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It’s easy to get bogged down with the urgent things in life, the things that are screaming for our attention. Although many of those urgent things in life are important many of them are not, they’re just immediate. If I’m not careful I will sometimes neglect the important for the urgent because I don’t take the time to distinguish between the two. Don’t get me wrong the urgent things have to be done, but not at the expense of the important. Here are some practical things that help me to make sure that the important things are getting done.

1. Know my priorities.
Sounds simple, but before I can focus on what is important I must know what’s important. What’s important to God, my family, my job, or to making progress in a particular area?

2. Block out time.
While urgent things demand my time I have to make time for what’s important. I put the important things on my calendar and make sure they get my attention.

3. Just say no.
Because something is demanding my attention doesn’t necessarily mean it requires my attention. I ask myself, “Does this really need my involvement or can I have someone else give this the needed attention it requires?”

What are some ways that you make sure the important things are getting attention?

Life is full of busyness and noise. I love technology, but it can also be very distracting. Here are some practical ways to turn down the noise:

1. Limit your TV to just a few hours a week or cut it all together.
2. Plan strategic times to turn your phone off or on silent.
3. Limit the time you spend on the internet, specifically social networking. Also, it is good to take breaks from social networking on a regular basis.
4. Plan times of solitude. What works best for me is getting up early when the house is quiet (more about this in a later post).

I came across this article online via @CatalystLeader and it had some real practical tips on managing your time. Below is the bullet point version, but I encourage you to check out the full article here. It will be worth you “time” (pun intended).

1. Evaluate your time.
2. Set daily goals. 
3. Design your own to-do list. 
4. Group similar tasks.
5. Break down daunting tasks. 
6. Make meetings matter.
7. Take breaks. 
8. Allow for unexpected interruptions.

Clocks from Diamantini & Domeniconi.