How to balance priorities. There’s a saying that’s been around for a while on social media. It goes something like “If you think you don’t have time for something, try saying it’s not a priority’ and see how that feels.”
I hate it. For so many reasons.
It makes me wonder, if I were to ask you to list what you see as a priority. There would probably be a long list of things that are all priorities for you. But then you also have another list of your to-do’s for the day. Which keeps getting longer no matter how many things you scratch off.
So if it IS a priority AND you don’t have time, then what do you do?
Surprisingly, the answer lies back prior to the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800’s.
The Industrial Revolution, spanning the 18th and 19th centuries, had a huge impact on our day-to-day lives. This is beyond just how things are made. It wasn’t just about factories and machines; it reshaped how we view work and productivity. Suddenly, mass production, assembly lines, and clockwork precision became the norm, redefining what it meant to be productive. This created our modern work culture, where juggling multiple tasks simultaneously and constant busyness is expected. We transitioned from imperfect, handcrafted goods to mass-produced items. Which not only expanded economies but also altered our societal values, placing an ever-growing emphasis on productivity and perfection. This legacy still influences how we approach work and set our priorities today.
The term ‘priority’ has its roots in the Latin word “prioritas,” which originally meant precedence or superiority. It used to signify being ahead of others in time, order, or importance—a singular focus on what mattered most. Back then, decision-making and task management were simpler and more straightforward.
But then, along came the Industrial Revolution, transforming societies from agrarian to industrialized. This era was all about machines, mass production, and cities. Here, efficiency and output took the spotlight, driving towards maximum productivity and economic growth. To achieve this, resources and attention were directed towards tasks with the highest potential for output and profit.
This pursuit of maximizing output laid the groundwork for a profound shift in work culture. One that still influences how we understand and prioritize tasks today.
During and right after the Industrial Revolution, the whole idea of ‘priority’ went through a big transformation. It shifted from just focusing on one thing to managing ‘priorities’. A change that mirrored how work and productivity were evolving. This shift to ‘priorities’ showed how things were getting more complex in industrialized societies. With economies moving towards mass production and machines, people suddenly had a lot more tasks and responsibilities on their plates.
Industrialization made workers deal with lots of tasks at once. Jobs became more standardized and broken down into smaller parts. So workers had to figure out new ways to organize their work and manage their time. This move from having just one ‘priority’ to handling ‘priorities’ showed how important it became to multitask. Also, adapt to the demands of industrial work.
Plus, as cities grew and industries expanded, the pressure to manage multiple priorities only got stronger. This shift didn’t just change how we worked. It also made multitasking a crucial skill for all aspects of our lives..
During and right after the Industrial Revolution, the whole idea of ‘priority’ went through a big transformation. It shifted from just focusing on one thing to managing ‘priorities’. A change that mirrored how work and productivity were evolving. This shift to ‘priorities’ showed how things were getting more complex in industrialized societies. With economies moving towards mass production and machines, people suddenly had a lot more tasks and responsibilities on their plates.
Industrialization made workers deal with lots of tasks at once. Jobs became more standardized and broken down into smaller parts. So workers had to figure out new ways to organize their work and manage their time. This move from having just one ‘priority’ to handling ‘priorities’ showed how important it became to multitask. Also, adapt to the demands of industrial work.
Plus, as cities grew and industries expanded, the pressure to manage multiple priorities only got stronger. This shift didn’t just change how we worked. It also made multitasking a crucial skill for all aspects of our lives..
The shift from just focusing on ‘priority’ to managing multiple ‘priorities’ after industrialization has taken a toll on mental well-being. Leading to a surge in stress-related issues and burnout in our society today. This move towards managing ‘priorities’ brought a whole new layer of complexity and pressure into our workplaces.
Having to juggle so many tasks and responsibilities with multitasking has really ramped up stress levels for everyone. Trying to balance multiple priorities at once can make us feel overwhelmed, anxious, and mentally drained. It’s like constantly spinning plates—it chips away at our focus, lowers our job satisfaction, and ultimately affects our overall mental health.
And on top of that, the increased workload and expectations that come with managing multiple priorities can really wear us down psychologically. The pressure to perform under tight deadlines and the constant demand for productivity can lead to chronic stress and burnout. Burnout, with its emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and feeling like nothing’s getting accomplished, has become all too common in today’s work environment shaped by industrialization. And it doesn’t just stay at work—it spills over into our personal lives too.
Acknowledging how multitasking and excessive workloads impact our mental health is key to addressing the root causes of stress-related issues and burnout in our lives today.
As we keep forging ahead in our modern world filled with rapid technological advancements, the challenges of managing priorities and multitasking are getting even more complicated thanks to the widespread influence of digital technology. You can’t go anywhere without seeing smartphones, and don’t forget those smart watches that constantly buzz with updates from emails, social media, and other digital tools. It’s like we’re constantly bombarded with notifications and distractions, pulling us in different directions and making it hard to focus on one thing at a time. This constant state of partial attention, driven by the demands of staying connected digitally, not only tests our cognitive abilities but also adds to our stress and overwhelm.
And let’s not forget about the societal pressure to always be busy and productive, which only fuels the cycle of burnout. There’s this idea that being busy all the time is a badge of honor, but it often means we overlook the importance of taking breaks and recharging. This culture of busyness just keeps pushing us to do more and more, leading to heightened levels of stress and burnout as we try to keep up with society’s expectations.
The combination of changes since the Industrial Revolution and the complexities of the digital age, along with societal norms, has really created a time of overwhelming pressure. It feels like we’re constantly expected to juggle multiple priorities and keep up the facade of being productive all the time. Dealing with these modern challenges means we have to take a step back and rethink our values as a society. We need to make a conscious effort to promote work-life balance, recharge our energy, and find sustainable ways to manage our priorities in today’s fast-paced world.
When we look at how the Industrial Revolution shaped our current understanding of ‘priorities’ and contributed to burnout, it’s clear that we’re still feeling the effects of that historical shift. Moving from focusing on just one ‘priority’ to managing multiple ‘priorities’ has really taken a toll on our mental well-being and work culture, especially with all the digital distractions we face today.
The solution, I’ve found, is learning how to set ONE priority each day.
Now when I share this with my clients they often say “well I can’t just do one thing per day! I’d never get anything done!”
That’s not what I mean.
By focusing on one priority each day, you’re acknowledging that this is your focus even when the day goes sideways or gets really busy.
Having clarity on your one priority task helps you structure your day around it. Absolutely, you’re still going to get a number of things done during the day. But also you’ll know that you’re making progress on your bigger goals, and that, my friend, makes all the difference.
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