How to prioritize your daily tasks with Opal

Opal is our guest today to share how she prioritizes her tasks in daily planner

In my most recent post, Moving away from toxic productivity, I had a few readers share their thoughts in the comments. (Always love that!)

One of them was

Opal

from LittleTNStickershop here on Substack. She said :

[…] Now, in middle age, I value time more. And I value tasks less. This might not make sense to folks who haven’t arrived at this age and wisdom yet, but there is freedom and happiness in letting go.

I now highlight 1-3 priorities each day in my bujo. Usually there is only 1. If I cross those off my list nothing else matters. Any remaining tasks go onto tomorrow’s list. In this way, everything eventually gets done in its own proper time.

I once had a career where 12-20 work tasks were a priority in my everyday life. I was very successful, but the rest of my world suffered. I corrected that a few years ago and have never been happier!

I have been a reader of her ‘Stack since day 1 I believe, and I was intrigued by her prioritization method. I knew you guys would be interested also! She kindly agreed to share it with us in today’s post. Here goes :

A close-up of Opal’s business planner

“In the first half of my career, I lived in the fast lane. Up to 20 work tasks were a priority in my everyday life and I was working 60+ hours a week including travel. I was very successful in that career, but the rest of my world and my relationships suffered.

Productivity burnout is a real thing and I learned the hard way that making the most of every single moment means not just getting things done, but also making space for peace, gratitude, and mindfulness. These are tasks whose value can't be measured, but will pay you back in dividends in the long run.

A few years ago, I took a big leap and decided to change careers. I also took a closer look at my productivity burnout and worked towards designing a better planning methodology. It's taken a few years to get it right, but I'm very happy with my EDC (everyday carry) planner now. I use a disc-bound planner in Half Letter size and I designed my own inserts for it. It's a hybrid between bullet journaling and predated pages, which allow for planning at the quarterly (goal setting), monthly (habit tracking), weekly (priorities & tasks), and daily (priorities, tasks, and food logging) levels.

In my new planner, I highlight 1-3 priorities each weekday in my bujo. As you can see in the photo, it's all the space I allow to ensure I don't overextend myself. In my younger years, I could handle 60+ hour work weeks, but now it's time for me to slow down and ease into the second half of my life and career. Usually, there is only 1 priority per day. If I cross that priority off my list, nothing else matters. The rest are only "tasks," not priorities. Any unfinished tasks go onto tomorrow’s list. In this way, everything eventually gets done in its own proper time.”

Follow Opal on Substack

If you enjoy planner-related content, Opal is doing a low-spend challenge on her Substack this year, that may or may not end up in a no-spend challenge, if I follow correctly. (spoiler alert?)

Opal is the owner of the U.S. Etsy shop LittleTNStickerShop, a shop focused on planners, bullet journaling, and journaling.

She writes a free monthly newsletter for her followers and loves to geek out on all things planner.

Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleTNStickerShop

Free monthly planner newsletter:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littletnstickershop/

Give her some love and let me know if you’d like more content from fellow creators!