Recall a time when you felt knee-deep (or neck-deep) in problems you weren’t sure how you’d solve? How did you decide which problem you’d tackle first? Prioritizing time and energy is a daily challenge even for experienced consultants. Try one of these ideas for prioritizing the next time you’re knee- or neck-deep in problems and have to decide which one to take on first.
1. Revisit your plan
Check your project plan or long-term plan, if you have one. This can help you regain your bearings as you recall your overriding goal, even if circumstances have changed since you created it.
2. Allow yourself to dream
If you need inspiration to push over, around, or through problems in your way now, tap into dreams of the things you’d like to create in your work or life. (You do have dreams, even if you haven’t taken them out to look at them in a while.)
3. Follow your energy
Go where your energy is highest. Let it drive you through successful problem-solving. Then use the energy of that success to carry you over, around or through the next problem in the queue.
4. Let logic be your guide
Review relevant facts and data, if you have them, to help point the way to the problem that needs your attention first.
5. Feel your emotions about the situation
Notice how you feel in the situation. What problem keeps you, your customers or team tied up in knots? Solve that problem first. Freeing yourself of that burden will shift your energy in a positive direction.
6. Listen to your intuition
Get quiet. Listen to the very powerful, but sometimes very quiet voice of your intuition. Notice what it’s trying to tell you You may have to get out of your office or normal environs to hear it clearly.
7. Imagine a perfect situation right now
Imagine a problem or situation being resolved instantly. Notice what problem is – poof! – suddenly gone. Take that one on and solve it.
8. Act and decide as if you were someone you admire
Consider how someone you admire goes about prioritizing time and energy. What problem they would solve first?
9. Draw a picture of the problem/s you need to address
Draw a simple picture of the problems you have to address. Notice what problem seems to be most prominent as you create that drawing. Take that problem on first.
10. Do the thing you least want to do
I added a section to my to-do list to address this. It’s the (seriously) “Things I don’t want to do, but must” list. Once I’m honest about how I feel about these tasks it makes me laugh at the folly of putting them off, since I can’t.
Prioritizing time and energy is one of the best ways to get unstuck and get re-inspired. Try these tips and you’ll find the work is often done much sooner than expected, freeing up time, energy and attention for things on your “want-to-do” list.
