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How to prioritize when everything is a priority?

As someone who is passionate about the whole work/life choice issue, how to prioritize comes up often in my life as working mother of two very energetic toddler girls and in the life of the students and clients I work with. One thing that helps in managing work, family, and school is prioritizing your workday effectively. I know that when I am on my game and smoothly getting through my work duties, I am a calmer mother and dinner time and bed time aren’t met with nearly as many struggles or tantrums.

This recent article in Inc. magazine provides 5 tips on how to manage your priorities throughout your workday. My favorites include making a list (how I get through a day without a list is beyond me…I make them constantly and LOVE to scratch off a completed task) and being honest. Being realistic about what you can commit to helps eliminate the guilt that comes when you can’t possibly meet all of your obligations. Honesty is valuable not only personally but also in your relationships with others. Be ok to say “no” to certain requests. People want to hear the truth and would rather face a “no” early on in the planning stages than an “I’m sorry I won’t be able to make, do, help with etc.” in the execution stage.

http://www.inc.com/lauren-perkins/how-to-prioritize-when-everything-is-a-priority.html

As someone who is passionate about the whole work/life choice issue, deciding how to prioritize comes up often in my life as a working mother of two very energetic toddler girls and in the life of the students and clients I work with. One thing that helps in managing work, family, and school is prioritizing your workday effectively. I know that when I am on my game and smoothly getting through my work duties, I am a calmer mother and dinner time and bed time aren’t met with nearly as many struggles or opposition.

This recent article in Inc. magazine provides 5 tips on how to manage your priorities throughout your workday. My favorites include making a list (how to get through a day without a list is beyond me…I make them constantly and LOVE to scratch off a completed task) and being honest. Being realistic about what you can commit to helps eliminate the guilt that comes when you can’t possibly meet all of your obligations. Honesty is valuable not only personally but also in your relationships with others. Be ok to say “no” to certain requests. People want to hear the truth and would rather face a “no” early on in the planning stages than an “I’m sorry I won’t be able to make, do, help with etc.” in the execution stage.

Prioritizing can be challenging but the effort pays off in the satisfaction that comes at the end of day spent fulfilling responsibilities, meeting deadlines, and having the courage to decline certain requests.

About Maggie Tomas

Website: https://blogs.stthomas.edu/careerlink/

Maggie Tomas is an Associate Director and Career Coach at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. Born and raised in Southern California, Maggie moved to the Twin Cities in 2010. Her background includes teaching and career counseling at the college level, namely at the University of St. Thomas, University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), and Brooks Institute, a well-known film, photography, and design school where she served as Director of Career & Student Services. Maggie holds a BA in Liberal Studies and a MA in Psychology with an emphasis in Career Counseling and Professional Development. She is also a regular contributor to the Women of HR blog.