Do you prioritise your life? How often do you put yourself first? Check out the following questions. Answer honestly…
Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with the amount of things you have on your ‘to do’ list? We all do from time to time.
An Exercise to Help You Prioritise Your Life
Here’s a simple exercise I often use when working one to one.
Write a list of all your tasks – daily, weekly, monthly and one-offs waiting your attention. Using my wonderful coding system, (ahem, you have to blow your own trumpet…) write them down on different coloured post-it notes. Use different colour post its or pens for each of the following categories:
And F stands for…?
Fun! F= Fun to do, i.e.things you actually enjoy and maybe even put them off because of that. Everyone needs fun to do on their list whether at work or home. What is fun for you on your to do list? What do you most enjoy doing?
By the way, if your work doesn’t provide any ‘fun to do’ tasks seriously think about changing your job, or look for ways to inject some fun.
Prioritise Your Life With Plenty Of G…?
No, it doesn’t stand for gin (as if), but things that are G = Good for me to do
Some tasks are good ones to do but may not quite hit the fun category. They may be around exercise, like regularly getting outside. Or networking once a week, making time to talk with colleagues, especially if you’re home working. In this category you can include training/learning on the job.
H = Hell. Must I? Maybe Not If You Prioritise Your Life
H = Hell but must be done
The first thing in my head is emptying the bins. I hate emptying the bins. To be honest I don’t do it that often. The bins do get emptied, just not very often by me…
Work-wise, it’d be sorting out invoices and sending information to my accountant. It never takes that long when I actually get down to it, but you wouldn’t believe how I procrastinate.
What are your hell jobs? I know it’s much better when I do my H jobs first because then I enjoy the other things so much more. But do I apply that advice to myself? Not always, if I’m honest. But you’re so much better organised than me so I’m sure you do that way around…don’t you?
Frankly, My Dear, I Don’t Give a Damn – W
W= Who gives a damn.
Do you have tasks that you do that have always been done but no one has questioned why they still get done? Maybe somewhere in the distant past they made sense but no longer. A bit like still continuing to iron things that are now non crease. I actually know someone who irons underpants. Underpants! Who inspects those for creases? (Rhetorical, don’t answer, my brain is now in overdrive.)
You can probably safely get rid of this category, because if no one really cares why do you continue to do them? Then plan in the tasks so you have some fun ones interspersed with the hell ones as rewards. with a smattering of good for me ones. And if you haven’t got any fun ones I suggest that you invent some right now.
Make Your Task Timeline
You should now have a good collection of tasks on your post it notes. The colour system will help you see at glance if you have a good mix. Too many H’s will sap your creativity and joy. Can you spread then out more? Delegate? Think about how to introduce some fun into your tasks, your life? Maybe you can make a less palatable task more enjoyable by doing it with a friend or colleague? Even just playing your favourite music while you do it?
Seriously, you need to prioritise your life. Find the joy!
You may also find it helpful to invoke the thirty minute rule
RenewYou, My Tried and Tested Career Booster!
RenewYou has helped thousands of women make positive and lasting change in their lives. I deliver it one-to-one as part of a bespoke coaching package for women looking to move into leadership, to progress their career, or who wish to be the absolute best version of themselves.
Posted on January 30th, 2023 by Jane
