For the last time... my table is fine. :)

Dear Brett, I'm 16 years old. Last year in school I failed just about every class, was mean to others, was arrogant and irresponsible. With your help I've turned my life around completely, I'm a straight-A student, I have a job, I'm responsible, and viewed as a very kind person. With putting the big rocks in first, I've learned how to manage time between work, school and friends, on top of that I've created a small side business shining shoes. In short Mr. McKay, you have changed my life for the better, thank you.

First you had me when you said "quit checking Buzzfeed"...such a useless/unimaginative website. Then you sealed the deal when classifying "Gym" as a big rock! Stay Manly My Friend

Did anybody feel guilty while you were watching this video because technically you're surfing the Internet

You're doing God's work, Brett.

This video is definitely a big rock

Brett, you rock!

Priorities explained in the best way, ever. I'm sure going to apply this in my life. Stay manly!👍

Brett, my dear sir, always posting just what I need. I'm starting my third semester in energy engineering and I'm tired of pulling all-nighters because I'm too damn lazy to put the big rocks in first. Thank you for another awesome video and while I'm at it, thank you for AoM, it has literally changed my life in the past year. I don't want to waste your time by elaborating it here, but really the journey so far has been extremely satisfying and I feel like I found something I've never searched for but most definitely needed. All the best from Hungary!

When I was a boy I was given this demonstration by both my leaders in boy scouts and by church teachers. Always good advice, always taken to heart. :)

Art of Manliness is my new favourite KZfaq Channel

In other words do you compound lifts before those curls, leg extensions, etc.

My younger bro and I are both recently out of the military, so coming from a lifestyle with so much structure it has been a struggle to keep on top of what needs to be done and what I want to get done. We both started this week off with a bit of planning and so far its helped a lot. Definitely going to be using your mind dump idea!

Art of Manliness I've stumbled up on your videos today and I really wish it would have happened sooner. In the videos I've watched so far, you talk about issues that I have been facing daily (recently entering college and trying to plan for a carrer), and your advice is actually really helping me out. Thanks for the help and great job on the channel!

These kinda of videos get me in just the right mindset: optimistic, insightful, thoughtful, creative, and deliberate. Thanks for all the great and inspirational videos, Art of Manliness! Keep on keepin on!

I definitely needed to see something like this. I'll be getting those "Big Rocks" in my life done first from now on and sticking to it. Thank you for the video.

I saved this video to my favorites 9 years ago. It’s still just as applicable to this day!

I am beginning to do this and it reduces stress greatly and makes for a far more productive day. :)

Thanks for the illustration Brett. I really just stopped being so "busy" on unimportant stuff a month ago...my brain was running in 1,000 directions but now I'm doing as your experiment, also I will put my jar on my night stand as a reminder. Keep up the great work!

Not sure if you still read your comments, but this video really lifted me up on a low day. Thanks Brett

Bret, thank you so much for this post and for your awesome blog, which I've frequented after finding this post by sheer serendipity. I suffer from ADHD and am also a visual learner, so seeing your awesome lesson, which puts words into actions, finally cut through my fog of confusion. I've been watching "productivity" videos and reading books on the subject for almost two years, but I still was having a hard time getting it together. I actually had five different reminder apps on my computer and mobile devices, which was a horror trying to remember where I put one thing or another. I'm in the process of condensing everything into one place. I like Google Tasks because it syncs with Google Calendar. I've changed the way I structure my day, after watching your lesson and it has transformed my mood and, of course my productivity. I look at my "lists" in the evening, and I put three "rocks" at the top of the list, and it's such a good feeling knowing that none of the important things are left undone. You're awesome. God Bless.

Wow, this was in my face the whole time, and yet I didn't realise that I need to focus my main priorities first! Thank you so much!

I tell my boys a simpler version of this: eat your veggies first. I think your demonstration may be a lot more effective. Will do it this weekend. Thanks for this.

Probably the best advice ever!

This was indeed a very helpful video! :D

Good tip. Do the important stuff first, set aside the time for it without compromising . I like it.

This analogy is used in freshmen 'life skills' courses but honestly, I struggle so much with this DESPITE knowing that I'm losing all the BIG rocks. Thank you! Very well presented.

Wow thanks man. This might change my life if i correctly implement it into my daily routine. From tomorrow I will try to organize my time according to this metaphor. Again thank you.

Looking at my life- it's a ridiculous structure. It's a ton of water laying around with gravel smashedin the jar with the rocks not really existing at all. They're just thoughts rather than actions.

When i initially read the title I thought it said "big rocks in fist" and I thought "sweet, he is going to teach us a brutal new self defense technique!". Still a great video and it does teach you how to guard your time wisely (so I was right on some level).

this guy deserves more subscribers, very underrated!!. Thank you sir.

Brett, thanks for the video. I just got a challenging promotion at work and have been struggling with staying focused on the "big rocks." It seems like everything else is eating my time. I'm going to combine this advice and the video about planning my week to get my groove back. Thanks again.

Hi Brett. Thank you for your channel and hard work. This is by far the best man's channel i've seen. I like your audience oriented videos instead of marketing some man product videos like others (more often than necessary, like every video). This really sets you apart. I hope you do well and I am sure you will. Do what you love and wealth follows through. Respect.

Art of Manliness Okay, so I am 28 years old and landed my first real job about four months ago working receiving at a smaller grocery chain; basically I empty trucks all day. Now, I've been wanting to draw for quite some time, but before I got this job I could not really do it often because it was the only thing I had to do. Now I have this job to distract me, but no time to draw because I am so tired on my days off.

An important lesson for sure. I've heard several variations of this, one of my favorites was a professor doing this demonstration to students using ping-pong balls, gravel, sand, and coffee. Whereas the coffee represented that no matter how busy life seemed there's always time for coffee with a friend.

You are a gift to this world my man.

I still come back to this video every now and then, more than 6 years later, and I still recommend it to other people. Awesome content! Reading Eat That Frog! now and it makes me think of this video

Great advice, I will use it to take the useless stuff out of my schedule and incorporate the more important things. Thanks, always looking forward for more videos.

Wonderful!!!! Thank you for showing us how to manage life in order to be happy and contented

Thank you Stephen Covey. RIP

Brett, for every piece of advice you give that improves my life, I will donate 1 dollars. Prepare to get rich.

Very nice metaphor. Did you notice the extra time it took to organize your full day? (fill the jar with everything) That also points out a daily jar fill is always a work in progress.

So great seeing things in perspective now! Thanks for this!

I believe that this concept explained in simple ways will help to change people's life. Thank you for the original representation Art of Manliness!

Thanks Brett, I've seen this demonstration before but it's one of those things that you need the occasional reminder or point in the right direction to help keep on your path. Stay Manly.

man, i really liked that visualisation! You went from Sand to Gravel to show me how to put big rocks

As most of your videos are extremely helpful for me, this one is definitely the best. As a professional jazz musician prioritizing time for practice, playing gigs, setting up sessions/rehearsals and teaching is crucial. Thanks so much for some great ideas for improving my daily schedule!

Great twist on the old video/story. This is a perfect representation of something that everyone deals with but few identify.

My husband shared this video with me, I am a stay at home mother of 5 with the two youngest children at home during the day. I also attend school online and workout. I need to learn how to make time to breathe. Thank you for this post, now let's hope my ADHD does not get in the way of my planning. Now off to search for a calendar. Squirrel! Thanks Brett.

i think this is the best theory i never ever seen thanx alot i am one of your fans i'm from iraq 😊

Your videos are so insightful, and empowering. Thanks for giving us the tools to create our future. +Sincerely grateful, a man in training.

Thank you for demonstrating a theory with tangible objects. Good job.

great video, I never thought of it this way before!

Great videos. Especially this one and the early riser. As a college student I need to start implementing all the videos I'm watching. Thanks y'all

Hi Brett - I've known your website for a while now, but I only recently got into your youtube videos and I have to say that I enjoy them immensely. It was to my regret that I discovered that the latest one is from a year ago. If you are thinking of adding some new videos in the future, please take this message as an encouragement to do so. Regards.

Got introduced to your channel by 'Real men, real style' Very grateful, enjoy your work every much (watched the ones abt morning habits, and the jiujitsu series), your contents are fantastic Will be reading your Manvotional book soon!

Thank you very much Mr.Mckay for the useful advices!

Are there any other 20-year old lads watching these videos? 'cause I fell odd watching these videos, as though I'm too young, but it still connects with me.

love this..first heard it with the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey!

Good perspective. I will present the concept and vid during our sales meeting this week. I often share your content with the wife, if only to show that her man is capable of introspection and self improvement. Thanks for that.

One of your most valuable videos! Thanks.

I've shown this video to other folk and they have found it very helpful.

A masterpiece as always, thanks Brett, greetings from Venezuela

I miss the Art of Manliness youtube videos...I love this example so much I ended up making my own video on it.

awesome lesson !!! planning and prioritization is one of the key to a more efficient life. i ll try to capitalize on that lesson and do it.

*"Stay Manly"*.... AMEN!!

absolutely spot on

One of your most useful videos yet. Keep them coming.

Great demo! Makes me wonder if you guys would tackle building an outdoor pond? Always wanted to do it but no idea about drainage, water replacement etc..

Thanks Brett. I still have trouble following this idea but it has helped greatly.

I've really been thinking about this a lot over the past few days. "Big rocks, big rocks," I keep saying to myself.

I needed the reminder thank you.

Checking Buzzfeed, that's the sand; checking AoM, well, that's a big rock!

Love this, makes so much sense actually.

I always been busy but by the end of the day never felt like I didn't do anything important or worth doing so just focus on the big rocks thx for the tips

Nothing better than the feeling of "Hey, I'm done with everything I needed to do! I have spare time! I can play video games!"

This is awesome. Thank you! :)

I am going to use this in my youth group when I talk about dealing with stress. Thanks Brett.

Well done Brett. Spot on!

My big rock right now is getting my foot in the door of this job repairing Ambulances. I got my certifications at least!

thanks a lot!!! . from chile! greetings!

Awesome advice Sir!

This is such an important message. However I would have never found the message without some mindless web surfing to discover the Art of Manliness so it is important, after the big rocks of course, to fit some sand and water in. Thanks for all the work you do on your materials. Your book, website, podcast, youtube videos, really have improved my quality of life. Stay manly sir.

Fantastic visualisation, thank you

That is an interesting take on the subject and nicely written too, thank you. A code of honor might have an intrinsic value for those in the population who are genetically predisposed to be reckless and asocial. A human who relies on integrity as a guardrail against becoming less than a man would also look for hard quantifiable evidence that he is not deluding himself, independently of what other people might say or think of him.

This was a great way to make your point easy and fun.

Thank You,, so nice explained!

Genius.. Absolute Genius..

What an outstanding metaphor!

really liked this one

Amazing video!!! Very creative way of putting the idea across.

awesome analogy!!! In another time, I heard this in a history zen... is very interesting :) Greatings from Chile :)

Working on my RN! This will help immensely.

Bloody great stuff, mate, so very aptly said. An inspiration for all the men-in--waiting. Keep the up the good fight, this simple simian soul admires your nous.

That was an awesome video, I needed to hear that. By the way, what is the tune playing in the background? I find it very spirited and uplifting.

Kinda sad that a dope channel like this (with almost a million subs) just stopped uploading

great advice, thank you!

I use a similar philosophy when bagging my groceries at the self-checkout.

I really am going to need to fit the big rocks in first this year. Nice example with the rocks btw!

Sir you are great great great and your examples are great