Finding Priority through Programs
Two weeks ago, I challenged you to turn all of your mental notes into the longest to-do list ever. Last week, you grouped those items like a pro, channeling your inner NY Times Connections puzzle player. What happens now?
Your groups will now become your programs. A project is a single focused endeavor, whereas a program is a collection of related efforts. Renovating your bathroom and redoing your kitchen floors are two distinct projects, but together, they fall under the Home Renovation program. That means our next step is naming your programs, because your programs are your priorities. With clearly outlined priorities, you can build a roadmap for the year and maintain focus on what’s important.
NAME YOUR PROGRAMS
Take your groups and give them program names, preferably specific. Perhaps you have a group of items related to financial projects. You could name the program Finance. Or, if you are taking on financial projects because you are trying to become more knowledgeable, name the program Financial Literacy. If you have a lot of health and wellness goals, don’t name your program Health & Wellness if you could name it something like Building Strength & Body Positivity.
And because I know you will ask - fine, you can have a miscellaneous program. But I urge you to look at everything under miscellaneous and see if you can find a better name for it. A standard name could be Run the Business - just all those things that have to get done like paying bills and getting an annual physical. But if you have a lot of miscellaneous items that don’t fit anywhere - take stock and see if those items should even be on your list. It’s all of the little miscellaneous things that bog us down and keep us from our priorities!
MATCH UP SIMILAR PROGRAMS
Should any of your programs also team up, like when the fitness instructor has you pair up in a warm-up first, and then pairs pairs for the main set? If you have a Summer Travel Program and a Winter Travel Program, you may just have Travel as your main program. Monica may have had 11 towel categories, but they all roll up under the group Towels. If you have multiple travel groups, we know that Travel is one of your key programs.
PRIORITY TIME!
Now, you have your groups, which are your programs, which are your priorities! We’ll drill down into making actual project lists soon, but spend some time with this list and make sure you feel jazzed about what you are committing to. Are these the right programs for you this year?
I’d love to send a word map of 2025 programs! Send me some of your top of programs for 2025. I’d love to hear what’s important to YOU this year.
