When everything on your list feels urgent, it's hard to know where even to start. You've got your own deadlines, plus the data your boss asked you to pull and the volunteer commitment you said yes to last month. All of it feels like it has to happen today.
But look a little closer, and a lot of those urgent things came from someone else. We tend to treat other people's requests like our own emergencies, often without ever asking when they're actually due.
So this week I want to help you sort out what's truly urgent and what can wait, using a few simple dates and two honest questions.
| 1 |
Find the drop-dead date. Go through your list and ask yourself when each item truly has to be done. I mean the date where missing it would cause a real problem, like a report your boss is counting on or an application with a firm cutoff. Write that date next to each one. Once you do, you'll likely spot a few things that aren't due for two weeks and can come off this week's list. |
| 2 |
Ask for the deadline when someone else added it. A lot of what's on our lists got there because someone else asked, and we assume it's a top priority. So ask them when they need it. I've watched so many women do this and find out the thing they were stressing over for the next 48 hours isn't needed until next week. |
| 3 |
Ask what would happen if it didn't get done. Some items won't have a hard date, and this is where it gets more personal. Be honest with yourself about the consequence. Often the answer is that you'd disappoint someone. That's your cue to have a conversation, something like, "I'd love to help with this, but I have a lot on my plate for the next couple of weeks and I can't get to it right now." If the consequence is truly serious, it stays on your list. |
| 4 |
Check it against what matters most right now. Look at whether handling this fits the season you're in. Say you volunteered for something next month, but being home more with your family is what matters most to you right now. That's a sign to take it off your plate. You might say, "I know this is important to you, and my time is full right now. Let's brainstorm who else could take it on." You don't owe anyone an explanation of what's filling your time. |
Watch for the pattern
As you work through your list, pay attention to which items keep landing there because someone else put them there. Once you can see that pattern, it gets a lot easier to catch those requests before they ever make it onto your plate.
This Week at The Pink Bee
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Friend, don’t forget, just 15 minutes of planning today can set the tone for your entire week. You’ve got the tools, you’ve got the tips, and now it’s time to take action. Let’s crush this week together!
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