You’ve probably heard it a thousand times, “Get your priorities straight.” But did you know that the word “priority” wasn’t made plural until the Industrial Revolution? For centuries, it was singular: a priority was the one and only most important thing you did before moving on to something else – one thing at a time.
So how did we go from having a singular focus to juggling endless “priorities?”
The idea that we can have multiple priorities dilutes the concept of what a priority is meant to be. Because when everything is a priority, nothing truly is. This constant push to manage several competing tasks is why we feel so overwhelmed, unproductive and scatter brained.
It’s time to shift our thinking back to what the word originally meant. Do you think it’s possible to shift focus back to one priority?
In this article I’ll explain the importance of a singular focus and offer tips for determining your one priority.
The importance of one priority
“What’s important now? After a moment of reflection I realized that until I knew what was important right now, what was important right now was to figure out what was important right now!” — Greg McKeown, Essentialism
Your singular focus now doesn’t mean you have to ignore everything else forever. However, you do have to dedicate your time and energy to the task that matters most right now. Doing so makes you more productive and less stressed, also preventing decision fatigue.
I know you hate the feeling as much as I do: knowing you have so much to do but stressing over which of the tasks is most important…so you do a little of it all and feel like all you did was spin in circles.
But with a singular priority, there’s clarity. There’s focus. And, more often than not, there’s success.
How to determine your one priority
1. Zoom out
Look at the big picture.
What are your overarching goals and what are you working toward in the long run? This could be a career goal, a personal development goal, or a health-related goal. Gain this perspective so that you can align your priority with your larger ambitions.
For example, if your long-term goal is related to improving your health, your priority might be to focus on meal prepping a week’s worth of meals.
2. Consider urgency vs. importance
Urgent tasks are not always the most important. And sometimes what we consider important isn’t necessarily urgent.
Urgent tasks demand your immediate attention but they don’t always translate into moving closer to your goals. Conversely, important tasks have a significant impact on your progress. Prioritize what feels important.
Ask yourself, “What will make a difference right now?”
3. Weigh the consequence of inaction
Reverse engineer your answer by considering what would happen if you don’t do the one thing. What will the consequences be if this task doesn’t get done today, this week, or this month? For example, if you don’t spend time creating a budget for the month, will your financial goals get off track?
Your answer holds the key to your one priority.
4. Break it down
Even with a singular focus, things can feel overwhelming. So, make your priority manageable by breaking it down into smaller, actionable steps. If your priority is finishing a presentation, break it into steps like researching your topic, creating an outline, drafting slides, and practicing your delivery.
5. Time chunk your day
Since we already know that multitasking isn’t real, getting started on your single task is easiest when you time chunk. Research shows that deep, focused work leads to far greater productivity than trying to juggle multiple things at once. So commit to giving your priority uninterrupted attention.
Time chunking is the antidote to multitasking. The Pomodoro Technique is the most popular and effective way to time chunk. With this technique, you focus on one task for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break before moving on. That 5-minute break is helpful even if you’re going back to the same task until its completion.
After 3 rounds of 25 minutes on and 5 minutes off, you can up your focused work time to 30 minutes.
Focusing on one priority doesn’t mean you’ll never get to the other things on your list. It just means you’re strategically dedicating your best effort to what matters most now. Once you’ve completed your priority, you can shift focus to the next important thing, knowing you’ve made meaningful progress.
Pick your one priority
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the competing demands on your time, try simplifying your approach. Pick just one priority for today or this week, and give it your full attention. It’ll feel strange when you’re used to doing so many things at once, but you’ll soon find that focusing on one thing helps you achieve more, stress less, and feel a greater sense of accomplishment.
Remember: productivity doesn’t come from doing everything; it comes from doing the right thing. Choose your one priority and get it done.