Every day I'm busy. My morning routine might be the only consistent thing in my life. As soon as 9am appears on my microwave clock, coffee is taken upstairs to my home office, and my office hours begin.
I check my daily reports from Google Analytics to see if any spikes or dips happened over the past 48 hours or weekend. Then I glance at the
Jira Kanban board to see progress on the CRM tickets and any new updates coming to the .com. Catch up on the organic content calendar to see what's planned. Email inbox. Teams channels. Conf calls. The sources of information that we have to check these days are growing. The number of tools that I need to know, from standard Microsoft Office to
Miro,
DATO,
Uptempo (ex Hive9),
SalesForce, Meta and
Creator Studio,
Bing and
Google Ads,
LinkedIn,
Power BI,
Adobe Suite,
Figma, and so on, is expanding.
And as much as I love developing new skills and learning new tools, I find myself constantly asking - what should I prioritise?
The word "priority" comes from the Latin word "prior," meaning "first" or "earlier." It was initially used singularly to signify something more important than something else.
It first entered the English language in the 14th century, and its meaning has largely remained the same. Marketing professionals often face the challenge of juggling various priorities, reflecting a shift towards multitasking.
In his book "
Essentialism", Greg McKeown talks about this, emphasising the importance of focusing on a singular priority rather than juggling many at once.
I've delved into this subject in books, tales, coaching classes, and personal tests. Here are a few things I've learned:
- No more than 3 priorities: Based on my research, working on three projects simultaneously is best. Therefore, working with clear boundaries can be more efficient.
- Time my tasks: I'm more creative before 3pm and after 7pm, so I time myself accordingly.
- Work on the most important thing first: Forcing myself to change this mentality made a great difference. It's not easy, but gosh, it works.
So, where does this leave us in the whirlwind of multitasking and endless to-dos?
For me, it's about understanding what truly matters, focusing on fewer priorities, and being unafraid to put the essential things first. It's about finding balance in a world that constantly pulls us in different directions.
The great balancing act isn't about doing everything. It's about doing the right things at the right time, in the right way. And in this modern era of endless tools, tasks, and responsibilities, perhaps the greatest tool we can develop is the wisdom to know the difference.
If you're juggling priorities, maybe my method will work for you. Maybe you'll find your way. But whatever you choose, may you find the balance that suits your unique rhythm and dance. After all, multitasking is a part of our professional choreography: life itself.
Credits:Idea & Author: Victoria Hutton Proofread: Chat GPT Tone of Voice: Inspired by Jon Ronson Loyal Adviser and Brainstormer: Clive