Stuck on the big tasks? Here's why.

Imagine your available time as a bucket. Just like a day has only 24 hours, your bucket has a limited volume.

Now, imagine two different-sized balls: large (L) and small (S). The large ones represent the most important activities, like family, the business you're building, or staying healthy. The small ones represent less important tasks, like answering emails or watching yet another 7-minute video on productivity... again 😓

Most people approach their to-do lists like a robot from the 1950s:

1. Task in

2. Execute

3. Next task

They fill their buckets without questioning their choices. Even worse, small tasks tend to be done first because they are (a) more convenient (quick and easy to complete), (b) urgent, or (c) both. This often leads to a bucket full of S-sized tasks before noon.

Why is that?

We're not wired to foresee the long-term consequences of our actions. Our brains are programmed for immediate responses—fight or flight. A notification bell rings, and we’re alert, making the immediate tasks seem more pressing.

The important tasks are either too vague or, conversely, too close, too mundane, for us to even notice them and prompt immediate action.

Furthermore, even if we have them on our radar, we quickly find excuses not to work on these important tasks.

• "My goal isn't due until the end of the year, and it's only August." (Before you know it, it's November.)

• "I won't finish this today anyway; I'll do it over the weekend." (But the weekend was sunny, so it was spent at the lake.)

• "It's family; they'll still be around tomorrow." (They won't, trust me.)

How to solve it?

I know this sounds obvious, and yes, the solution is even simpler. Just fill up (and I mean your calendar if this wasn't obvious already 😉) the L-size balls before all others.

However, the key part isn't even the methodology but— and I hope this sticks with you— awareness.

Being aware of your blind spots and taking time to reflect on priorities, what moves you forward, and what keeps you healthy and happy will help to leave the rat race of an ever-growing to-do list.

I'll leave it up to you to decide what's important for you. For me, I have three main pillars—feel free to steal and make them your own:

• Mental and physical health

• Family and relationships

• Building toward my purpose

The first is the foundation of the other two. The second builds connection, which, as social beings, is our main source of happiness (ask any 92-year-old what they wish they had done more of). The last one is about working toward something bigger than yourself and leaving the world better than you found it—it gives life meaning.

That's it: prioritize your important tasks first, fit the smaller ones around them, and don't forget to call Oma (Grandma)—that always fits in.

Have a great week, and see you next Thursday.

Stay positive,
Basti

Still reading? Great!

I want to expand my newsletter with a weekly insight nugget and share elements that resonate with me during the week.

This week’s nugget comes from the "Visual Thinking" podcast (link below), and in the very first episode, Asami Kubota talks about how translators really work.

Translating is not simply about converting words one-to-one into another language but rather about communicating the author’s intended image. That's why translators start by visualizing each text block first and only afterward find words to evoke that image, emotions, and message in the new language.

What fascinates me is the fact that language is not just a series of words arranged according to grammar rules but primarily a communication tool to transmit images and stories.

Let us not solely focus on one element—writing or images, images or numbers—but see them as the same: symbols to share our inner world with the outer world, with others.

As always, thanks for reading, and have a great day!