Task prioritization, easy task or hard task first? Every morning we face choices that shape our productivity and define our progress during the day.
Some of those things feel light like sending a quick email. Others feel heavy like writing that big report. Which one should we tackle first? Let’s walk through it together, using clear words, a real workplace story and a few lessons from science.
A Real‑Life Story
On Monday morning, the product team has two jobs:
- Easy task: Update a few button colors on the app. It would take one hour.
- Hard task: Design a new payment flow. It would take most of the day and lots of thinking.
The team tries two different approaches on two different weeks:
- Week 1 – Easy First: They spent the first hour doing the button colors, celebrated a quick win, then moved on to the payment flow.
- Week 2 – Hard First: They jumped straight into the payment flow at 9 a.m. and saved the button colors for later in the afternoon.
Here’s what happened:
| Week | What Went Well | What Was Hard |
|---|---|---|
| Easy First | People felt relaxed; no unfinished small jobs hanging over them. | Energy dipped after lunch, and the hard task took longer than planned. |
| Hard First | The most important work was done by lunch; team felt proud. | A few folks felt tired later and almost forgot the small button task. |
The lesson? Both styles can work… if you choose them on purpose.
When to Start with an Easy Task
- Warm‑Up Your Brain
A study from the University of Zurich found that small “starter” tasks can spark momentum and lower anxiety. Think of it like stretching before a run. - Quick Wins Build Confidence
Harvard Business School’s “Progress Principle” shows that making even tiny progress early in the day boosts motivation for the next job. - Short Time Windows
If you have only 15 minutes before a meeting, finish an easy item. You’ll feel productive instead of staring at the clock. - Heavy Stress Days
Clearing light tasks first can free mental space. Researchers at Stanford found that reducing small worries lowers cortisol, the stress hormone.
Benefit: You feel calm, collect early wins, and set a positive tone.
Consequences of Always Choosing Easy Tasks:
- Limited Growth: Constantly sidestepping challenging tasks hampers personal and professional growth, restricting your potential.
- Neglecting Priorities: Essential tasks may consistently be overlooked, creating significant long-term hurdles.
When to Start with a Hard Task
- Peak Energy Hours
Most people think fastest in the first two hours after arriving at work. Use that fresh brain power for the difficult job. - High‑Impact Work
The big task usually moves the company forward. Tackling it first tells your team and yourself that the mission matters. - Avoiding Decision Fatigue
Psychologist Roy Baumeister showed that our willpower fades during the day. Finishing tough work early avoids late‑day mistakes. - Clear Schedule Later
Completing the hard task first leaves the afternoon open for quick fixes, emails, and helping coworkers.
Benefit: You hit the most important goal while your mind is sharp, and you end the day with fewer heavy worries.
Consequences of Always Tackling Difficult Tasks:
You’re super like a superhero, but even superheroes need to rest.
If you work on the hardest tasks all day without taking breaks, two things can slow you down:
- Burnout hits hard. When you push nonstop, your energy tank runs dry. With no fuel, both your work and your health take a hit.
- You miss the quick wins. Little wins give you a burst of joy and drive. Skip them, and your spark fades.
… and if you really need to be a superhero for a long time, make sure it is not forever. Set a deadline.
Achieving Balance and Sustainable Success:
The key to long-term productivity is balance: understanding your priorities, managing your energy and aligning tasks effectively.
- Mix Tasks Strategically: Balance challenging tasks with easier ones to sustain your motivation and productivity.
- Stay Flexible: Regularly reassess your priorities, ensuring alignment with your goals and adapting to evolving circumstances.
- Know Your Energy Curve. If you’re sharp at 9 a.m., tackle the hard stuff then. If you need a warm‑up, start easy.
- Match Task to Time. Short gaps = easy wins. Long focused blocks = big tasks.
- Stay Flexible. Plans change. Re‑prioritize when new deadlines appear.
- Celebrate Progress. Whether you start easy or hard, take a moment to acknowledge what you got done. It fuels the next day.