“The quest for balance is universal, but perfect balance is a myth” – R. Zuckerberg

In this ever demanding world we are overwhelmed with messages telling us that we should be having it all and doing it all – devoting ourselves to climbing the career ladder, being at peak mental & physical fitness, spending quality time with our family, maintaining strong friendships AND getting 8 hours of sleep a night…..

It’s simply not realistic to try and be at the top of your game in all areas of your life every single day, trying to do so only leaves us burnt out and feeling inadequate. We are human: we make mistakes, we get sick, we need more coffee, we have bad days.

What if I told you that you could get more done by focusing on less? A way to go from balanced but stressed out – to lop-sided but productive and in control. Let us introduce a way out: the prioritization and micro-goals theory “Pick Three” by Randi Zuckerberg.

Randi Zuckerberg is an entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, and Emmy-nominated tech media personality. She is the founder and CEO of the media consulting firm Zuckerberg Media, former Director of Marketing at Facebook, creator of Facebook Live and author of The New York Times bestseller Pick Three.

The Pick Three theory started out with a simple tweet from Zuckerberg: “The entrepreneurs dilemma: maintaining friendships, building a great company, spending time with family, staying fit, getting sleep. Pick 3”

Zuckerberg sets out that there is no way to hit upon all these important aspects of our life every day with the same amount of focus and energy: no matter how hard we want to or how hard we try. Pick Three shows that you can achieve your long-term goals by breaking them down into manageable micro-goals, and then only prioritizing 3 goals per day.

Sounds good? Let’s talk about how to action this in your life….

1.    Assess Your Priorities

Step back and think about what in life is truly important to you. What are your career aspirations? How do you want to develop yourself personally? What areas of your life are you unhappy with?

2.    Set Goals

Work, Family, Friends, Fitness, Sleep - set yourself long term goals in each area of your life. What do you want to achieve in the next year at work, what are your goals for your health or your relationships with your family? What about your social life? Are you getting enough rest?

Then break these down into manageable monthly and then weekly micro-goals. The big picture can be overwhelming, but micro-goals allow you to see the steps to take to achieve your long-term goals.

3.    Plan Your Week

Each day you will focus on just three areas — you can pick which three the night before in a daily planner, or in the mirror while you brush your teeth in the morning. Why just three things a day? Because setting three daily goals is measurable, manageable, and realistic. This doesn't mean you can't do more in a day if you want to — but only after you've given your all to your priority three.

It is likely that work will always be your top of your weekday priority list and family may also be a daily priority. On a day when socializing with friends is a priority, then a good night’s sleep may go out the window! Track which areas you prioritize each day and ensure an even spread throughout the week.

4.    Set Realistic Expectations!

Be kind to yourself and set realistic expectation. We all want to have it all; to succeed at work, have great family relationships, get to the gym five times a week, get eight hours sleep and excel socially – but its important to realize that although we can have it all – we just can’t have it all every single day! Whatever you choose, don’t feel guilty about the things that fell by the wayside. The best part about picking three is that you can pick a different three tomorrow.

“As long as it balances out in the long run, it’s OK if some days you’re very focused on your family, other days on your job, other days on yourself…. it’s OK to be lopsided some days” – R. Zuckerberg

Using the Pick Three theory has completely changed the way I live. I feel focused and organized, knowing I can give myself permission to focus on doing my best on today’s key tasks. I don’t feel guilty prioritsing one area of my life over another, as I know I can shift the focus the next day. It’s made me a more focused at work, a more present mother, a more reliable friend, a more disciplined sleeper, and, a calmer person. I’m busiest I’ve ever been, but it feels manageable. Who knew the two could go hand in hand?