The Mere Urgency Effect - Deepstash

The Mere Urgency Effect

This bias addresses why we do unimportant tasks we think are time-sensitive over tasks that are not time-sensitive, even if the non-time-sensitive tasks provide greater rewards.

How to overcome this bias:

  • Use the Eisenhower Matrix. It will reveal the urgent/not urgent and important/not important tasks.
  • Block off on your calendar the most productive 2-4 hours each day for your most important work.
  • Only answer emails at specific times. Don't allow email to bleed into other time.
  • Give your important tasks a deadline and find a way to commit to it.

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ethho

I wish I knew about the 80/20 rule much earlier.

The idea is part of this collection:

How To Become a Better Decision-Maker

Learn more about timemanagement with this collection

Understanding the importance of decision-making

Identifying biases that affect decision-making

Analyzing the potential outcomes of a decision

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Mere Urgency Effect - Urgency trumps importance

Mere Urgency Effect - Urgency trumps importance

The effect shows our tendency to prioritise perceived time-sensitive tasks over non-urgent tasks, even if the non-urgent jobs carry greater rewards.

This cognitive bias reveals why we will rather respond to emails at the expense of meaningful work. Moreover, research shows...

Understanding importance over urgency

The Eisenhower Matrix system forces us to prioritize important tasks over urgent tasks.

Put your tasks in one of four separate categories:

  • Urgent and Important tasks/projects to be completed immediately.
  • Not Urgent & Important...

What you can do about the urgency effect

What you can do about the urgency effect

Use the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritise your tasks. The matrix is a framework to help you decide what work is really important and what work is not urgent.

  • Block off your most productive 2-4 hours each day and dedicate it to your most important work....

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