Tickle the Kitty

Discover the art of organizing chaos into a productivity adventure—find out how to truly thrive amidst the madness (and dragons)!

Do you ever feel like you're spinning plates, juggling flaming bowling pins, and maybe, just maybe, trying to herd cats—all at once? Life can be a lot like that.

Whether you’re balancing work, relationships, hobbies, that ever-growing “to-do” list, or just trying to catch a break, it’s easy to feel pulled in a million directions.

But guess what? There’s a way out of the madness. Welcome to the wild (and incredibly rewarding) world of prioritizing!

There’s a distinction that can be easy to miss: Prioritizing isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about getting the things done that matter most to you. It’s your golden ticket to focus amidst all the chaos and noise in your life. And as a bonus, it can make you feel like you’ve got this life thing under control.

First Stop: What’s Really Important?

What happens when you think of prioritization as sorting out what’s truly essential? It can make all the difference between deciding to only pack the necessities for your dream getaway to Tahiti versus cramming in everything, including your hamster. The idea is to focus on what’s crucial, what will make the biggest impact on fulfilling your goals, your well-being, and ultimately, your happiness.

When done right, prioritizing becomes your most potent superpower, keeping you from spinning in circles, stuck in endless “busy work” (we’ve all been there!) or anxiously procrastinating because you’re too overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks screaming for your attention.

A quick fantasy aside: think of your priorities as your real-world version of that weird glowing sword you find at the back of your granny’s cupboard —the one that unwavering illuminates your path through the wilds of your distractions to complete your quest to slay the dragon and achieve your ultimate prize - aka “tickle the kitty” (‘cus really, what could possibly bring greater joy? :). We’re talking real-life adventure of productivity and fulfillment all wrapped into one!

One thing, though: how do you figure out what’s actually important to you? What your “tickle the kitty” moment is?

Values, Goals, and Aligning with Your Life’s North Star

Let’s get personal for a sec. What drives you? What makes those fireworks go off in your brain, and what gets you jumping out of bed in the morning (okay, maybe after hitting “snooze” once or twice)? These are the kinds of values you want to inform your daily schedule and choices.

Prioritizing isn't just about crossing things off a list. It’s about fitting your time to serve your deeper values. It’s about making sure that what you’re doing today is nudging you closer to where you truly want to be tomorrow.

Wondering how you might start turning this from being just another nice idea into a set of actual action steps? Here’s one possibility to consider:

1. Take stock of your personal values: think big-picture stuff. The things that matter to you. Experiences, exchanges, and relationships that are important.

2. Set goals for your values: ask yourself questions like, “What do I want my life to look like in five years?” or “What am I most proud of today?”

3. Align your day-to-day actions: draw upon your insights from the last two steps to identify your priorities. Your future self will thank you!

How feasible does that sound to you?

• If “very”: Good stuff - go for it and see where you get!

• If “not at all”: Fantastic! What would you change? What’s missing for you?

POSSIBILITY #1: what if you don’t need to have everything right - or even figured out - to get started; you just need to get started and work with whatever comes next?

Now, let’s be real here. Some tasks are urgent, but not especially important, like dealing with that spam email explosion in your inbox (yep, we’ve all been there…). To stop yourself from getting sidetracked and start living by your true priorities, the key is to prioritize the urgent and important stuff (hey, if your hair’s on fire, it’s time to act!) along with things that are important but not urgent (maybe like getting a thoughtful birthday present for someone special?).

How to Say “No” Without Sounding Like a Grump

Here’s a wild, liberating truth: You aren’t obligated to do everything. Seriously. One of the biggest barriers to effective prioritization is failing to set boundaries (imagine trying to paint a masterpiece between bouts of answering nonstop, unimportant interruptions… it ain’t going to happen).

Saying "no" can feel tough, especially to colleagues, peers, or even friends or family. But setting these kinds of limits isn’t just about turning down requests; it’s about protecting your time and your energy to focus on what actually matters. You need time, energy, and clarity to tackle those big, meaningful tasks that drive your passion.

Okay, so how do you ask yourself which things are sucking your energy? Here’s a cheat code you might like to try: Identify all those drains on your time that serve little purpose or don’t contribute anything to your goals. Think of it as a mental workspace clean-up.

And yes, this is where having a calendar or schedule can really come in handy. Block off periods for interruption-free time (phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode, notifications silenced—high-five that focus!) and watch how beautifully the essential stuff starts getting done.

Still unsure how to handle those curveballs that come out of nowhere? Channel your inner ninja and use the “two-minute rule”: if something small arises and can be handled in two minutes or less, do it immediately. If not? Bump it to your later list or block out time for it tomorrow.

Routines Are Your New BFFs

Ever notice how dogs, cats, hamsters, goldfish, and petunias thrive when they have predictable routines? Funny enough, we humans are exactly the same. Routines are the backbone of effective prioritization.

Cementing key routines—like dedicating the first hour of your day to your most important task—ensures that the stuff that truly matters never gets shuffled off into oblivion. Sure, flexibility is essential, but there’s a world of difference between going 100% “Que Sera, Sera” à la Doris Day on your schedule and providing yourself with plenty of room to stretch within a clearly defined structure - particularly when it comes to getting the things you want done.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize there will be times when life starts throwing curveballs (“urgent and important,” we’re looking at you ) - times when flexibility will take priority. In times like these, having a trusty framework offers all sorts of benefits, including:

• you don’t have to freak out if something shifts

• you’re more likely to be clear-headed and energized to face your challenges

• you always have a clear destination to return to

Perhaps think of it like having a flexible interior yoga instructor—roots firm, but able to bend (and breathe!) through whatever comes your way.

POSSIBILITY #2: What happens when you break your routine into what's "core" (deal-breakers, absolute “must-dos”) versus "flexible" priorities (things you want to get done but can shift around if needed)? How might it help you have structure without rigidity—and help keep your sanity intact?

Nixing Distractions Like an Adventure Hero

Ah, distractions. Whether it’s your phone buzzing with 47 notifications, your neighbor’s barking dog, or the irresistible allure of checking (just one more time!) what’s new on social media—distractions are everywhere.

But here’s where things get fun. Are you ready to become a master distraction eliminator? Time to pick that metaphorical glowing sword back up again! First, create an environment primed productivity: silence notifications, put your head down with some noise-canceling headphones, and give your workspace a zen-like, clutter-free vibe.

And yes, sometimes in this fast-paced world, you’ll need to politely tell interruptions (and interrupters) to back off. You don’t have to be rude. But assertive? Absolutely. You want to guard your focus like a dragon guarding your tickle-hungry kitty.

Your priorities and goals are worth it.