Selective Neglect — What Do You Not Do?

It can be tough to know which tasks to focus on, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done. We want it all. But by using the Eisenhower Matrix, we can focus on the right tasks and apply selective neglect to those we should delegate or ignore completely.

Introduction

Most people are familiar with the saying “you can’t have your cake and eat it too.” The idea behind this phrase is that it’s not possible to have everything you want. You have to make a choice between two desirable things.

This sentiment also applies to our daily lives. We can’t focus on every task equally and expect to be successful. We have to be selective about what we focus on and what we neglect.

For example, in the business world, there is more work to do than can be accomplished by any one person. Businesses have to be selective about what tasks they make an organization priority and what tasks they neglect. The same is true in our personal lives. We can’t do everything, so we have to be selective about what we focus on.

Selective neglect is the act of choosing not to focus on certain tasks or goals. This doesn’t mean that we don’t care about these tasks or goals, but that we prioritize other tasks and goals over them.