You are reading an excerpt from <a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com">The Challenge</a>, a newsletter where I discuss self-improvement, goal-setting, habits, time management, and health tips and tricks.Every week you will get:<ul><li>a challenge to pursue to improve your life</li><li>an infographic to track it.</li></ul><a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/subscribe">Subscribe now</a> to help me continue publishing this type of content.

The Challenge

In the second space, you will have tasks with unclear or long-term deadlines but negative consequences if skipped. You can schedule these tasks for another day.

2 - Schedule

In the first part of the matrix, you can find the urgent and fundamental tasks. Those are the things you must do and prioritize in your planning. They have short deadlines and significant consequences.

1 - Do

Train your prioritization skills by filling the Eisenhower Matrix every week/day with your tasks. You will learn what matters and what doesn’t.[<a href="https://cosmopolitanmindset.substack.com/">SUBSCRIBE</a> TO GET THE FREE INFOGRAPHIC]

Now, let’s put everything into an infographic. We could structure this as an Eisenhower Matrix.The Eisenhower Matrix is one of the methods I suggested to create your <a href="https://www.cosmopolitanmindset.com/perfect-productivity-system-a-complete-guide-on-how-to-create-yours/">perfect productivity routine</a>. And you can use it to acknowledge the priority of your tasks.The matrix has only our two variables, so you will have four resulting spaces to put each task.

Understanding the consequences of a missed task is the only way to state its importance.If skipping it gives you no consequences, it doesn’t matter. It’s not fundamental. It’s only a little stone. But if neglecting a task has any negative impact on your future, you should prioritize it.Also, distinguish between short and long-term consequences. Losing one gym session is irrelevant. But if you add up those little effects, you create catastrophic long-term consequences. And that’s why going to the gym should be a big rock if you don’t make enough daily movement.

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Before You Go

The Big Rock Theory is a simple way to describe how prioritizing the wrong tasks in your life could make you renounce what matters the most.There once was a professor who put a big jar on his desk and a couple of stones of different sizes and shapes. Then, he made two demonstrations.<ul><li>First, he filled one jar with all the small stones. Then, he added a few of the big ones. But he had to leave most of them outside because they didn’t fit.</li><li>Then, he emptied the jar again. But this time, he started with the big rocks. So the small ones slid in the holes between the big ones.</li></ul>

The Big Rocks Theory

You might wonder how those two demonstrations can teach prioritization to students. But think about it.If you start your day by finishing all the small and easy stuff first, you won’t have the energy and time for the most important ones. And you will have to delay them until the next day.However, if you start with the fundamental tasks, you can fit others between them. So whenever you have a few free minutes or finish earlier, you could integrate the small tasks.

“What the rocks” are you talking about?

Also, there’s a difference between leaving a big or small stone out of the jar.<ul><li>The large stone will be harder to fit in the following days because of its clutter. So you are delaying it indefinitely.</li><li>You can leave out many smaller stones because you will always find a space for them in the following days.</li></ul>So, how can you improve your prioritization skills?

Big or Small Stones?

The Big Rocks Theory is fascinating. It shows you why you should start with the most fundamental tasks first. But it’s nothing more than a story. It doesn’t give you the tools you should use to improve your prioritization skills.Luckily, you have me. And you have The Challenge. So, let’s find a way to improve your prioritization skills together. And let’s start with the two variables that impact the size of your stones (no second meanings here, I promise).<ul><li>What happens if you finish or skip a task? </li><li>How much time do you have left? </li></ul>

How to Learn to Prioritize

Urgency is the other parameter that defines the importance of a task.How much time do you have left for it?If you have a lot of time, you will also have a small stone. But if you don’t, your stone will grow.You might also wonder what to do with tasks without deadlines. But that’s not a case you should worry about.If you are using S.M.A.R.T. goals, you must have time-bounded tasks. So, the deadlines become the end of your goal.

2 – How much time do you have left?

And then, you have tasks with no consequences and no deadlines. Usually, those tasks create the illusion that you are removing something from your to-do list. But they have no purpose. So you can delete them. They are mere distractions.

4 - Delete

Here’s a cold question: what is your most important task of the day?
Don’t think about it. Just answer.
Most people will blunder to give me a fast answer. They will provide more options. Or, they will try to justify their choice. But my question was simple:
<ul>
<li>one task</li>
<li>and it has to be the most important.</li>
</ul>
So why can’t you find one? And why are you trying to justify it?
There are two problems here: insecurity and no prioritization. But only the second one has a quick fix. So, let’s try to solve it.

Mastering Prioritization

Then, some tasks are negligible, but you have to do them anyway because they have a deadline. Those tasks don’t require your specific skill set. So you can delegate them.

3 - Delegate

Uncover the secrets of effective prioritization with the Big Rocks Theory. Streamline your tasks and boost productivity with this guide to time management.

Similar ideas

Exercise

Notice your thoughts

Preparing the 1-3-5 list