When we have a long list of things to do, it is easy to get confused between what is urgent and what is important. Sometimes, all these activities seem like they have to be done at the same time, but we cannot find a way to do them all.
Let’s talk about why it is so important to understand the relationship between what is urgent vs what is important and how we can make decisions based on this understanding.
We live in a world that is highly pressured by time. We regularly have multiple commitments that must be honored immediately. Many times, what is truly urgent is no longer so, because urgent matters seem to be an everyday occurrence.
Furthermore, if the previously established terms are consistently not getting done, or truly important issues are left on hold, the desired goal will not be achieved.
Years ago, I thought it was an important daily chore to spend a few hours cleaning the dust and picking up the misplaced things in my house. I agree that it is a good habit to keep your house dust-free and organized however, as I started to increase my productivity, these activities became less important in my life and stopped being a daily task.
I understood the importance of categorizing and separating my activities, especially when I decided to get married, have children, graduate with a doctorate, write my first book, and create an organization.
My life changed when I understood the importance of having my priorities clear and making decisions based on them in order to increase productivity and achieve my goals in less time.
In this process, one of the tools that I have found very helpful is the Eisenhower matrix. This tool is an effective method that allows us to be clear on what is urgent and what is important, as well as to organize priorities; whether in a personal or professional field.
I call this matrix: from urgent to important, since among other benefits it allows you to:
- Find the areas where you are losing and/or wasting your resources.
- Find out which activities give you the best results and which ones don’t.
I invite you to explore more in-depth what your priorities really are, to live them daily, and to have high levels of productivity creating the habits that your priorities need; so you can plan your days accordingly.
Question: Are you focused on urgent tasks or the important ones?