She said “FOCUS . . . helps users jettison busywork and wasted time and devote themselves to their most valued pursuits.”  She said she found she was spending one-third of her time on unimportant stuff. To fix that, she spent a half-hour in a planning session to identify her values, roles in life and associated goals – those things most important to her. She blocked out time in advance to pursue them and entered tasks day-by-day on her calendar, prioritizing them based on importance.

She said, “By week’s end, I am surprised at how much calmer I feel, as I let insignificant stuff slide; in a spillover benefit, I am able to help my teenage son see that his race to finish a college research project early isn’t truly urgent. Also, in pursuit of the value I place on generosity, I start working early on a holiday gift for my extended family, a photo calendar; not only do I take more pleasure in making it, but I know it won’t be the usual slapdash, last-minute affair. She concluded that in an era when values are often neglected, the FOCUS system is a worthy antidote.

Shellenbarger’s article has reminded me of my own need to reconnect with what is truly important in my life, especially with the holiday season approaching, which of course, means more events added to my schedule, more tasks on my task list and not enough time to accomplish everything.

So, I plan on taking Shellenbarger’s advice and re-identifying my values, my most important roles and relationships and associated goals. I’ll spend some quality time in weekly and daily planning so I am clear on what matters most, not just during the holidays, but always.

Have you seen a difference in your days and weeks when you plan based on your values and goals?

What planning tips do you use to keep you focused?

Author: Debra Lund, Director of Public Relations at FranklinCovey

They are busy people but luckily they take time to share their thoughts with us via blogs. Check out some of their insights:

Kory Kogon

Here’s what I know:  I am able to sleep at night knowing I am putting the big rocks…the MOST important things first. …Whether it is your team, your peers, your family….don’t let the small rocks fool you. Don’t let your ego overwhelm you…take the time to consider your values and the “most important”. Don’t let the urgency of the day to day cause you to regret later on…If you need help with figuring this out….take a Focus: Achieving Your Highest Priorities class….that may be just the “big rock”  you need to come to terms with what’s important in your life.

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James Cathcart

One of the challenges of (life) is to not allow these stresses and strains to get the better of us, (but instead) to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: “The best is yet to be.”

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