before. I prioritize the most important thing (sometimes 2 things) I want to get done that day and try to get it/them done as early in the day as possible.
Notice these are the most important things, not the most urgent things.
By getting the most important thing(s) done for the day first, what I accomplish in the rest of the day feels like a bonus - it’s amazing!
Despite all the good plans, just like you, I get all kinds of distractions. They get in the way of my “plan”.
I have now added another element to my daily planning and prioritization routine.
I visualize performing and completing the most important thing(s) for the day.
I try to make the visualization detailed, colorful, vivid. I imagine the fantastic feeling of completing those most important items for the day. I “put on” that feeling and that sense of accomplishment. A gentle smile may visit my face. Sometimes, and just sometimes, I may even find myself doing a 2-second happy dance (well, one can be creative here...).
In her book “Make Your Brain Work”, brain science expert Amy Brann states that “Neuroscientists believe that being able to see and hold in your mind a picture of what you want to do makes it possible to then do it. This is directly linked to the emotional and motivational processing of this intention. When prioritization takes place it means you then have the programming telling you when and under what circumstances you will do the task.”.
I am curious. What do YOU do to prioritize your daily work and activities? What works well for you and what do you suggest for others? Your sharing CAN make a difference.
