Why Prioritization is Everything (and Why Some Tasks Never Leave the List)
We love to say “I don’t have time for that.” It’s a phrase that rolls off the tongue, like time itself is the villain standing between us and the life we want.
But here’s the truth: it’s almost never about time. It’s about priorities.
Every choice we make is a fork in the path. When we choose one thing, we’re saying “this matters more than that.” Sometimes that choice is conscious, sometimes it’s not. But either way, it’s always a choice.
The Blemish on the List
I started noticing that certain tasks never seemed to come off my list. They’d hang around, staring back at me day after day like an uninvited guest. “Exercise.” “Gardening.” “Sort out the garage.”
I’d cross off a dozen other things but these tasks? They just slid to tomorrow. And then to the next day. And then the next.
At first I thought it was a discipline problem — that I wasn’t strong enough, focused enough, or motivated enough. But eventually I realized the truth:
If something keeps getting pushed to tomorrow, it’s either:
Too big – like “gardening,” which actually means a hundred different things (weeding, mulching, planting, watering). Or,
Too vague – like “exercise,” which could mean yoga, running, weights, or just taking a walk.
And when things are too big or too vague, our brains skip them for something more manageable.
The Priority Test
Here’s the hard truth: if a task lingers on your list day after day, it’s not really a priority.
So the question becomes: Why not?
Is it something you think you “should” do, but don’t actually care about?
Is it hiding under an umbrella term, waiting to be broken down into steps?
Is it genuinely important, but you’re afraid to start?
When you answer those questions honestly, you take the mystery out of why that “blemish task” never leaves your list. And you get to decide whether to:
Break it down into smaller, doable steps, or
Cross it off for good and stop pretending it matters to you.
The Fork in the Path
At the end of the day, prioritization isn’t about having more time. It’s about being honest about what matters. Every list is a map. Every choice is a fork in the path. And every day is a chance to stop circling the same tasks and start moving toward the things that will actually make your life feel meaningful.
So the next time you notice that stubborn repeat offender on your list, ask yourself: Is this really a priority? If not, why am I letting it take up space on the page—and in my brain?
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is cross it off, once and for all.
