How to Prioritise Effectively & Avoid Stress

Learning to prioritise effectively is crucial for entrepreneurs and senior leaders to avoid stress and overwhelm.

Studies show that individuals who prioritise their tasks can be up to 25% more productive.

Mastering prioritisation can boost productivity, reduce procrastination and enable you to achieve your goals more efficiently.

Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs struggle with prioritisation due to a lack of clear strategies and an overwhelming number of tasks.

Lack of Clear Strategies

• They don’t have a clear plan.

• They get easily distracted.

• They procrastinate on difficult tasks.

• They try to do everything at once.

Fortunately, you can overcome these challenges with the right approach. Here are three effective prioritisation methods you can choose from:

Method 1: Eat That Frog

Popularised by Brian Tracy, this method involves tackling the most challenging task of the day first. This reduces procrastination and sets a productive tone.

Why it Works:

• Gain Momentum: Completing a difficult task early boosts your confidence.

• Reduce Procrastination: Facing the hardest task head-on minimises the temptation to delay.

Actionable Steps:

• Identify your "frog" the night before.

• Dedicate the first hour of your workday to this task without interruptions.

Method 2: The Eisenhower Method

Named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, this method categorises tasks by urgency and importance.

Focus on what’s important, not just urgent.

Why it Works:

• Clarity: Helps you distinguish between urgent and important tasks.

• Efficiency: Ensures you’re working on tasks that truly matter.

Actionable Steps:

• Create a matrix with four quadrants. Label each in the same way as the box below.

• List your tasks and place them in the appropriate quadrant.

• Focus on tasks in the first two quadrants to maximise productivity.

Method 3: The Rule of Three

J.D. Meier's Rule of Three technique involves setting three daily, weekly, and monthly goals. This helps maintain focus on the most critical tasks.

Why it Works:

• Focus: Simplifies your to-do list, reducing overwhelm.

• Achievement: Regularly meeting goals boosts motivation and productivity.

Actionable Steps:

• Identify three key tasks to complete each day, week, and month.

• Review and adjust these tasks regularly to stay on track.

Closing Thoughts

Choose the method that best fits your work style and needs. I use a combination of Eat the Frog and the Rule of Three, I love the simplicity of the latter.

Whichever you choose, you can transform overwhelm into focused action, making you more productive and less stressed.

For more tips on staying productive, visit Kaley Gardiner.

Further Reading

‘The Productivity Project’ by Chris Bailey – this is a must-read book for anyone interested in productivity. Bailey took a year off to trial every productivity technique he could find and this book summarises his findings.

‘Eat That Frog’ by Brian Tracy – straightforward, no-nonsense productivity advice.

The Myth of Multitasking: Why it’s Hurting Your Productivity & Increasing Stress – a recent blog I wrote on why we should avoid multitasking.

Thanks for reading.

A very warm welcome to all our new subscribers, it’s great to have you here! 👋 

Until next time,

Kaley