Tori Uncensored

In my last blog, I explored the idea that balance isn’t about doing everything it’s about making choices using prioritisation. Here, I want to go deeper by sharing personal experiences and techniques I’ve used to help navigate prioritisation, both professionally and personally.

The Reality of Never-Ending Tasks

Life moves fast. For knowledge workers, there’s always another email to send, another project deadline to meet, and another task waiting to be ticked off. The same is true in personal life family obligations, household tasks, social commitments.

Prioritisation isn’t just about getting things done it’s about recognising when to say:

✔ This is important, but it can wait.

✔ That’s enough for now I need rest.

✔ My time is valuable, so I’m choosing what matters most.

Over the years, I’ve had to make some difficult choices, both at work and in my personal life. I briefly touched on this in my blog about Chronic Fatigue, where I shared how I had to adjust my priorities to ensure I had the energy to sustain my career while still nurturing my family and social life.

Professional Prioritisation: Lessons from Business Analysis

As a Business Analyst, I work with stakeholders to define priorities, manage expectations, and resolve conflicts. In structured environments, prioritisation happens through frameworks designed to filter out what’s truly essential. Two techniques I rely on frequently:

MoSCoW Method (Must, Should, Could, Won’t)

Priority Levels & Purpose

• Must-Haves – Critical tasks that directly impact success
• Should-Haves – Important but flexible can be delayed
• Could-Haves – Nice-to-haves that don’t affect core goals
• Won’t-Haves (for now) – Acknowledge but deprioritise

Applying MoSCoW allows teams to focus on what must be done now versus what can wait a skill just as valuable in personal decision-making as it is in business.

Eisenhower Matrix: Urgent vs. Important

Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower famously said:

“What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.”

This framework helps filter tasks into four categories:

✔ Urgent & Important – Requires immediate attention.

✔ Important, Not Urgent – Can be scheduled for later.

✔ Urgent, Not Important – Should be delegated.

✔ Neither Urgent nor Important – Should be eliminated.

Using this matrix ensures I focus on long-term goals rather than reacting to urgency.

Personal Prioritisation: The Challenge at Home

While work prioritisation follows structured frameworks, home life is more fluid and that’s where things get tricky.

What I want to focus on often conflicts with what my family needs. Unlike in business, where clear priorities are set by stakeholders, family decision-making is a constant negotiation.

Take this example:

✔ I want to organise the garage to transform it into a home gym.

✔ My husband thinks shopping and cleaning should come first.

✔ The kids? They’d rather play on their tech.

Then there are family obligations birthdays, overdue visits, commitments that can’t be postponed indefinitely.

How We’re Managing Priorities as a Family

Right now, we use a family calendar to create a balance between obligations and long-term projects:

✔ Essential commitments (birthdays, overdue visits).

✔ Weekly necessities (shopping, cooking, cleaning).

✔ Big house projects (garage organisation, bathroom refits).

✔ Quality family time (ensuring life isn’t just about ticking off tasks).

This approach is still evolving, but it helps create a structured view of what needs attention while ensuring we don’t overload ourselves.

Final Thoughts: Prioritisation is an Ongoing Process

Prioritisation isn’t just about work efficiency it’s about choosing what truly deserves our time and energy.

✔ Work will always be there tomorrow learning to say “that’s enough for now” is essential.

✔ Not everything can be urgent but if we don’t set boundaries, everything will feel like it is.

✔ Choosing what to focus on and what to let go is what creates balance, productivity, and fulfilment.

I’ll be exploring how my Business Analyst experience helps me navigate both career challenges and everyday life in upcoming blog posts.

What techniques do you use to prioritise personal commitments and family life? Let’s continue the conversation!