Prioritizing with the ABCs

Principles

As July 4th approaches, you might find yourself juggling work, family, and the hope for a little time just for you. It’s easy to feel like there’s never enough space in the day, especially when every task seems urgent and your own needs slip to the bottom of the list. But what if you could approach your to-dos, while also making time for yourself?

The ABCs of prioritizing tasks offer a simple, thoughtful way to sort through the noise. Here's how it works:

• At the start of your day or week, list out your tasks and mark each as A (absolutely must do), B (better done today), C (can wait), or D (delegate).
• Make sure at least one ‘A’ task is just for you—whether it’s a few minutes of reading, a walk, or a quiet cup of coffee.
• Review your list with your partner or support system. Assign responsibilities together and talk about what can be shared or postponed.
• Try a daily reflection: each evening, jot down what went well and what felt challenging. Notice where your energy went and how you might adjust tomorrow.
• When perfectionism creeps in, remind yourself that “good enough” is often more than enough.
  

By labeling what absolutely must be done, what’s important but flexible, what can wait, and what can be shared or delegated, you give yourself permission to focus on what’s essential and let go of the rest. This isn’t just about getting more done. It’s about shifting your mindset. Remember, the feeling of not having enough time doesn’t mean you actually don’t. It's a sign to pause and reassess what's on your plate.

Perspectives

Author and mental health advocate Matt Haig reminds us that our feelings, including those about time, can move through us, without defining us:

Remember feeling you have no time doesn't mean you have no time. Feeling you are ugly doesn't mean you are ugly. Feeling anxious doesn't mean you need to be anxious. Feeling you haven't achieved enough doesn't mean you haven't achieved enough. Feeling you lack things doesn't make you less complete.

from Notes on a Nervous Planet

Holocaust diarist Anne Frank reflects on the power of daily self-reflection:

How noble and good everyone could be if, every evening before falling asleep, they were to recall to mind the events of the whole day and consider exactly what has been good and bad. Then, without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day; of course, you achieve quite a lot in the course of time.

from The Diary of a Young Girl

Pause for Reflection

How can you prioritize using the ABC(D)s this weekend?

Learn additional ways to regain time for yourself through the Managing Stress Journey in the Moment for Parents app.