Weekly Reflection: The Power of Prioritizing – Choosing What Matters Most

Last week, a co-worker I've been collaborating with for a while asked me, "How do you manage two competing tasks when time is limited?" I juggle numerous deliverables at work, strict deadlines, multiple projects, and constant changes. This is alongside my roles as a mom, wife, friend, and small business owner. Everything feels urgent and important. However, time has taught me that I can't address everything at once. So, I concentrated on a skill that all project managers, parents, and professionals must eventually master: prioritization.

It's common to feel stretched thin. One child requires additional attention, a work deadline is approaching, laundry is accumulating, and that unread message from a friend grows more pressing each day. However, the reality is—we have the power to decide where to direct our energy.

Here's what I relied on to determine the priorities:

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1. Clarify the Big Picture

Ask: What’s the overall goal here?

Whether at work or home, zoom out. On a project, it might mean identifying which deliverables are most critical to success. At home, it might mean realizing that 20 minutes of undivided attention with your child beats a perfectly clean kitchen.

2. Assess the Impact

Ask: Which task, if done now, moves the needle most?

High-impact tasks might not always be urgent, but they often bring the most value. Choose tasks that reduce stress or create momentum for the rest of your week.

3. Consider Deadlines & Dependencies

Ask: Who’s waiting on this?

If others are depending on your output to move forward, that task might need to take priority. But don’t let other people’s urgency always outweigh your own needs—balance matters.

4. Be Real About Capacity

Ask: What can I really give my best energy to right now?

Sometimes we think we can do it all. But knowing your limits is part of being wise. It’s not lazy to delay a task if you’ll be better equipped to handle it tomorrow.

5. Don’t Fear Saying “Not Now”

You’re not saying no forever, just not right now. Prioritizing doesn’t mean abandoning your other goals—it means organizing your time so that each task gets your best when it’s time comes.

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By the end of the week, I didn’t finish everything. But I finished the right things. And that brought peace.

To the moms reading this: It’s okay to not check every box.

To the project managers: You’re not falling behind—you’re making strategic choices.

To anyone overwhelmed: You’re not alone. Prioritizing isn’t a skill we perfect overnight. It’s a daily practice in grace, focus, and courage.

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Call to Action:

As you step into your new week, take 10 minutes to list everything on your mind. Then circle three things that truly matter for the week ahead. Start there—and trust yourself to handle the rest, one priority at a time.