Do the Most Important Thing First/ The Simple Habit That Changes Everything (#322)

We all start our day with the best of intentions.

You might open your calendar or to-do app with a fresh cup of coffee, ready to tackle the world. But fast forward a few hours and somehow you’ve answered 17 emails, cleaned the junk drawer, responded to that group text you meant to mute, and… the one thing that actually mattered? Still untouched.

Welcome to modern life. It’s loud, reactive, and full of distractions disguised as productivity.

But there’s a simple mindset shift—one that separates spinning your wheels from real progress:
Do the most important thing first.

Why First Matters More Than You Think

Your mental energy is strongest at the beginning of the day. Willpower, focus, and creativity are all at their peak. But instead of using this window of opportunity wisely, we often waste it on small, easy, or urgent tasks—things that feel productive but don’t move the needle. If not mindful of your mental energy, decision fatigue will likely set in before you know it.

Here’s the catch: important doesn’t always scream the loudest. Urgent things (texts, notifications, requests) often hijack our attention. But the most important thing—that big project, the difficult conversation, the creative dream you’re building—tends to wait quietly, hoping you’ll make space for it.

Doing it first guarantees it gets done.

Small Wins vs. Meaningful Progress

Checking off 10 small things might give you a dopamine hit, but it often leaves you feeling scattered and unfulfilled. Doing one truly important thing—especially early in the day—builds real momentum.

You feel grounded. Clear. Accomplished.
And that energy carries into everything else.

Doing the most important thing first isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about working smarter and living more intentionally.

How to Identify “The Most Important Thing”

If you're not sure what that is, ask yourself:

• What will matter most a week, month, or year from now?
• What task, if done today, would make everything else easier or less stressful?
• What have I been avoiding that I know I need to face?

It might be strategic (writing your business plan), relational (being with your partner), or even restorative (getting to the gym or taking time to rest). The key is that it matters—to your future, your goals, or your well-being.

Make It a Ritual, Not a Struggle

Doing the most important thing first doesn’t mean waking up at 4 a.m. or grinding through hours of work before breakfast.

Start small. Block 45 minutes of protected time early in the day—before email, before social media, before the world pulls you in 20 directions.

Use that window to do the thing that matters most. You’ll be amazed at how much lighter the rest of your day feels.

Call to Action: Choose Your “One Thing”

Before tomorrow starts, take five minutes and decide:

• What’s the one thing I want to definitely move forward?
• When can I do it first—before distractions win?
• What do I need to say no to so I can say yes to that?

Write it down. Commit to it. Protect it like your future depends on it—because it often does.

Final Thought

You don’t need more time.
You don’t need to do everything.
You just need to do what matters—first.

Because when the most important thing gets done, everything else becomes clearer, simpler, and lighter.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what truly matters. And starting there.