Many people wonder about how to set priorities when there seems to be so many things that need to be done and not enough time to do them. This is something we all deal with. So let’s talk about this important topic.

I have tried many different ways to set priorities — making a list, logging items in a journal, using a calendar, implementing a project-management system, and more. But I once heard renowned college-football coach, Lou Holtz, say that setting priorities in life is very easy: Just remember the word “WIN” (What’s Important Now).

When I heard that simple acronym and understood the concept, it helped me so much, because to WIN in life, we just need to work on What’s Important Now. In other words, don’t worry about the next important thing — or what is important tomorrow or next month or next year — just work on what is important now.

If “now” means answering a phone call, then give that phone call your best and move to the next important thing. That could be reading a book to your kids before bedtime — that is a very important now thing! Also, often we work on something, and we feel guilty that we are not at home with the family — or we are with family, and we feel guilty that we are not working. But if you just use the WIN idea, it helps so much because it helps you focus on one thing and not all things at once.

So let’s WIN together. Remember, the Bible says in Matthew 6:34 (NIV), “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” This is a wonderful verse. To me, it says, “Calm down and work on the things you can work on today — then repeat tomorrow.” One day you will look up and see how far you’ve come, but you have to stay diligent. As Proverbs 10:4 says, “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”

God bless,

Joel Renner