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How to Prioritize Tasks: Making Space for Your Action Plan (and Progressing Through It)

Ever feel like your day ends before it really starts? Between sessions, documentation, emails, meetings, and the mental load of it all, carving out time for your personal or professional growth can feel impossible. Whether you’re building a business, revamping your caseload systems, or developing your leadership style, your action plan deserves both a spot on your calendar and fuel from your energy reserves.

But here’s the truth: if your to-do list is packed to the brim with urgent tasks, you’ll never get to the important ones. The ones that change your trajectory. The ones that make work feel more meaningful and sustainable.

Today we will help you shift from reactive mode to intentional action using some simple and practical strategies.

PART 1: PRIORITIZING TASKS WITHIN YOUR DAY

You don’t need hours of uninterrupted time. What you do need is a few minutes of clarity, consistency, and boundaries.

Use the “One Aligned Thing” Rule

Each day, choose one small task that moves your Action Plan forward. It might be a 10-minute reflection, a 20-minute research session, or even a post in a professional group asking for resources.

“Today I’ll organize my CEUs.”
“Today I’ll read one article on school-based leadership.”
“Today I’ll brainstorm business names.”

Progress isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing something that aligns.

Make It a Morning Decision

Before the day takes over, look at your calendar and choose when you’ll do your one aligned task. Protect it like you would a meeting.

If mornings are hectic, try anchoring your aligned task to another routine—right after lunch, before your commute home, or during your last 10 minutes at your desk.

Schedule It Like a Meeting

Block calendar time—even if it’s only 15 minutes. This simple habit moves your growth from “someday” to “today.”

Audit and Eliminate

What’s taking up space but not serving you? Look for non-essential meetings, perfectionistic tasks, or avoidable rework. Clearing these makes room for what actually matters.

PART 2: PRIORITIZING STEPS WITHIN YOUR ACTION PLAN

Once you’ve made time for your plan, it’s time to focus on what to do first. Otherwise, it’s easy to stall out in analysis paralysis or perfectionism.

Step 1: Clarify Your Focus Area

Instead of juggling five priorities, choose one focus for the next 30 days. For example:

  • “Improving my time management system”
  • “Building my business brand presence”
  • “Reducing burnout with mindfulness”

Clarity fuels action. One direction = one path forward.

Step 2: Pick a “Power Move”

What step would create the biggest impact right now? Start there.

  • If your focus is stress reduction, your Power Move might be creating a 3-minute daily breathing habit.
  • If your focus is starting a side hustle, it might be researching LLCs or setting up a basic landing page.

Power Moves should be simple, actionable, and meaningful—not perfect or flashy.

Step 3: Break It Down Further

Power Moves are great—but even they need baby steps. Break it down into 10–30-minute chunks.

Example: Instead of “Create a website,” start with:

  • Buy a domain
  • Sketch a homepage layout
  • Write your “About Me” in a Google Doc

Progress loves clarity.

Step 4: Revisit and Realign

Set a weekly or bi-weekly check-in with yourself: 

  • What’s working? 
  • What feels heavy? 
  • What needs shifting?

Your Action Plan isn’t a finish line—it’s a living, breathing guide to your most fulfilling path. Let it evolve with you.

You’re not behind. You’re not “bad at follow-through.” You’re doing a million things—and still dreaming bigger. That alone is powerful.

But your dreams and goals need time and priority status to thrive. By carving out small, meaningful moments during your day—and focusing on what matters most within your plan—you create a life and career that feel less like survival, and more like alignment.

Let your day make space for your dreams.