“Priorities”

Why “priorities” don’t exist. Singular focus doesn’t limit you; it frees you to give your best to what matters most. Depth begins with clarity on what's best.

When did “priority,” a word rooted in singular importance, multiply into “priorities”? Was it progress—or a fracture in focus?

The word priority stems from the Latin prioritas, meaning “first in rank or importance.” For centuries, it was singular by design—a focus on what mattered most, the one thing above all others. Then, in the late 20th century, as life became more complex and demands multiplied, the term evolved. “Priorities” entered the cultural vocabulary, reflecting the belief that we could—and perhaps should—pursue multiple imperatives simultaneously. But when everything becomes a priority, does anything truly hold any significance? And how do we navigate this modern phenomena?

The pluralization of priority mirrors the fragmented complexity of modern life. While we juggle multiple demands, the essence of a priority—a singular, guiding principle—has been diluted. This shift is not just linguistic but symbolic, reflecting a culture that prizes busyness over clarity—a pattern often linked to anxiety, chronic stress, and burnout.

The problem with pluralization lies in its cost, or (lack of) value:

• Dilution of meaning: When everything is labeled “most important,” nothing truly is.

• Cognitive overload: Competing “priorities” stretch our mental bandwidth, leading to stress and inefficacy.

• Erosion of depth: Singular focus fosters mastery; fragmentation leaves us with surface-level outcomes.

And yet, our modern life is multifaceted. Balancing relationships, health, career, and personal growth requires acknowledging that priorities exist in different domains. The challenge is not rejecting pluralization but redefining how we engage with it.

What if tasks in our personal and professional lives became moments of purpose, fully lived in presence? Where you don’t make time (passive and out of control), but create time (active and in control) designed around actions that define the greater whole.

Activity ✍️

Inspired by neuroscience research on attention and decision-making, the cognitive load experiment focuses on understanding how singular focus impacts cognitive performance:

1. Baseline assessment

   1. Choose one habit or task you do daily, such as responding to emails, cooking dinner, or exercising. Reflect briefly: What is your typical experience like? How focused or scattered do you feel while doing it?

2. Perform the task with singular focus:

   1. Eliminate all distractions (no phone, no multitasking). Engage in the task while consciously directing your attention to each step. For instance, if you’re cooking, focus on the sensory details—how the knife feels, the smell of ingredients, the sound of chopping.

3. Interrupt the task deliberately:

   1. Midway, pause and deliberately introduce a second task—like checking your phone, answering a message, or making a quick call. Observe the impact on your concentration, performance, and how the task feels.

4. Post-task reflection:

   1. Write a short reflection:

      1. How did focusing solely on the task compare to multitasking?

      2. Did singular focus improve your efficiency or reduce mental strain?

      3. How did interruptions fragment your attention or add to cognitive load?

Why it works

This activity is grounded in findings from neuroscience, particularly research on cognitive load theory¹ and the impact of task-switching² on working memory and focus. Studies show that multitasking significantly reduces task quality and mental clarity, while singular focus enables deeper engagement and a sense of flow.

Example

If the task is responding to emails, you might notice that singular focus allows you to finish faster and with more precision. Adding an interruption, like a quick social media check, could disrupt your rhythm and leave you feeling scattered.

Singular focus doesn’t limit you; it frees you to give your best to what matters most. Depth begins with clarity on what's best.

● —aj. Warm heart, clear mind & strong spirit.

---

1. Cognitive load

2. Cognitive shifting