How to Set Priorities When Everything Feels Important

In child care, everything feels urgent — because much of it is. But urgency and priority are not the same thing.

A Research-Backed Lens

Decision-fatigue research shows that constant prioritizing drains mental energy and increases stress.

A Simple Priority Filter

When overwhelmed, ask:

1. Does this directly impact children’s safety or well-being today?

2. Does this protect my capacity to keep showing up?

3. Can this wait without harm?

Example

A provider stopped trying to complete paperwork during peak care hours and scheduled two protected admin blocks weekly. Stress dropped. Nothing suffered.

Priorities aren’t permanent — they shift with seasons.