We live in a time of burnout. Americans are known for working longer hours and taking fewer vacations than most modernized countries. While I have always been an advocate of finding the right integration of work and life, I found that it may not be the hours that we work that leave us burnt out. It may, in fact, be how many things we prioritize as urgent. For decades, the word “prioritization” referred to a single task. It wasn’t until the 20th century that we began using the term “priorities.”
We take on increasingly more tasks without thinking about how they will impact us.
We think that if we accomplish more, we will be recognized for our hard work. This mentality has major negative ramifications. Before you say “yes” to another task, have you stopped to think about how this new initiative will impact the quality of your work? Can you truly devote time to it?
Sometimes our actions imply priority, even when we don’t intend it.
I experienced this personally; something was not urgent, yet I crammed it into the calendar. There was a 30-minute meeting availability within the next two days for all of the people involved, and I grabbed it. My actions sent a message to my team that the meeting needed to happen as soon as possible. I took away an opportunity for someone to check their inbox, chat with a friend or use the restroom. We create these “wall-to-wall” workdays, where we schedule back-to-back meetings all day long, and some even brag about it. How does this set us up for success? We could have met the following week, when the schedule was less crowded.
Why do we take pride in having all the white space on our calendar taken up?
I have learned instead to be proud with the amount of open space I have in my schedule, and to respect that of others. Now, I have time to address roadblocks within my department, mentor colleagues and become a better leader. Everyone in the workplace deserves this opportunity.
When we ride the “onto the next one” roller coaster, we are never mentally prepared or in control. Over-prioritization sends a tornado down to those who report to you.
A few tips for practical application:
- At the start of each day, spend 30 minutes making a list of your most important tasks.
- Eradicate inbox anxiety by scheduling half an hour in the morning and afternoon to answer work emails.
- Set yourself up for success with routine and simplicity. If you don’t control your calendar, your day and your priorities, someone else will. Be selfish and put in the time you need. Give yourself time to think, read and strategize. Do it well.
