Use the RICE Method to Prioritize Your Tasks.
When you’re faced with a multitude of tasks—as often happens at the start of a new year, when everyone finally gets around to doing what they’ve been putting off—having a structured to-do list becomes an essential part of getting everything done. However, determining what should be on that list and in what order is a separate challenge. I’ve already discussed many ways to do this, but if you have many important responsibilities, you need an approach that matches the complexity of what you’re trying to accomplish—and that’s where the RICE method comes in.
What is the RICE prioritization method?
RICE, as you probably guessed, is an acronym. Here’s what it stands for:
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Reach : How many people or areas of your life or project will this task impact.
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Impact : How significant the impact will be if and when it is implemented correctly.
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Confidence : How confident are you in your assessments of the other three factors?
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Effort : the time, energy, knowledge, and resources required to complete a task.
The unique combination of these factors will help you determine which tasks are most important to prioritize, which is especially useful when you’re overwhelmed by information and feeling intimidated , unable to figure out when and where to start.
How and when to use the RICE method
Frankly, this method is more complex than some of the others I’ve described previously. I’d even recommend trying a simpler prioritization method, such as the Eisenhower Matrix , before using this one, and only use it if the Eisenhower Matrix or similar methods don’t produce convincing results. The RICE method takes some time, because it requires some mathematical calculations.
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Start by listing all your tasks. Under each, assign numbers. The “Reach” metric will represent the number of people, areas of your life, or project that the task will impact, and the “Impact” metric will be 3 (huge impact), 2 (high), 1 (medium), 0.5 (low), or 0.25 (minimal impact). The “Confidence” metric should be 100, 80, or 50, reflecting the percentage of confidence you have in your estimates and abilities. You can use any number from 0 to 100, but using these three values simply simplifies the task. Most adherents of this method use a complex mathematical formula (determining “person-months”) to estimate “Effort,” but I’ll simplify it for you. Rate it the same way as the Impact metric: 3 = several days or resources, 2 = one day, 1 = half a day, 0.5 = an hour, and 0.25 = half an hour or less. You can also rate reach this way if you’re working on a personal project whose results won’t necessarily reach a large number of people. In this case, consider the different areas of your life or personal goals it will impact and use a scale from 3 to 0.25.
This part is entirely subjective, like using the ABCDE method to estimate your tasks. It’s unavoidable—you won’t know the true resources needed or the project’s scope until it’s complete—but you can quantify it somewhat.
Next, do the math. It’s R x I x C divided by E. This gives you a numerical score for each task. Arrange the tasks in descending order, starting with the highest numbers. Obviously, some tasks can’t be completed until others are completed, so use your discretion here. But in most cases, you’ve simply created a clear plan for which tasks will have the greatest impact and reach, and you at least know where to start. Add each task to your calendar using timeboxing and timeblocking , and then get to work. Knowing your action plan is half the motivational battle.