OP-ED: Get the right things done — How to make time for what matters most
Is your to-do list getting in the way of what matters? Here are four practical steps to make time for meaningful work and life.
The start of a new work week brings with it a daunting to-do list, filled with both urgent and important tasks, as well as personal chores that have been lingering. It can be overwhelming to try to tackle everything on the list at once. However, by employing a few practical steps, you can make time for what truly matters.
Firstly, prioritize your activities using the time management matrix introduced by Stephen Covey in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." This matrix categorizes tasks based on their urgency and importance, creating four distinct quadrants. Urgent and important tasks, such as crises and deadline-driven projects, must be addressed.
While important but not urgent tasks, like problem prevention and planning, should also be prioritized. Time spent in the first quadrant may reduce the time available for the second, which is crucial for moving the needle in your professional life. Focusing on quadrant two activities, which include important but not urgent tasks, can lead to a greater sense of agency and control.
Next, schedule quadrant two work into your calendar. Treat these important tasks as you would a customer meeting, arriving punctually and well-prepared. Be cautious of overscheduling and allocate time for less strenuous and basic administrative tasks as well. Tim Ferriss suggests scheduling routine tasks, such as email checking, to minimize interruptions and repeated setup time. Additionally, prioritize effectiveness over efficiency by ensuring that the tasks you complete advance your goals.
Batch and delegate quadrant three tasks, which are urgent but not important. Delegating these activities to someone capable of handling them well, or scheduling them for later when they can be grouped with other tasks, can help free up your time. Cal Newport recommends batching administrative work, such as tackling emails in two or three consecutive 50-minute sessions with short breaks in between.
Finally, minimize and remove quadrant four activities, which are neither urgent nor important. These include aimless scrolling and other distractions. Disable notifications on your email and phone to avoid these interruptions. By focusing on the tasks that truly matter and minimizing distractions, you can make the most of your time and effort.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
