Deadlines and priorities. How are they related? Last Friday, for example, my husband called around ten thirty to ask if I could meet him for lunch at noon. I was tempted to say, “No, I can’t because I have two posts to make and a 300 word piece to write for the Women’s Wisdom site.” He knows what that means after nearly two years of doing this. But instead of giving in to the “responsible” me, I said, “I’d love to!” That’s the priority part because, after all, what’s more important – writing for people I can’t see, or spending time with my husband? He won! Knowing I had to work quickly, I concentrated, finished it, and got to the restaurant by noon. Having a deadline often helps me stay focused and produce quicker. Sometimes I try to set an arbitrary deadline, though that doesn’t work quite as well.
And this week? My 4 1/2 year old granddaughter is sitting on my lap right now as I peer around her head at what I’m trying to type. She’s full of questions, like, “What’s that squiggly mark with a dot on top?” “A question mark,” I answer, while trying to maintain my train of thought. She’s a priority to me, so I let the deadline slip a bit. Yes, when her mother wandered in just now, I slid Caroline off my lap so I could finish, but she knew by then that I chose to spend time with her after she came home from pre-K. To me, these are moments not to miss.
We are often faced with deadlines, but it’s essential to assess their priority. With each one, be sure to ask: Is this deadline important or just urgent? Obviously, if it’s both important and urgent, do it! If it’s only urgent, perhaps made so by someone else, allow yourself to schedule it as your priorities dictate. We can’t do everything.