If “top priority” tasks are the “big rocks” and small admin tasks are the “sand” – always focus on the big rocks first. That’s good common sense advice.
In practice, I think almost always works better than always.
I think a bit of flexibility in our getting-things-done process does a lot of good. For example, on days when I feel my attention is fragmented, I find it a lot more helpful to tackle the sand first. I’d never be able to focus on the big rocks till I get a bit of the sand out of the way as the sheer volume of sand stresses me out.
So, if that’s happening to you, don’t feel guilty. Just set aside a couple of days as admin days and plug away on clearing the sand. “Big rock” thinking is not allowed on these days – we don’t care about the big picture. Just focus on managing the sand in your life.
Sometimes, you have to wade through the sand to get to the big rocks. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
A Learning a Day 