How I Prioritise

Dyslexia can feel like juggling a dozen tasks in your head while a timer ticks down. You know there are things you need to do, yet figuring out what to tackle first can be maddening. If you’re nodding right now, you’re not alone.

In this podcast episode, I explain my personal system for breaking free from that swirl of chaos. You’ll hear about simple tools that work whether you’re at home or in the office. By the end, you’ll have practical strategies you can try the next time your mind seizes up with too many choices.

Why We Struggle to Prioritise

Many dyslexics have minds that race from one idea to the next. That buzzing energy can be inspiring, but it also means tasks pile up. Doing a to-do list doesn't always help if you’re not sure how to rank each item.

It’s tempting to say yes to everything. Before long, you’re overwhelmed and end up doing nothing. Or you spend so long trying to decide that the day slips by. Some people would call this procrastination. I believe it’s often more about not knowing where to start.

Our brains crave novelty and stimulation. If a task seems routine, our attention wanders. We can also be easily spooked by big projects that feel impossible to begin. That tension between wanting to create something amazing and not knowing how to build it step by step can leave us skipping from idea to idea.

My Secret to Getting Unstuck

When you’re stuck, it helps to have a simple system. One thing I discussed in the episode is the power of quick wins. Those are tiny tasks that require minimal energy yet give you a burst of progress. They’re easy to start, easy to complete, and they remind you that you can do things today.

“In moments of overwhelm, I’ll find just one task that takes under two minutes. It could be sending a single email or making a call, just something to prove to myself I’m still moving forward.”

Starting small builds momentum. After you get that first one done, you gain a bit more confidence. Then you can tackle something slightly bigger, or at least you’re in the right headspace to make a plan.

I also keep a short list of tasks on hand at all times. Not a massive 20-item list, but three to five items that are next in line. It’s posted somewhere I can’t ignore, so whenever I finish one item, I can move on to the next without wading through random notes or half-baked scribbles.

Tools That Help My Dyslexic Mind

I’m a big fan of low-tech solutions that don’t require too much fiddling. I like using sticky notes or a whiteboard. Seeing tasks in front of me helps me make sense of the day.

If you prefer digital reminders, you can use simple apps like Trello or Microsoft To Do. I keep them colour-coded in a way that brings out key tasks. For instance, red items are urgent, green are things I want to do next. But don’t go too deep with fancy automation or multiple tags. Keep it simple or you’ll get lost.

Sometimes, I pair up with a friend or colleague and share a daily to-do list. That little bit of outside accountability helps keep me focused. When someone is waiting for you to check in, it’s a bit harder to vanish into your own distractions.

Organise Your Tasks by Time Chunks

A big project can look enormous when you think of it all at once. Instead, it helps to break it into 15- or 30-minute blocks. In the podcast, I talk about how I mentally label each task with a rough time estimate and try to fit it into these chunks.

So, let’s say you want to clean up your inbox, draft part of a report, and make a doctor’s appointment. Each one gets a chunk of time:

• Inbox cleanup (15 minutes)
• Report draft (30 minutes)
• Doctor’s appointment call (5 minutes)

This approach keeps you from diving too deep into one task at the expense of others. It also shows you that many tasks might be quicker than they appear. When you see only huge blocks of work, you might avoid starting. But if something only takes five minutes, you’re more likely to give it a go.

Knowing Which Tasks Come First

Even with a plan, you might still get stuck choosing the first step. That’s when I remind myself of urgency vs. importance. If a task is urgent, it usually has a due date or direct consequences. Important tasks shape your life or your goals long-term. Sometimes, a task is both urgent and important, so it might get top priority.

But let’s say you have something urgent that’s not truly important, like tidying your desk right before heading out. Then you have an important task like upgrading your personal skills with an online course. If you have limited time, you might want to check the urgent box first, then block out a few minutes for the important item before the day closes.

You can also listen to your energy. If you’re more alert in the morning, tackle the deeper tasks then. Save lighter tasks for when your mental battery is low. This makes the best use of your natural energy flow.

When in doubt, pick one item, start, and see if that sparks momentum for the next. Don’t wait for perfect clarity. Make a solid guess, begin, then adapt as you go.

• Keep a small list of next actions (no more than five).
• Use quick wins to break a cycle of overthinking.
• Organise big tasks into 15- or 30-minute chunks.
• Be mindful of urgency and importance when picking priorities.

Those are just a few ideas, and they’re not meant to add pressure. If a particular method isn’t clicking, feel free to tweak it or try something else. The goal is to lessen that whirlwind in your mind.

Key Takeaways

• Short tasks can help you snap out of overwhelm.
• Break big projects into small, timed blocks.
• Use easy, visual tools that don’t complicate matters.
• Pay attention to your energy peaks and dips.
• Prioritise tasks by urgency and importance.

Overthinking can become a roadblock, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Try these tactics, experiment with new angles, and be kind to yourself in the process.

If you want more insights on how I handle dyslexic challenges day-to-day, listen to the full episode. The podcast player is right at the top of this page. Hearing how another dyslexic person manages the chaos might give you fresh motivation for your own journey.