Rethinking how you organize your priorities can have incredible results, explains Marsha Egan
Ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? Join the club. We’ve all juggled tasks, raced through to-do lists, and wished for a 25th hour. But here’s the hard truth: we don’t have a time problem; we have a priority problem. Once we understand that life management is really about priority management, everything begins to shift.
Think about this quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” How often do we get caught up in the small stuff, the urgent emails, endless notifications, ‘quick’ tasks,. only to end the day realizing we made no progress on what really matters? We confuse movement with progress. Activity with achievement. Busyness with productivity.
HEADING: So, Why Do We Default to ‘Time Management’ Anyway?
Probably because it sounds logical. Manage your time well, and you’ll get more done. Right? Not necessarily. You can be incredibly efficient at the wrong things. You can perfectly organize your day around low-priority distractions. Author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen R. Covey nailed it when he said: “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” That flips everything, doesn’t it? Instead of reacting to what the world throws at us, we intentionally design our days around what matters most. Because here’s the truth: you already have time, the same 24 hours as everyone else. What differs is how you choose to spend it. Or, more accurately, what you choose to put first.
HEADING: What Really Matters?
Only you can answer that. Maybe it’s your health, family, creative work, faith, or building something meaningful. But until those priorities are clearly named, claimed, and placed at the top of your daily list, life will pull you in a hundred different directions and none of them may be yours. That’s where this quote from David Allen, creator of the Getting Things Done productivity system, comes in: “You can do anything, but not everything.”
That’s the mic drop. You can do amazing things, but not all at once. Saying yes to the right things often means saying no to the wrong ones (even if they look urgent or shiny or ‘productive’).
HEADING: How Do You Make the Shift?
It’s simpler than it sounds. Try this:
1. Get clear on your top 3 priorities
Not 10. Not 7. Just 3. What are the big rocks in your life right now? Sometimes this means looking out beyond the day, week, or month to find clarity in what is truly important to you.
2. Put them on the calendar first
Don’t hope to fit them in. Schedule them. Treat them like appointments with your future.
3. Audit your day
Look back each evening. Did your actions align with your priorities? If not, where did they veer off track?
4. Learn to say no
Every “yes” to something meaningless is a “no” to something meaningful. Many times the word “no” means “yes” to you and your priorities.
5. Give yourself grace
This is a practice, not a perfect science. Some days will get away from you – that’s okay. What matters is that you return to your priorities tomorrow.
Remember, you’re not a machine. You’re a human with dreams, responsibilities, and limited energy. Trying to “do it all” isn’t heroic; it’s exhausting. What is powerful is doing what matters most, with clarity, intention, and purpose. So let’s stop managing time like it’s the enemy and start managing priorities like they’re the compass.
Your Challenge:
Today (not tomorrow), take 10 minutes to list your top 3 priorities for this season of life. Write them down. Tape them to your mirror, your laptop, or your fridge. Then ask yourself every morning: What am I doing today that honors these priorities?
Because once you start leading with what matters most, everything else starts to fall into place.
