7 Habits of Highly Successful Students

Habit 3

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Habit 3 is about Will and Will Not power. This habit helps teens prioritize and manage their time so that they focus on and complete the most important things in their lives. Putting first things first also means learning to overcome fears and being strong during difficult times. It’s living life according to what most matters most. Putting first things first deals with things that are:

Important or not important, urgent or not urgent. Let’s look at the four quadrants of time management.

Quadrant 1: Things that are Important and Urgent

Quadrant 2: Things that are Important but NOT Urgent

Quadrant 3: Things that are NOT Important but are Urgent

Quadrant 4: Things that are NOT Important and NOT Urgent

1.    Important & Urgent	2.    Important but not Urgent
3.    Not Important but Urgent	4.    Not Important & Not Urgent

Quadrant 2 is the ideal place to spend our time, doing things that are important but not urgent. Here’s where priorities come into play. The results for living Quadrant 2 are:

1.  Control of your life

2.  Balance

3.  High Performance

4.  So, in what quadrant are you spending most of your time? The key id to shift as much time as possible into Quadrant 2 and this is accomplished by planning. Spend more time planning and incorporating the most important things first, things that matter most. Keep your eyes on the prize and reach for it.