The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens - Habit 3

Hi, and welcome back! As you know, I've recently had the pleasure of exploring the profound insights of Sean Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Today, I'm excited to share more of its information with you by diving into the third habit: Put first things first. This habit is about time management and prioritization. It is the final habit in the private victory section, so let's get into it.

Part 1

Let's break down the first part of this habit. It's about Prioritizing your life. Habit 2 is about discovering what the essential things in your life are. Habit 3 is about organizing them. The book discusses four quadrants of people, organized by how they deal with urgent and important tasks. To put it simply, these quadrants represent different ways people handle their tasks. Before we get into it, it's important to know that important stuff contributes to your mission, while urgent things needs to be taken care of right away.

Q1 is about the crucial things that must be done now. These events happen throughout life, but it is vital to make sure you don't stay here, or you'll risk becoming a procrastinator, which I am guilty of. Q2 is the best quadrant to be in. People in Q2 prioritize important things but ensure they get done before they become urgent. Q3 is the quadrant full of people who do things that catch their attention now, focusing on minor problems and unimportant notifications instead of more critical upcoming things. Finally, Q4 refers to people who have no awareness that they have things they need to get done in their lives. Take a moment to reflect on which quadrant you might be in. This self-awareness is the first step towards personal growth as we continue through this habit.

Part 2

The second aspect of this habit is all about planning out your life, specifically by using a planner. The book talks about three steps when using a planner. The first step is to identify 'big rocks '; these are the most important things you need to get done in the week, such as studying for a test, completing a project, or attending a family event. The next step is to set aside time for these things. Since you already know the most important things, you can set aside more minor, less important things for later. Step three is to schedule your other events. By following these steps, you set yourself up for success.

Part 3

The final part of this habit is to step out of your comfort zone and into your courage zone. Your comfort zone is full of the things you feel okay doing that don't push you or make you nervous. The courage zone is just the opposite; it's full of things that make you uncomfortable or afraid. It's not easy, but it's essential to step out of your comfort zone and into your courage zone to grow. If you never step out of your comfort zone, you let your fears control you, leading to you not pushing yourself. But when you do, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities and personal growth. Pushing yourself is an integral part of life because it helps you become driven, and without drive, you can't get anywhere. Let this inspire and motivate you to take that first step outside your comfort zone.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this habit is about prioritizing your events, planning your life, and learning to step outside your comfort zone. Practicing this habit can be really hard, but if you do, you'll become an organized, responsible, and driven human being, which is important for anyone who wants to do well. I encourage you to try implementing this habit in your life and see the positive changes it can bring.