Managing your time throughout the day is key to getting everything done, but it’s easier said than done. Try the POSEC method, which mirrors Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs to give you a daily overview that leaves room for fulfillment, which in turn keeps you motivated.
The Eisenhower Matrix: How to Manage Your Tasks with EISENHOWER
First, conventional wisdom on the internet claims that this method was invented by a man named Steven Lam, but as far as I can tell, there are no books or links that back this claim up. What there are are links to are blog posts and first-hand accounts of how well the method has worked for some people, regardless of who invented it.
POSEC stands for prioritize, organize, streamline, economize, and contribute. It’s not an ordered list of what to do, but a method for examining what you need to do, and it relies on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a guide. The hierarchy of needs is that pyramid-shaped chart that outlines how your physiological needs (air, water, food, etc.) must be met before you can achieve true fulfillment, which has all sorts of uses, including measuring your job satisfaction. With POSEC, you have the same understanding: the tangibles need to be taken care of, but your goal should always be fulfillment. It’s the same mindset that guides work structuring methods like Pomodoro, which require you to take timed breaks between focus sessions so you can relax and stay motivated.
The first principle of POSEC is prioritization. Write down everything you need to do, such as finishing a big work project, studying for a test, cleaning the house, or arranging your kids’ after-school activities. Don’t forget tasks like calling your mom, making time for coffee with a friend, or binge-watching your favorite TV show. Then, break down all of your responsibilities into smaller chunks and eliminate anything that you find truly unnecessary, such as answering old emails that aren’t related to the work project or giving the coffee maker a deep clean if you have larger, more pressing cleaning needs. If you have a work project to complete, what small steps does that entail? Prioritize everything that needs to be done, ideally using a system like the Eisenhower Matrix, which allows you to sort your tasks by urgency and importance.
