"Put first things first."

The core idea behind "Put first things first" is all about prioritizing what truly matters. It’s about focusing on the important tasks and values in your life before the less significant ones. Think of it like triaging your daily activities — not all tasks are created equal, and some deserve your attention before others.

Historically, this phrase was popularized by Stephen Covey in his book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Covey introduced it as one of his key principles for personal and professional effectiveness. He emphasized the importance of time management and prioritizing activities that align with your long-term goals, rather than just reacting to the urgent demands of the moment.

Imagine you’re a college student with a major exam coming up in a week. You also have a part-time job, a social life, and a messy room that’s been nagging at you. Putting first things first means recognizing that studying for your exam outweighs the importance of tidying up or going out with friends. Tidying can wait and your friends will understand, but the exam has a fixed date — it's a priority.

To apply this wisdom, start by identifying your key priorities. This could mean setting long-term goals and then breaking them down into actionable steps. If you’re overwhelmed with tasks, try using a priority matrix where you categorize tasks by urgency and importance. Focus on what’s both urgent and important first. The stuff that’s important but not urgent comes next. You’d be surprised how much clarity this can bring.

Let’s dive into a relatable scenario. Picture Sara, a marketing manager juggling a dozen projects. Her email inbox is overflowing. She’s got a meeting in an hour, a report due tomorrow, and a proposal that needs her attention. Instead of diving into the chaos, she takes a moment to breathe and writes down her top three priorities: preparing for the meeting, finishing the report, and working on the proposal. Sara decides to ignore her emails for now, knowing they can wait. She tackles her report first, since it’s due the soonest, then preps for her meeting. The proposal is next. By the end of the day, she’s knocked out the critical stuff and feels accomplished instead of drained.

If you’re wondering how to start putting this into practice, here’s a tip: each morning, or the night before, jot down your top three priorities for the next day. Keep it simple. Don’t overload your list with every single task. Just the top three. It forces you to focus on what’s truly important and helps you navigate through the day with a clear sense of purpose.

In essence, "Put first things first" isn’t just a productivity hack. It’s a way of life. It’s about making conscious choices that align with your values and long-term goals. Whether you’re swamped at work, balancing school and personal life, or just trying to get through a busy day, remembering to prioritize what truly matters can make all the difference. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a step back, breathe, and put first things first. You’ll thank yourself later.