Prioritize with Two Questions

"Because there will always be something more to do, we need to consciously choose what we are doing."


-- Helen Ksypka

Why is it such a challenge to prioritize?

  • We have enough to-dos to last for a lifetime.

  • We tend to view every to-do as an immediate "must" do.

  • We've become desensitized to what's really important.

    The first thing we need to realize is that we will never "catch up." There will always be something more to do because life doesn't stop. So it's all about making wise choices.

    And how do we do that? By asking these two questions before tackling any to-do.

    • Do I need to do this now?

    • If I don't do this now, what are the consequences?

    Let's begin with something obvious. Imagine that you're in your office, and your fax short-circuits, causing the entire room to go up in flames. It's a no-brainer that your top priority would be to get out of there immediately, but let's ask our two questions:

    Do I need to do this now?

    Answer: Yes. The office is an inferno.

    If I don't do this now, what are the consequences?

    Answer: I'll be charbroiled.

    Since it's easy to recognize that the top priority in the above case would be to flee from the burning office, it means that you and everyone else has the ability to prioritize. It's just a matter of practicing, weeding through what's on our plates, and reassessing when necessary.

    Now let's say you have a list of fifty to-dos, and you insist that they're all very important. The key is to determine which is the "most" important of the very important by asking and answering our two questions.

    If you also insist that every single to-do has consequences if left undone, determine which consequences would be the most drastic. Those to-dos would be worthy of a higher priority.

    A curve ball is inevitable, however. As soon as we masterfully prioritize our to-dos, "life happens." That's when it becomes necessary to "shift" priorities.

    Let's go back to the example of the office fire. Say it was nine o'clock in the morning and you were working on a proposal to present to a prospective client at noon, which could have resulted in tripling your income. At that point in time, nothing would have been a higher priority than completing the proposal. But if late in the morning, the fire broke out, there would have been an immediate "shift" in priorities.

    When "life happens," it will be in varying degrees, which means varying degrees of "shifts" in priorities. For example, a plumbing problem may require a "shift" in priorities for that day. A fire, or the loss of a job or spouse, may require extensive reassessment and a massive "shift" in daily, as well as long-term, priorities.

    Life keeps moving. Life changes. And a steady stream of to-dos continuously competes for our attention. But, the good news is, any one of us can learn to determine which to-dos are really worthy of our time, and we can learn the skill of prioritizing effectively by remembering to ask two questions:

    • Do I need to do this now?

    • If I don't do this now, what are the consequences?

    Copyright (c) 2004 Helen Ksypka

    About The Author

    Helen Ksypka is the founder of Born Organized (R) and its divisions: Time Smarts, Communication Clout, and Galloping Goals (sm/tm). Free tips on how to live an orderly, productive, and fulfilled life can be found at her web site: http://www.bornorganized.com

    Helen has penned a popular e-book, "Quotes to the Rescue: Wisdom to Help You Live Life Effectively," which includes traditional topics as well as current lifestyle categories such as: Prioritization, To-Dos, Multitasking, Jam-Packed Lives, Junk. For more details, please visit: http://www.bornorganized.com

    personalized cleaning services Mundelein ..
    In The News:

    Here's how your daily brew is becoming the foundation for greener buildings.
    Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, are transforming how we learn. But what does this mean for AI and learning retention?
    Modern AI data centers use much more electricity than traditional cloud servers. In many cases, the existing power grid cannot keep up. One innovative solution is gaining traction: repurposed EV batteries for AI data centers.
    Microsoft 365 and Outlook users are being targeted by a tactic that injects fake billing alerts directly into their calendars.
    Researchers are now showing us that old smartphones as data centers could be the next big thing in sustainable tech.
    Scientists have created micro-robots for sinus infection treatment that can enter the nasal cavity, eliminate bacteria directly at the source, and exit without harming surrounding tissue.
    Let's examine how your data is collected in everyday life, who is buying and selling it, what happens to it afterward, and, most importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.
    Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. developed small robots called "Pipebots" that can travel inside water pipes to find and potentially repair leaks, all without any excavation.
    A groundbreaking new study has uncovered disturbing AI blackmail behavior that many people are unaware of yet.
    Four teams of autonomous humanoid robots competed in China's first AI soccer tournament, demonstrating advanced capabilities in ball detection and independent decision-making.
    The ID. Buzz autonomous van features self-driving technology with 13 cameras, nine LiDAR units and five radars after Volkswagen partnered with Hamburg and Uber for 2026 deployments.
    Social Security phishing scams use urgency and impersonation to steal personal data. Learn how to spot fake SSA emails and implement 10 protective measures.
    French startup Pazzi Robotics created an AI-powered pizza robot that made pies in under five minutes without human help, but it closed in 2022 despite patents and expert partnerships.
    Reclaim your time from big tech with effective screen time reduction strategies for iPhone and Android, featuring steps to limit app usage and create phone-free zones.
    Amazon Prime Day shoppers face threats from 120,000-plus scam websites as cybercriminals prepare phishing traps and malware ahead of the July sales event.
    Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.
    The AEON humanoid robot tackles labor challenges with Nvidia AI, Microsoft Azure cloud and advanced spatial awareness, working alongside industry leaders Schaeffler and Pilatus.
    Google's Ask Photos feature brings AI-powered searches to your photo library, letting you find memories with natural language queries while maintaining privacy controls.
    The return of blue book exams emerges as universities fight widespread AI academic dishonesty and educators debate whether to ban AI tools or teach responsible usage.
    Signs your phone might be hacked include strange behavior, unauthorized texts, battery drain and pop-ups, while protection involves updating software and avoiding public Wi-Fi.
    Tokyo startup H2L has launched Capsule Interface technology enabling full-body robot control with muscle sensors, offering immersive remote operation.
    The A.I. industry seems set for growing pains as Big Tech companies scramble for solutions to the medium's unprecedented strain on the power grid.
    Fourth of July fireworks cause a 60% spike in lost pets, but GPS trackers and AI photo-matching services like Love Lost can help reunite missing dogs with their families.
    Protect yourself from jugging, the rising crime by which thieves monitor ATM users and follow them to steal cash, with six practical safety tips to stay alert and secure.
    U.S. airlines like Delta, American and United are selling your domestic flight records to government agencies through the little-known Travel Intelligence Program.
  • How To Pack 48 Hours Into Your Day

    Too much to do, too little time, constant stress. Most... Read More

    Time Management Tips - How to Have a Filing System That Works

    Recently I was working with a new client who had... Read More

    Isn?t It Time For You?

    Does it seem like there is never enough time in... Read More

    Where Do Your Priorities Fit?

    An expert in time management was speaking to a group... Read More

    Coping with the Time Crunch

    "There is never enough time, unless you're serving it." -Malcolm... Read More

    Time is Money - Dont Waste It

    "If you control your time, you control your life" -... Read More

    How A Simple Four-Letter List Can Make or Break Your Business

    One of the biggest problems most people have when it... Read More

    Time Management: Which Advice to Follow?

    There are so many books on Time Management published every... Read More

    Todays Overload: Tommorrow

    Whatever providence has in store for us tomorrow is not... Read More

    7 Ways To Improve Your Life In 7 Days

    Choose to be HappyHappiness is a choice. You can choose... Read More

    If Only Your Brain Was the Size Of That Of an Ant You Could Easily Implement Habits

    A year and a half ago I was introduced to... Read More

    The Laundry Has Never Been More Fun Or The Pitfalls To Working At Home

    As a home-based, self-employed woman, mundane tasks can be as... Read More

    Six Foundational Reasons for Managing Your Time

    Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More

    Emergency Living

    There are times, when I am driving in my car... Read More

    Mercury Retrograde and Time Management

    The concept of Mercury Retrograde is very well known even... Read More

    Time Management: A Fresh View

    Last week I had the privilege of spending some quality... Read More

    Will Your Epilogue Be ? I Got All My Emails Done?

    Work life balance is the new Holy Grail; that search... Read More

    7 Reasons to Take Breaks at Work

    My job in Chicago began with three months of probation.I... Read More

    Time Management - Honor Your Time and Energy

    Your time and energy are the two most precious gifts... Read More

    The Key to High Productivity is Energy Management

    One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More

    How You Can Double, Triple, or Even Quadruple Your Reading Speed!

    Are you drowning in a sea of unread papers? Do... Read More

    Do You Have The Time?

    Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number... Read More

    How Much Is Poor Time Management Costing You?

    * If you were paying you to prioritise emails over... Read More

    Talkin About Chicken

    Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More

    Creative Leadership; Inspirational Power ( Part 2 )

    Time management is absolute crucial nowadays where business decisions have... Read More

    one time home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..