Ask Flex / Everything is urgent
What are examples of urgent but not important tasks at work?
They're the things that are loud right now and forgotten in a week, like most pings, most "quick questions," and meetings you were added to an hour ago. Somebody wants an answer fast, but nothing breaks if it waits.
Four you can spot today.
The "quick question"
Answer at the top of the hour, not the second it lands.
The last-minute meeting
Ask for the notes instead of the seat.
The reply-all thread
Mute it. Check it once after lunch.
The favor that's someone else's job
Point them to the right person, kindly.
Here's what landed on me at work today, with names and private details left out: [list each thing, who asked, by role, and when they need it, if they said]. Sort each one into one of four boxes: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither. Give me one line of why for each. If you can't tell where one goes, ask me.
Before you paste work stuff into any AI, check what your company allows.Fire or Smoke?
Eight office messages, all marked urgent. Tap which ones are real fires and which are just loud.
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What do I do when everything is urgent at work?
Ask what breaks if it waits until tomorrow. Flex has a page on it.
How can I be effective at work?
Find out what your boss really judges you on, and do those things first. Flex has a page on it.
How do I avoid distractions at work?
Protect one hour a day. Tell people when you'll be back. Flex has a page on it.
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