If Everything Feels Urgent, You Might Be Missing This Step
Recently, our EsquireWell team encountered an unexpected roadblock (sharing a little bit of “behind the curtain” here).
Nothing was objectively “wrong,” but everything felt very urgent. Projects, emails, client meetings, scheduling programs and projects for 2026, decisions - all marked as top priority. And instead of producing the thoughtful, high-quality work we’re capable of, all of us found ourselves spinning our wheels: busy, slightly confused, and oddly unsatisfied with the output.
Not to mention, I was trying to push out not only 150 personal holiday cards, but also gifts and cards to as many clients and friends of EsquireWell as I possibly could. The woman at the post office and I were on a first-name basis (couldn’t have done it without you, TuTu!).
The problem wasn’t effort.
It was prioritization.
Or more accurately, the lack of it.
We literally asked in our team meeting, “Okay, Team, what do we need to deprioritize?”, and that’s precisely when we realized that we actually needed to start with a discussion of what absolutely had to stay “on the list” and what our priorities are. That was the only way we could decide what simply had to be deprioritized during this busy, intense season.
That moment reminded me of a classic metaphor many of us have heard but rarely apply in practice: the big rocks and little rocks analogy.
(Hat tip to Stephen Covey, who introduced this metaphor in his incredible book: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” - an oldie, but a goodie.)
The Big Rocks Come First - Or They Don’t Fit at All
Imagine your week as a jar.
The big rocks are the non-negotiables:
- Billable client work
- Projects that have to be completed by a certain date
- Court/closing/etc. deadlines
- Time-sensitive team or client deliverables
- Responsibilities that directly impact revenue, reputation, or professional standing
The little rocks are everything else:
- Emails (the non-critical ones)
- Meetings that feel urgent but aren’t essential or could wait
- Administrative tasks or clean-up
- Perfectionism and having to get things “just right”
- “Just one more thing” requests that expand the scope of the project
If you pour the little rocks in first, there’s no room left for the big rocks.
But if you place the big rocks first, the smaller ones can settle around them.
What we realized as a team, and what I see constantly in legal organizations, is that many professionals are unknowingly filling their jars backward (we certainly were). When everything is treated like a big rock, nothing truly gets the space and attention it deserves, and we’re left cramming the rocks in (or letting them overflow).
Why This Matters Especially for Legal Professionals
Let’s be clear: Lawyers and legal professionals don’t have optional workloads.
- You have to bill to earn.
- You have to get your projects across the finish line.
- Client needs aren’t optional. They’re deadline-driven.
And many firms are understandably cautious about messaging that sounds like “slow down” or “do less.” So, just to be crystal clear, that’s not what I’m saying.
This isn’t about “slacking.”
Prioritizing is professional stewardship. You can’t let go with confidence until you know what you’re holding onto.
It’s about directing limited time, energy, and judgment toward what matters most - so client service stays strong, errors don’t creep in under pressure, and your team stays healthy (physically and mentally), connected, and productive (not overwhelmed and burnt out).
Remember: When priorities are clear, deprioritization becomes a strategic choice.
Capacity-Aware Prioritization
A realistic approach starts with honesty, not aspiration. Have this conversation with yourself (journal or list things out) and your teams.
Make sure you:
- Know your actual capacity - and your team’s, too (not the version reality where everyone gets eight uninterrupted hours of work and zero curveballs - this is one I work on personally all the time)!
- Identify the true big rocks that must fit into the week
- Acknowledge that not everything deserves equal urgency, even if everything feels important
Only after that clarity can you intentionally decide what can be:
- Delayed - sequenced differently, not abandoned
- Delegated - appropriately and professionally
- Minimized - done well, not perfectly
- Eliminated - because it no longer serves its purpose
This isn’t about lowering standards.
It’s about protecting judgment, quality, credibility, and what I call “self-integrity” (getting done what you say you’re going to get done - even if it’s a personal commitment like exercising).
Prioritizing Is a Performance Skill
In high-performing legal cultures, overload is often mistaken for dedication. But unmanaged overload leads to:
- Missed details
- Rework
- Frustration
- Strained relationships
- And burnout disguised as commitment
When you get the big rocks in first, you’re not doing less, you’re doing the right work at the right time. Clarity about what matters turns deprioritizing into a strategic choice.
A Simple Practice for This Week
Don’t worry: no grand boundary declarations required!
- Identify your three big rocks for the week: the work that truly must get done to meet client and professional obligations and the work that is foundational to other tasks and projects.
- Scan for little rocks crowding the jar: what’s taking time or energy without advancing those priorities?
- Make one intentional adjustment: delay, delegate, simplify, or remove one thing so your big rocks actually fit.
That’s it.
Prioritizing isn’t about slowing down.
It’s about clarity - so your effort translates into impact.
And sometimes, the most professional thing you can do isn’t pushing harder; it’s deciding, deliberately and strategically, what belongs in the jar first.
Recommended Resources
[Video] Big Rocks, Little Rocks | Steven Covey
[Article] You Need To Prioritize Better: Get Your Big Rocks Under Control | Forbes
[Article] How to Focus on What’s Important, Not Just What’s Urgent | Harvard Business Review
[Resource] The Eisenhower Matrix | Columbia University, School of Professional Studies
