Habits-4U2: #3 First THINGS FIRST

Prioritizing Your Bright Life—Put First Things First

In our previous blogs, we explored the power of being proactive and having a clear vision for your life. Now, let’s dive into Habit #3 from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “Put First Things First.” This habit is where planning meets action—it’s all about prioritizing what truly matters to achieve your vision.

“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This quote perfectly captures the essence of Habit 3. It’s about focusing on what’s truly important, not just what seems urgent. In a world filled with distractions, learning to prioritize is essential for building the life you want.

What It Means to Put First Things First

Putting first things first means organizing your time and energy around your highest priorities. It’s about aligning your actions with your values and long-term goals rather than being driven by immediate demands or external pressures.

Stephen Covey introduces the Time Management Matrix to help us distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s important:

1. Quadrant I: Urgent and Important

   • Examples: Deadlines, crises, pressing health issues.

   • These require immediate attention but shouldn’t dominate your life.

2. Quadrant II: Not Urgent but Important!!!

   • Examples: Planning, exercising, building relationships, personal growth.

   • This is where you should focus most of your time to create a meaningful life.

3. Quadrant III: Urgent but Not Important

   • Examples: Interruptions, unnecessary meetings.

   • These can drain your energy without adding value.

4. Quadrant IV: Not Urgent and Not Important

   • Examples: Mindless scrolling, excessive TV watching.

   • Limit time spent here to avoid wasting your potential.

By focusing on Quadrant II activities, you invest in things that truly matter and prevent future crises. This principle is a cornerstone of our Wellness Class, where we teach participants how to identify their priorities and align their actions with their goals.

Noah Galloway: Prioritizing Wellness After Injury

Noah Galloway, an Iraq War veteran who lost his left arm and leg in combat, faced immense physical and emotional challenges upon returning home. For a time, he struggled with depression and withdrew from loved ones. A pivotal moment came when he realized that neglecting his well-being was impacting his relationships with his family and friends. He decided to prioritize himself—not out of selfishness, but to become the best version of himself for those he loved. By focusing on fitness to rebuild his strength and confidence, he improved his mental clarity and emotional resilience, ultimately reconnecting with his family and inspiring others through his advocacy and accomplishments. Through his journey, Galloway showed how putting “first things first” can restore balance to physical, mental, and emotional health—even in the face of life-altering adversity.

Practical Steps to Put First Things First

1. Identify Your Priorities

   • What truly matters to you? Reflect on your values and goals.

   • Action item: Make a list of your top 5 priorities.

2. Schedule Time for What Matters

   • Block out time for Quadrant II activities.

   • Example: Schedule workouts, family time, or skill development.

3. Learn to Say No

   • Protect your time by declining requests that don’t align with your priorities.

   • Example: Politely decline unnecessary meetings or commitments.

4. Plan Weekly

   • Review your schedule each week and ensure it reflects your priorities.

   • Action item: Use a planner or digital calendar to stay organized.

Connection to Habit 1 and Habit 2

By being proactive (Habit 1) and defining your vision (Habit 2), you set the stage for prioritizing what matters most (Habit 3). Together, these habits help you align your daily actions with your long-term goals, creating a foundation for lasting success.

Looking Ahead

Once you’ve mastered prioritization, the next step is learning how to think collaboratively. In our next blog, we’ll explore Habit 4: “Think Win-Win,” and how it can strengthen relationships and create mutual success.

How This Habit Improves Your Wellbeing

Prioritizing what truly matters improves your well-being by helping you manage your time and energy more effectively. When you focus on the important over the urgent, you reduce stress and gain clarity on what aligns with your values and goals. This habit allows you to invest in activities that nourish your mind, body, and relationships, creating balance and fulfillment. By putting first things first, you take intentional steps toward building a bright life 🌈.

Call to Action

What’s one Quadrant II activity you can focus on this week? Write it down in your journal and make it a priority. Reflect on how aligning your actions with your values helps you build a bright life 🌞.

You can get Covey’s books and journals and guides from Amazon.

AMAZON

Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Free Press