Do you often find that you work hard all day only to leave important work undone? It’s possible you’re spending too much time on seemingly urgent tasks, and not enough on the important ones. This recent Washington Post piece, “How deadlines thwart our ability to do important work (and what we can do about it),” makes three recommendations:
1. Consider the outcomes before you rush into a decision. You might convince yourself that a phone call is important enough to stop what you’re doing right now. But take a moment and consider if the call is in fact important before you drop everything.
2. Block off time to work on important tasks (what feels urgent doesn’t necessarily mean it’s important).
3. Consciously limit the time you spend using phone and email.