Task Priority Calculator
Calculate a task priority score (0–100) using impact, urgency, effort, confidence, and deadline—then get a clear next action.
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Prioritize tasks in 60 seconds
- Pick your next 5–10 tasks.
- Score each task quickly (rough estimates are fine).
- Do the highest score first. If two tie, pick the lower effort task.
Priority score calculator
Move the sliders. You’ll get a score + a clear next action.
How to use presets intelligently
Execution rule: Pick 1–3 must-win tasks per day. Everything else is scheduled, delegated, batched, or deleted.
What your score means
| Score | Default action | Timebox | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80–100 | Do now | 25–60 min | Start immediately. One task. No multitasking. |
| 60–79 | Schedule next | 30–90 min | Put it on the calendar within 24–72 hours. |
| 40–59 | Schedule this week | 30–120 min | If it matters, it gets a real slot—not “someday.” |
| 25–39 | Delegate or batch | 10–45 min | Bundle with similar tasks or hand it off. |
| 0–24 | Drop / defer / reduce scope | 5–15 min | If it’s not moving outcomes, stop feeding it time. |
Daily Top 3 template (copy/paste)
Use this once per day. It forces clarity and prevents infinite lists.
DAILY TOP 3 (TaskPrio)
1) Must-win task:
- Next action:
- Timebox:
- Done when:
2) Must-win task:
- Next action:
- Timebox:
- Done when:
3) Must-win task:
- Next action:
- Timebox:
- Done when:
NOT TODAY (schedule / delegate / delete):
-
How the score works (plain English)
The score rewards tasks that matter (impact), need attention soon (urgency + deadline), and are likely correct (confidence). It penalizes tasks that burn time (effort). The output is a decision: do now, schedule next, schedule this week, delegate, or drop.
How to score each slider
Impact
How much this changes outcomes. If it doesn’t move anything meaningful, impact is 1–2.
Urgency
How time-sensitive it is. Urgency is about consequences, not anxiety.
Effort
Total energy/time cost. High-effort work must earn it with impact.
Confidence
How sure you are the task is the right move. Low confidence means: reduce scope or validate first.
Deadline
Days until it must be done. A closer deadline increases urgency pressure automatically.
Sanity check
If your highest-score task feels wrong, your Impact or Confidence is probably overstated.
Common prioritization frameworks (and what they miss)
| Framework | Good for | Blind spot |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower (urgent vs important) | Quick sorting under pressure | Ignores effort + confidence |
| Impact / Effort matrix | Choosing projects to start | Often ignores deadlines |
| RICE / ICE-style scoring | Backlog prioritization | Overkill for daily tasks |
| MoSCoW | Communicating priority | Labels can be political |
Three common prioritization mistakes
- Confusing urgency with importance: “due soon” is not the same as “matters.”
- Ignoring effort: high-effort tasks can eat the week and kill momentum.
- Low-confidence work: if you’re guessing, reduce scope or validate first.
Best task tools (ranked by who they fit)
Pick based on workflow. The wrong tool creates fake work.
| Tool | Best for | Why it wins | Weak spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todoist (affiliate) | Personal + lightweight team tasks | Fast capture, filters, recurring tasks | Not a full project OS |
| Notion (affiliate) | Systems, dashboards, templates | Docs + databases + tasks in one place | Easy to overbuild |
| ClickUp (affiliate) | Teams running operations | Views, automations, scale | Can feel heavy |
Other task apps people consider
Depending on your workflow, you may also look at Apple Reminders, Google Tasks, Microsoft To Do, Things, Trello, Asana, or Jira. The right choice depends on whether you need speed, structure, or team operations.
Quick picks
If you want the cleanest to-do list: minimal setup, fast daily execution.
If you want an all-in-one workspace: tasks + notes + databases + templates.
If you run a team: operations views + automations + scale.
FAQ
What’s the fastest way to prioritize tasks?
Score impact, urgency, effort, confidence, and deadline. Do the highest score first. Schedule the rest.
Is “urgent vs important” enough?
It’s a good start, but it ignores effort and confidence. That’s how people end up doing stressful low-leverage work.
What if everything is urgent?
Raise the bar for impact. If two tasks are urgent, the one with higher impact wins. If impact is equal, pick lower effort first.
How accurate does the score need to be?
Not perfect—consistent. The tool is for making fewer bad calls faster. Use rough estimates and move on.
How many tasks should I plan per day?
Pick 1–3 must-win tasks. Everything else is scheduled, delegated, batched, or deleted.
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