Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

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We all think we have too much to do, and not enough time to do it. But you’ll never feel on top of things if you don’t have clear priorities in the first place.

o Start assessing your priorities by taking inventory of the work you do: Which tasks are more (or less) urgent? Which are the most (or least) important?

[Note: Stephen Covey asserts that executives spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what important. I think that preventing fires is more important than putting them but out requires immediate attention. What do you think?]

o This inventory will prepare you to make concrete to-do lists for the tasks that truly need your attention. It will also help you answer the question, “How is my time best spent right now?” Focus on the tasks that are both urgent and important, and get rid of tasks that are neither by delegating them — or not doing them at all.

o And don’t neglect the tasks that are important but less urgent. Be sure these activities move up on your to-do list, or they may never get done.

Adapted from “Stop Letting Email Control Your Work Day,” by Paul A. Argenti

To check out that HBR article and join the discussion, please click here.

Here’s a direct link to dozens of other Management Tips.