In life, many things compete for your time. Raising kids, running a household, working, and even simpler tasks like maintaining the yard all require attention. Each person has a different set of priorities that they work toward achieving. The problem is, over time, our priorities can become habitual and predictable—more a part of our routine than something we actively think about. This is why cleaning out your priority list should be as important as spring cleaning or making New Year’s resolutions.
Reevaluate Your Priorities
Ten years ago, your priorities may have been very different. Perhaps you were working toward owning your dream home or climbing the corporate ladder. These goals might have become so ingrained in your thinking that they’ve defined who you are. Today, take a moment to reflect: Where do your priorities lie now? Are they with family and the people who matter most to you? Are your priorities benefiting more than just yourself? Are they still truly important?
For example, if you once took great pride in your yard, meticulously maintaining your lawn and flowers, then keeping up with yard work may have been a top priority. But now, as the yard requires only basic maintenance, is it still at the top of your list, or has it become a habit that takes time away from more meaningful pursuits, like spiritual growth or spending time with loved ones?
Many people become obsessive about their priorities. Perhaps the priority in life is maintaining an orderly home, and they become so fixated on this task that they shut themselves off from other priorities. If you can’t start your day or feel productive unless things are done in a specific order, it might be time to reconsider your priorities. As the old adage says, “The cobwebs will wait, but raising our children and loving our families will not.”
At the end of your life, will it matter more that your home was always spotless, or that you had a life well lived?
Organize Your Priorities
When you return to the basics of life, you’ll realize that alongside big priorities, there are thousands of small ones that demand your attention. The best way to prioritize is to create a personal ranking system. Start by making a list of both the small and large tasks you want to accomplish. At the top of your list, add a ‘due date’ and distinguish which tasks take precedence over others. This will give you a clear, actionable list of what needs to be done.
Next to each item on your list, assign a level of importance in a separate column, ranking tasks from most urgent to least urgent. For example, something that needs to be done today—like paying a specific bill—should be ranked #1. Responding to an email from a friend out of town might rank as #4 on your list.
Once you’ve ranked your tasks, reorganize the list so that the most pressing tasks appear first. Then, decide firmly what you will accomplish today and what can wait. Be sure to set aside time for yourself and your family, as well. It may sound trivial, but if you don’t consciously include family time on your list, it’s easy to overlook. You might even make it specific, such as “Watch favorite TV show with the kids.” In today’s busy world, unless you prioritize special moments with your family, they can easily slip through the cracks.
Manage Stress and Set Goals
Another important aspect of your priorities is how much stress they cause. Many people set silent priorities without creating an effective goal-setting plan to ensure they are achieved. Breaking goals down into smaller, manageable increments is crucial for making your priorities a reality—whether you’re saving money or making more time to eat meals together as a family.
The more honest we are with ourselves and realistic we remain about our priorities, the more we can accomplish. It’s easy to talk about our priorities and place the hot-button issues—like family—at the top of the list, but many people rarely live according to those priorities. It’s easy to get caught up in a life where we try to keep up with others and meet expectations that ultimately make living well feel unrealistic.
Stay Flexible with Your Priorities
One final key point is to ensure your priorities are flexible. From one day to the next, your needs and the needs of those around you may shift. Priorities should be adaptable to meet those changing demands. Waiting for an unfortunate event in your life to force you to reprioritize is a waste of valuable time.
The goal in life, beyond being prosperous, should be to be happy and live a life that provides both satisfaction and passion. By systematically enforcing your priorities through goal-setting and remaining open to reevaluating them, you will not only accomplish what you set out to do but also create a life that truly reflects your deepest values and desires.
