In Orientation to Caregiving. A Handbook for Family Caregivers of Patients with Serious illnesses, the authors recommend that caregivers categorize problems and tasks based on both their urgency and their importance using a simple chart. Here is an example: As you’re prioritizing, it can be helpful to use the “do, delegate, defer, or drop” technique:

• Do: What things are necessary for you to get done now?
• Delegate: What tasks can you give or ask others to do?
• Defer: What tasks can wait to get done?
• Drop: What things can you forget about for now?