Most 'Urgent' Tasks Are Just Someone Else's Panic

Before you drop everything to handle a fire, pause and ask: is this actually urgent, or is someone else just anxious? Other people's poor planning or emotional reactions have a way of hijacking your day if you let them.

This does not mean ignoring people in genuine need. It means learning to tell the difference between a real emergency and someone else's discomfort being projected onto your to-do list. Not every panic deserves a front-of-the-line pass.