Getting high priority tasks done

I know what my highest priority is, what I’m less clear about is why I’m not getting on and doing it. Well, I have some idea, none of them very worthy:

• It’s difficult
• I’m not guaranteed success
• The things I am doing instead are easier
• The things I am doing instead are more fun
• I’m tired

It takes mental discipline to always do the most important thing at any moment in time. Some days are easier than others. Today I am tried and have been distracted by several meetings and other work not directly related to my Highest Priority. My attention has slipped, focus has wandered, and I’m writing a blog post instead of Getting On.

Identifying and the one thing that should be getting your full attention is a good start, but it’s not good enough on its own. Others have given helpful advice about exactly this sort of problem:

• Chopping big tasks into smaller, achievable tasks
• Time boxing the difficult activity so you get something done
• Planning it

This is helpful and effective advice and now that I read that list I’m back onto the task in hand. My own personal favourite is to start my stop watch, which is exactly what I have done. So if you will excuse me, I have work to do … And don’t you have a high priority task you should be doing?