The Important & the Urgent

I think we can probably all relate to this. That is, we generally prioritise ‘important’ tasks in our 'to do list’ as the deadline approaches, simply because it’s nearly due. That’s quite a normal way of tackling our stuff, right? And it’s considered the right way to prioritise. Mmmm, maybe not so. If you were to ask Stephen Covey supporters, this is totally wrong!!! Yup, you read that right. This is the secret and the mantra.. 'Don’t wait to do your important tasks when they become urgent’. ie start doing 'important’ tasks right away and don’t wait until it’s nearly due. If you read his book 'The 7 habits of highly effective people’ you’ll learn that tasks fall into four categories:

1. Urgent & important
2. Not urgent but important
3. Urgent but not important
4. Not urgent and not important 

Most of our study stuff is obviously 'important’. And if we prioritise badly, they become category 1, and we start pulling all nighters and cramming. So the goal is to tackle the important stuff right way in advance while it’s still category 2, before it gets crisis mode, so you barely have any category 1 stuff and mostly have category 2 tasks in your planner. Minimise category 1, and get it done while its category 2. This contributes to a more manageable and stress free student life!! Was that confusing ?!