"If you were to ask me what single practice would do more to balance your life and increase your productivity than any other, it would be this: plan your week each week before the week begins." - Stephen R. Covey
Summary
Put first things first means focusing on your highest priorities based on your mission and values. In order for this practice to be effective, individuals must plan out every week and eliminate the unimportant activities by staying true in the moment of choice. In addition, setting priorities and making schedule to follow can lead to success.
My Commitment
Each week, I will list five or six important things I want to put first in my work and in my personal life. Then, prioritize them from importance. Important activities represent my vision, values and high priority goals. Urgent activities require immediate attention. I will have a weekly plan to organize my week before it begins. I have a google planner for the week , but writing down my list each day is an additional way for me to differentiate the "big rocks" and "little rocks". Since, I make a schedule in order to stay organized. The organization may take 5-10 minutes, but ultimately keeps me calm and collective on my mission and vision.
How I will teach it to others at Riverview?
Each Wednesday, the staff at RV participate in 7 Habits for 7 minutes before our PLC. Since, I am a part of Lighthouse Team, I have taken the initiative and lead the habit for the week. Our habit aligns perfectly with Put First Things First. We will engage in differentiating between important and urgent activities and create a list to prioritize them. I will share the ways that I create a plan for myself to stay organized and balance all the "rocks" in my life.
The presentation on Habit 3 was a grand success. My peers at RV felt empowered on prioritizing the "important' and "urgent" activities to better enhance their productivity based on their own personal mission statement. A whole group conversation arose about their own personal connections to the Habit and reflecting on the four Quadrants. I am proud of my growth as an individual and I am thankful to my master's program cohort for sharing this experience with me.