Priority Isn't About Importance
This Sunday, while writing this piece, I am conflicted about juggling competing responsibilities. Let’s break it all down. First of all, I will be in the suburbs of Lille to help my sister move some furniture for the upcoming construction. This demands a commute there and back plus the actual work. So that's a 3 to 4 hour project.
There is also the technical project on the RE:HOME exoskeleton which is the most timely of all. This needs to be done by noon tomorrow. We need to finish all of the administrative paperwork to start the mechanical conception. This administrative paperwork is like a tutorial to follow for the actual practical work that lies ahead.
Then there's this blog post. Currently writing in a tram on my phone. I am rather used to doing these, so it takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how detailed I am with the writing. It can be done so easily since it has become a routine.
Now the cover letters. Safran, a French multinational aerospace, defence and security corporation, has just opened their internships website for next year. I was on the phone last Friday with a HEI alumna who did her two internships there. She told me that it is a first-come, first-served policy. Especially if I am applying for 3-4 months, not 6 months, which usually tends to be a criterion for companies.
I need to figure out my priorities. Either I prioritise the school project, which will be proof for later on that I can do mechanical engineering, or work on my professional project of finding the internship offers that I could apply to and write those cover letters. All of these need to get done either way; the only question is the order in which I will be doing them, and also which I can postpone slightly.
My reasoning right now would be to finish this blog post, then try to do as much of the school project as possible before heading to my sister's. If I have energy in the evening I will be working on my professional project as much as I can. This respects all my deadlines and gives me a clear structure. Sometimes priority isn't about importance—it's about what you can actually do right now.
This Week's Suggestions:
There are a lot of AI tools out there, yet most of them are for very specific tasks and can go unnoticed if not looking for them. Here's a video that breaks down different tools for different contexts, which are quite useful, from professional to personal work.
🎶 "Lost Without You" by Skream & FLETCH:
I sometimes just happen on one of Skream's songs, and they are recognisable by the very specific boom-clap sound that he likes to use. It is a very crispy sound; it makes sense. It is a sunny song for the start of autumn and cooler times.
Till next week with new ideas!
