| A recent study conducted by the American | | | | - Choices you have made in the past. |
| Psychological Association found that 75 percent of | | | | - What is important to you? |
| adults have experienced moderate to high levels of | | | | - Why it is important to you? |
| stress in the previous month. Almost half of the group | | | | Prioritizing also involves imagining and moving around |
| reported that their stress had increased in the previous | | | | concepts which you might not have experienced. You |
| year. Unfortunately, only half of the participants said | | | | have to understand the concepts, recall past |
| they were doing enough to manage their stress. | | | | experiences, and make a decision - a complex mental |
| Does that sound like you? | | | | task. All of this takes a great deal of mental energy or |
| It is acknowledged that the high unemployment rate | | | | brain power which is why it is best to prioritize when |
| has caused difficulties for many individuals and families. | | | | you are refreshed and alert. |
| It certainly has created more stress for individuals, | | | | While this may sound like a lot of work, the payoff for |
| marriages, businesses, and schools. | | | | you is worth it. Here are some tips to make it easy for |
| Another contributing factor to the increase in peoples | | | | you to start practicing prioritizing: |
| perception of stress is the information or cognitive | | | | |
| overload that appears to be almost everywhere. | | | | 1. Your choices need to reflect your core values. |
| During the day, you may find yourself struggling to | | | | 2. Have standards and set boundaries - taking breaks, |
| balance and juggle things at the same time. Juggling | | | | hours you will work, etc. |
| requires a lot of effort and energy to keep things from | | | | 3. Prioritize as early in the day as possible or the night |
| crashing. In order to get balance, you may even need | | | | before if you are refreshed. |
| to drop some balls. | | | | 4. Write down and circle (on paper or a white board) |
| There is a solution to this dilemma. When you find | | | | the main and more urgent projects for the day. |
| yourself in this situation, it is the optimum time to | | | | 5. Look at each circle to find patterns, the hardest item, |
| prioritize. Imagine yourself being flooded with | | | | or other criteria. |
| information and things to do. Yet, you calmly and | | | | 6. Know what is most important and why. |
| confidently make choices about completing the things | | | | 7. Look at the outcome you desire - what you really |
| that are urgent and important. You are focused on | | | | want. |
| what you are doing and efficiently moving through the | | | | 8. Can something be delegated? |
| items one by one. Your energy level stays steady as | | | | 9. Simplify by saying "No" to excess. |
| you complete the necessary items for the day and | | | | 10. Stay focused and committed as you set your |
| have time for some relaxing before the day ends. | | | | priorities for the day. |
| For some people, prioritizing is a lost skill. So many | | | | It is important to write down your main projects |
| things are going on in their lives it is almost automatic to | | | | because it will be easier to compare the items prior to |
| respond to them in the order in which they happen. | | | | making your decision. When you actually see the |
| Reading email is an example. Unless you have set up | | | | words, patterns will appear which helps clarify your |
| a system for sorting your email, you are likely to read | | | | priorities. |
| through the list in a top down order. | | | | As you practice prioritizing, it will get easier to do. |
| It does not have to be this way. Prioritizing can bring | | | | When you spend time in the areas that bring you the |
| order and confidence to your life. What actually | | | | results you desire, you will find yourself enjoying more |
| happens when you prioritize? You need to look at: | | | | of what you do! I challenge you to develop this skill and |
| - Your values. | | | | reduce your stress. |