The 5 Choices

"Success does not come from doing more things, but by doing the right things at the right time in the right way." This book provides a road map to reshape your productivity and achieve extraordinary results.

1. Differentiate Between Urgency and Importance

Many of us conflate being busy with being effective, but not all tasks are created equal. The book highlights the importance of using the time matrix, separating tasks based on urgency and importance.

The matrix is divided into four quadrants: Q1 for important and urgent tasks, Q2 for important but non-urgent tasks, Q3 for urgent but not important tasks, and Q4 for neither. Spending too much time in Q1 or Q3 feels productive but often results in stress and lower-quality work. Conversely, Q4 is purely time-wasting.

By focusing on Q2, the space of important but non-urgent tasks, you create time for strategic thinking and long-term success. This is where planning, skill-building, and creative work thrive.

Examples

• Treat preparing for a presentation (Q2) as essential instead of waiting until it becomes urgent (Q1).
• Reduce daily email checks (Q3) for more focused work sessions in Q2.
• Eliminate social media scrolling (Q4) to prioritize meaningful planning.

2. The Power of Defining Your Roles and Goals

To be productive, it's necessary to recognize the many hats we wear in life and align our efforts with well-defined goals.

Identifying your roles, such as manager, parent, or athlete, helps clarify where your focus is needed. Once you've defined your roles, create statements that describe your aspirations. This ensures you remain intentional in your daily undertakings.

Through achievable goals tied to your roles, you can measure progress. Assess these goals periodically to refine your approach and stay aligned with what’s most important to you.

Examples

• A teacher striving to engage students defines their role as, "Empathetic educator who inspires curiosity."
• A parent sets the goal of spending quality time with family every evening.
• A web developer plans to master a new programming language in six weeks.

3. Attack the Big Rocks First

Prioritize the game-changing tasks in your schedule, not just the smaller, less impactful ones, even if they seem easier.

This concept compares large tasks to boulders — focusing on these first clears the most important hurdles. When these are sidelined, you may end up procrastinating by working on "gravel" instead.

Creating a weekly Master Task List provides an overview of both "big rocks" and "gravel," empowering you to manage time effectively. By committing blocks of time for the key tasks, you establish momentum and deliver results on time.

Examples

• Schedule time to complete a challenging report instead of starting with quick, minor paperwork.
• Block two hours for deep, undisturbed work on a critical project.
• Reserve mornings for brainstorming and evenings for lighter tasks.

4. Prioritize Scheduled and Unscheduled Tasks

Better decision-making starts with organizing the types of tasks and inputs you encounter daily.

Tasks and information fall into four categories: scheduled tasks (e.g., meetings), unscheduled tasks (e.g., last-minute requests), contacts (e.g., client information), and notes (e.g., presentation ideas). Efficiently arranging these inputs into calendars or digital tools minimizes clutter and illuminates priorities.

The book emphasizes linking systems together, like combining a task list with relevant contacts and notes. This holistic approach keeps everything easily accessible and manageable.

Examples

• Schedule meetings with notes attached for seamless transitions between topics.
• Use a planner app to centralize priorities, contacts, and deadlines.
• Automate your inbox by filtering messages into categories like "urgent" and "reference."

5. Delegate Decisions to Technology

Instead of humans spending valuable mental energy on small decisions, automate repetitive processes using technology.

Email management serves as a perfect example of where automation shines. Filtering spam or categorizing emails by priority saves time and helps preserve mental bandwidth for higher-order thinking.

By letting technology handle routine decisions, your mind remains sharp and focused on meaningful work.

Examples

• Automatically label work emails with colors in your inbox.
• Use apps like Trello or Asana for team collaboration and progress tracking.
• Set reminders for recurring tasks instead of memorizing them.

6. Manage Energy, Not Just Time

Productivity depends on physical and mental wellness. A drained mind can't excel, no matter how well-organized the task list is.

Understanding that the brain consumes 20% of the body's energy underlines the need for adequate rest, nutrition, and movement. Energy management encompasses more than bodily needs; it also involves maintaining a sense of purpose in your work and nurturing social connections.

Balancing physical exercise, restorative routines, and relationship-building ensures a sustainable work ethic.

Examples

• Step away from your desk for a 15-minute walk to recharge midday.
• Join a local hobby group to build friendships outside work.
• Replace junk food snacks with fruits for a brain-friendly energy boost.

7. Pause, Think, and Then Decide

Mindless reactions to emails or requests derail productivity. Instead, the Pause-Clarify-Decide method encourages thoughtful prioritization.

Small moments taken for reflection can safeguard your focus. Before responding to an email, consider who it's from, its content, and whether action is needed immediately or later. This structured approach reduces knee-jerk reactions.

Through pauses, you gain clarity, bypass distractions, and focus on what matters.

Examples

• Pause and decline a non-essential meeting invite instead of accepting impulsively.
• Reread an email subject before committing it to your to-do list.
• Spend 5 minutes each morning organizing your thoughts.

8. Break Free from Multitasking

Multitasking fragments attention, dilutes quality, and prolongs completion times.

Placing exclusive attention on one task allows for higher accuracy, greater speed, and deeper satisfaction. Moreover, constant switching between tasks exhausts mental resources faster than sustained focus.

The book advocates carving out uninterrupted work periods, especially for Q2 tasks.

Examples

• Dedicate a two-hour window solely to drafting a strategy report.
• Use "Do Not Disturb" settings to mute phone notifications.
• Avoid working on unrelated projects simultaneously during meetings.

9. Strengthen Social Connections for Better Performance

True productivity isn’t all about work; relationships fuel emotional energy that translates into more effective problem-solving.

Healthy connections foster better problem-solving and emotional resilience. Sharing experiences or collaborating bolsters morale, encouraging people to tackle challenges with new energy.

Taking time to strengthen personal friendships or professional alliances boosts emotional well-being, which in turn powers all aspects of life.

Examples

• Set weekly lunches with coworkers to build rapport.
• Email a personal thank-you note to someone who helped you.
• Spend one evening reconnecting with family over dinner.

Takeaways

1. Begin each week by creating a Master Task List, identifying big rocks first, and scheduling time blocks for Q2 tasks.
2. Take care of your physical and emotional energy by committing to regular exercise, eating healthily, and maintaining social connections.
3. Use automation tools like email filters and digital task planners to minimize distractions and streamline processes.