Have you got a ‘To do’ list for prioritising tasks? Or maybe a few of them? One for work, one for home, one for projects, that pile of mail, all those emails?

As micro business owners we can easily get very bogged down in stuff that sucks our attention and time, leaving us little energy or opportunity to ever do anything meaningful.

Ever wonder if you are prioritising tasks correctly? There are only three things you need to consider if you want to pull them back into line.

Priority 1: Things that make you feel very, very good

You knew this was coming, right? I’m sure I don’t need to berate you with all the reasons that YOU are priority numero uno?

Reasons like:

• You can’t drink from an empty well.
• You can’t inspire others if you’re drowning.
• Nothing matters if you’re not there to enjoy it.
• People actually want you around in decent shape.

They may be clichés, but you get the idea. No martyrs please; they only end up dead.

Things that make you feel very, very good can include things like exercise, massage, yoga, meditation, listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, hanging out with your partner, chatting with your chickens, gardening… whatever blows your dress up!

As long as YOU love it and it’s something you want to do (not something you feel you should do) it deserves to be a priority.

Want more articles like this? Check out the time management tips section.

Priority 2: Eliminate irritants

Irritants (sometimes referred to in coach-speak as ‘tolerations’) are things that drain your energy. Examples include the dust an inch thick on your bathroom fixtures, the extra bit of bubble wrap padding your behind, or the dead-end job that is sucking the very life essence out of you (or was, before you wised up and decide it was time to fly solo).

Handling one or two of these tolerations every day can free up some positive energy. If you deal with the smaller things first, you’ll clear the path to handle the bigger issues much more easily and with less effort.

Priority 3: Everything else – with provisos

Slot everything else into third priority, and even then, before adding a task to your ‘To do’ list, determine it’s importance by asking yourself two questions:

1. Does this task serve my intentions and purpose?
2. Do I enjoy it?

So tell us. What are your priorities? And how do you go about prioritising tasks?