Prioritize Your To-Do Lists With the ABC Method

Prioritizing your to-do list is the key to getting everything done. You need to make sure that you devote enough time to complex and important tasks, but still leave room for the little ones. designation too much a lot of timeor. Try the ABC method to categorize your responsibilities for the day. It's easy to implement and will help you sort through your to-do lists.

What is the ABC method?

Categorizing tasks by need, deadline, and time required to complete is important, which is why some people use Eisenhower Matrix and others overload your Google calendars. These are great methods, but you need to find the one that's right for you and the job you're doing. One of the simplest methods you can try was developed by Alan Laken, an author known for his classic time management books such as How to take control of your time and your life. He proposed assigning priority status to the entire matter in the form of “A”, “B” and “C”, with these letters reflecting the hierarchy of importance:

• “A” items are mandatory tasks that are important or critical and have tight deadlines.

• “B” tasks are classified as “to do,” which means they have a medium priority level, will be important over time, but have no looming deadline. You still need to prioritize to a certain extent as they can turn into “A” tasks if left unchecked.

• “C” denotes anything that is currently low priority, either because it has few immediate consequences or because it has no immediate deadline.

Determining what is important to do right now And the things that can wait will help you feel less overwhelmed and help you figure out what's worth working on, and you'll spend less time wondering where to even start.

How to implement this method into your workday

Go through your entire to-do list and start ranking each task as A, B, or C. Then figure out what you're going to do with them. I recommend a method such as the 3-3-3 techniquewhich includes three hours deep work on a big project (one of your A tasks), completing three mid-level projects (your Bs) and some time left over for small tasks (your C tasks).

You can also set aside full days for specific tasks, especially if your A duties are really demanding. Theming your days will help you focus on tasks for hours at a time without worrying about other, less important responsibilities, so consider dedicating an entire workday to work A, the next day to work B, and the next day to work C. Just remember to review your letter system every morning or so, since even C-level projects can suddenly turn into projects with A-level urgency.