How To Set Your Top Priorities in Life + 12 Examples

Most people never take the time to determine their top priorities in life. Instead, they just go through the daily motions without purpose or direction.

As a result, they end up feeling like they’re wasting their lives on things that don’t really matter.

The good news is that life doesn’t have to be that way. You can set your top priorities and achieve great things if you focus on what’s important.

Priorities Vs. Goals And How To Use Both

Priorities and goals are related, and both can help you be successful, but they have different purposes.

Priorities are the things you value and want to focus on in life; your goals are the how that explain the steps you need to take to get to where you want to be.

For example, one of your priorities may be to become a successful entrepreneur. You’ll likely set several smaller, more specific goals, such as creating a business plan and finding clients.

Using SMART Goals is the ideal strategy for setting them as they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based.

To help you develop these goals, grab a copy of my free SMART Goals Template & Worksheet.

When your long-term goals align with your priorities, you’re more likely to stay focused and motivated to reach them.

Tips To Define Your Top Priorities in Life

So to achieve your goals, you first must determine your top priorities. That way, your dreams can be more focused, effective, and enjoyable.

Here are some different ways to decide what your priorities should be. 

Visualize Your Ideal Future

Spend some time imagining what life would look like if everything went exactly as planned. What would your career, relationships, and lifestyle be like? 

This idealistic vision will provide clarity on what you should focus on. 

Decide What Really Matters To You In Life

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the mundane tasks of daily life that we forget to focus on the things that truly matter.

Take a step back and decide what life values are important to you.

These could include relationships, health, career, education, family, spirituality, or anything else you deem essential.

These core values will be the foundation of your priorities.

Write Your Own Obituary

This may sound morbid, but hear me out. It’s one of the best ways to summarize the big picture of your life. 

You see, someone’s obituary highlights everything they achieved and what they were known for. So even if you have never met the person, you can get a good sense of who they were and what they stood for.

Let your brain fast forward into the future.

• What do you want people to know about you?
• What accomplishments do you want to be remembered for?

Your legacy should be the guiding force for setting your priorities.

Once you’ve thought for a bit, write it out, obituary style. Whenever you’re feeling a little off-course in life, pull it out and read it again. 

To help you decide the most important priorities to focus on, this priority matrix divides tasks into four quadrants:

1. Important & Urgent: Tasks that need to be done right away.
2. Important & Not Urgent: Tasks that are important but don’t need to be done immediately.
3. Not Important & Urgent: Tasks that may seem important but aren’t necessary, and should be delegated or eliminated.
4. Not Important & Not Urgent: Tasks you should avoid at this point

Take some time to review your tasks each day and assign them to the appropriate quadrant. That way, you’ll be able to focus on your priorities first and get things done faster.

You’ll want to prioritize your important and urgent tasks before anything else.

Otherwise, you’ll fall into the trap that author Stephen R. Covey describes,

“Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” 

So if your to-do list is too full of tasks in that quadrant, it’s time for some reevaluation. You want to give an order of importance to your tasks so you can spend more energy on your highest priorities, not tasks that don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. 

Choose Priorities That Are Within Your Control

Don’t try to select things you can’t change as your top priorities.

How other people respond to you, what other people think, and the happiness of those around you is not something you can do anything about, no matter how hard you try. 

So instead, focus on what you can control, such as how you respond to situations and where you direct your mental and physical energy.

When you focus on the things within your control, you move the needle in the right direction and can take the first step toward your important goals.

Select Priorities That Bring You Joy

When you focus on tasks that bring you happiness and fulfillment, you’ll be more likely to stick with them and make progress. 

So choose priorities that light a fire inside you, excite you, or give your life purpose. This way, staying focused and motivated each day will be easier and lead to a more fulfilling life.

Reflect Regularly 

As you walk through life, you may realize that you’ve changed. If that happens, you may need to reevaluate your priorities.

So regularly take some time to reflect on your values, goals, and current circumstances. Are you still focusing on the right things?

Ask yourself what you can do next time to better align your life with what matters most. By setting aside time for this reflection, you’ll make sure your priorities stay up-to-date and relevant.

Benefits Of Defining Your Priorities

Now that you know more about priorities and how to set them, let’s talk about the benefits of spending time on your priorities.

Improves Your Efficiency

When you focus on your top life priorities, you’ll become less overwhelmed. As a result, you’ll be able to get things on your essential task list completed faster and won’t have to worry about falling behind.

In addition, you’ll know that the tasks you tackle each day are pushing you closer to your priorities.

This can be motivating to do even more! 

Makes Decisions Easier

Life presents many opportunities, and you don’t have the time or energy to say yes to them all. When you have a clear outline of your priorities, making decisions will become much easier.

Before saying yes to something just because, ask yourself if it aligns with your priorities.

If a request doesn’t, it’s time to say no and move on.

Frees Up Brain Power

Decision fatigue is a real thing. Thinking through so many different things can be exhausting and zap a lot of your mental energy.

When your priorities are established, the good thing is you don’t have to spend as much time trying to decide what’s important or not.

Instead, all decisions will fit into the larger framework you’ve already selected.

By setting and sticking with your priorities, you’ll have more brain power to devote to being productive or completing creative tasks. 

A List Of 12 Priorities You Could Focus On

Creating your priority list is a personal decision that takes time and reflection. However, sometimes it helps to get some ideas from others.

Here is a list of priorities you could focus on.

1) Mental Health

Everyone needs to take care of their mental health in order to live a fulfilling life.

However, if you’re constantly bombarded with stress, toxic relationships, or overwhelming tasks, you can easily lose sight of who you are.

When you decide to prioritize your mental well-being, it will become easier to get through hard times, to stay on track and keep walking toward the most important things in life. 

2) Physical Health

Physical health is another important priority on which you could focus.

Eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep and exercising can go a long way in improving your well-being and providing more energy.

Along these lines, take time to schedule regular appointments for yourself. Even during the busy season of life get your teeth cleaned, go to your annual physical, and keep all of your counselling appointments. 

Taking care of your physical well-being means you’ll have the energy to take care of others. 

3) Family

Your family is the foundation of your life. Whether you have parents, siblings, children, or a spouse, it’s essential to nurture these relationships and create strong bonds with each person.

Spend quality time with your family members to keep communication open and prioritize activities that strengthen your relationship.

Stay mindful of the needs and emotions of those around you, and be there for them when they need it most.

4) Education

Investing in your education is a sure way to set yourself up for success.

Whether taking a few classes online or exploring a new field of study, continual learning helps you stay ahead of trends and build valuable skills.

Online courses can also benefit you. By taking time to learn new things, you’ll stay sharp and be more equipped to tackle anything that comes your way.

5) Career

Your career is a big part of who you are. Continual growth in your field can lead to better job opportunities, higher pay, and increased fulfillment from what you do.

Take some time to research trends in your industry and focus on any areas of improvement.

You could also take classes or pursue certifications that will showcase your expertise and help set you apart from the competition.

6) Finances

Financial security is key to living your best life. When you visualize the future, debt and money worries probably aren’t a part of the picture.

To get to this point, you’ll need to prioritize your finances.

This includes budgeting and setting financial goals. An emergency fund might also be part of your long-term financial plan. This way, you have some money on hand to help you work through unexpected situations without losing traction. 

7) Friendships

Friendships are another area of focus that can truly enhance your personal life.

When you have meaningful, healthy relationships, it makes life more enjoyable and helps you process difficult times.

So make sure to take time for your true friends, whether meeting regularly or sending them a quick message on social media to say hello. 

Showing up for the people you care about can make a big difference in their lives and yours.

8) Spirituality

Your spiritual life is a deep and personal journey.

Making spirituality a priority can include any religion or practice that provides peace, understanding, and comfort.

For some people, this could be attending church regularly or connecting with God through prayer.

Others may find fulfillment in reading self-help books or participating in meditational activities. 

9) Travels

Travelling is an eye-opening experience that can break you out of your mundane routine.

Seeing different places and cultures can profoundly shape who you are and help you gain a new perspective on life.

Whether you want to see the world or spend more time in a few of your favourite places, make sure to block out some time in your schedule for travel.

10) Hobbies

Having hobbies is a great way to break away from the daily grind and enjoy life.

Your hobby can be anything that delights you, including reading books, playing video games, writing, or crafting. If you’re not sure what hobby to try, this post has plenty of hobby ideas. 

Making time for activities that spark joy is like a mini-vacation that restores your energy. It’s an essential part of self-care.

So remember to make time for hobbies in your weekly schedule. Even if you just spend an hour a week on one of your passions, it can go a long way toward helping you stay motivated and inspired.

11) Your Generosity

Giving back to your community is an integral part of life and can make a big difference. It doesn’t have to be something major. Even small acts of kindness can help you feel fulfilled and spread positivity.

Look for volunteer opportunities or start a local charity drive. You could also donate your time or resources to a cause you care about. 

Whatever you do, being generous with your time, energy, and money can be an enriching experience.

12) Yourself

Your journey in life should be about finding out who you are and living your truth. That means embracing your strengths and weaknesses and following what resonates with you on a deep level.

Getting caught up in everything we think we should do is easy, but staying true to yourself is essential to create a happy life. That’s why it should be a top priority in your life.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, your priorities depend on what matters to you and what you want out of life.

Use the above priority list as a starting point, and invest in the areas that will bring you closer to achieving your goals.

What are your top priorities in life?

If you feel comfortable doing so, share them in the comments below. 

Related Resources To Help You Define Your Priorities:

• How to Do a Life Audit: 5 Step Guide for Success
• How To Visually Plan For The Future: 6 Ideas
• 40 Examples of Personal Goals To Set
• How To Set Daily Intentions + 15 Examples
• 9 Types of Goal Setting Based on Different Areas of Life