The Ideal Method To Conquer The Chaos In Your Life

Prioritizing is as easy as ABC(DE)

On Productivity…

We’ve all been there. You have too much to do. Everything feels urgent and you have no idea how you are going to get it all done. The pile of work is so vast, you don’t even know where to begin.

Don’t worry, there is a system that will help you. And it is as easy as ABC(DE).

The ABCDE Method

The ABCDE is a simple but effective productivity technique where tasks are categorized into five levels of importance, from "A" (most critical) to "E" (eliminate or least important), to efficiently manage time and resources.

It’s most commonly attributed to Brian Tracy, a productivity and personal development guru. He popularized this prioritization technique in his works, including his book "Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time." Here’s how it works

1. Create a Master List

Start by creating a Master Task List that includes all your pending tasks and responsibilities. Break larger tasks into smaller sub-tasks for manageability. Consolidate your tasks in one central location for easy access. At work, we use Trello for task management, while at home, I use Apple Notes and Reminders. Ensure your task list is centralized and readily accessible.

2. Task Categorization

Categorize each task with a priority level (A, B, C, D, or E) according to its urgency and importance, using the following criteria as a guideline:

• A - Very Important: Tasks with major consequences that need immediate attention.

• B - Important: Tasks important for long-term goals and need to be completed in a timely manner.

• C - Nice to Do: Tasks that are beneficial but not critical to immediate goals.

• D - Delegate: Tasks that others can complete, hand these off.

• E - Eliminate: Tasks that don’t significantly contribute to your goals and can be archived.

3. Prioritize the Priorities

When you have multiple "A" tasks, rank them by numbering them as A-1, A-2, A-3, etc., before each item. Your A-1 task is your highest priority task.

When I was taught this technique, I was told that you only get a few “A” level tasks. Not everything gets to be on fire. Think of “A” tasks as the things you MUST do or else your lips will fall off.

So be merciless in how you prioritize.

Think of “B” tasks as things you SHOULD do. You don’t have to drop everything to get to them; you don’t even have to do them today. But if you neglect them, they turn into “A” tasks. The “C” tasks might be your biggest list. These are things that would sure be nice to do, but don’t have to be done. They can fall off the bus if you are short on resources.

It's can be easy to get overwhelmed. The mountain of work can loom large. I’ve found that the only way to climb that mountain is to rely on a system.

On Technology…

A topic I’ll delve into in a future newsletter is about the need to have a productivity system. But for now, I want to talk about the concept of capturing and why it changes everything.

Capturing is a fundamental productivity approach that involves collecting all tasks, ideas, and responsibilities that come to your attention to process them later. Instead of trying to keep all the to-dos and ideas in your head, get them all down somewhere. Freeing your mind from the burden of remembering every detail allows you to focus, remove worry, and process things based on priorities.

Historically, my go-to app for capturing has been Apple Notes. I am all the way down the rabbit hole (see what I did there) in the Apple ecosystem, and Notes works on my laptop, phone, and iPad. Easy access is key. But lately, I find myself moving more and more to Notion.

Notion is a beast. It’s an all-in-one workspace app that combines note-taking, task management, databases, and project management. It is a highly customizable platform with templates, workflows, and a significant community behind it. I’ll miss Apple Notes, but I am finding I can do more with Notion. It incorporates with Readwise and its collaboration tools have me wondering if I can move our work to it as well.

Again, I’ll have more to say on productivity systems (and on Notion) in the future. For the time being however, start capturing. Put all that junk in your head somewhere, as long as it is not just in your head.

On Gratitude…

“Enough is a feast.”
Buddhist Proverb 

Today, my friends, be grateful for what you have. It’s ok to want more. It’s good to strive for a bigger and better life. But don’t lose sight of what you have, who you love, and who loves you. As you don your green and go in search of leprechauns, take a moment today to say thanks for the little things. Happy Saint Patrick's Day.