The skill of prioritizing is a key tool in your ability to manage stress. It allows you to look at a set of tasks and determine which are the most important so that you can put your focus into completing those first. You can then give your time and energy to the most important parts of your day at the expense of activities lower on the list.

There isn’t a matrix schedule or computer in the world that can do this for you and improve your day. Technology won’t help you work faster or boost your productivity or help you use your time more wisely. It isn’t about working smarter, it’s about dedicating your time to the correct tasks.

Even if you have a list of things to do you know that you won’t have the energy (or the time) to get through them all. So, a lot of it will get left undone and you will be left feeling guilty about what you couldn’t get to.

Enchiridion 38 states ’When walking, you are careful not to step on a nail or turn your foot; so likewise be careful not to hurt the ruling faculty of your mind. And, if we were to guard against this in every action, we should undertake the action with the greater safety.”

What this means is we have to take care not to harm reasoning and faculty of choice. They must be used correctly to have a better life. Getting overwhelmed can harm us and the reasoning mind.

We must realize we cannot function on impulse. We need to do the right things for the present moment and for life in general. Doing this helps to recognize what may be damaging to us through stress. This can be worked on through repetition of action and habit. Prioritizing gives focus with this.