The Workday Challenge
Prioritizing Under Pressure
An interactive simulation on time, tasks, and decision-making.
Start The Challenge
By the end of this simulation, you will be able to:
- Prioritize tasks based on impact--not just urgency
- Make effective decisions under time pressure
- Manage interruptions and competing demands
- Recognize how your choices affect time, productivitiy, and stress
As you move through the simulation, your choices will affect your time, task completion, and stress level. Monitor the dashboard at the top of the screen to track your progress.
Start Your Day
9:00 AM - Your Workday Begins
You log in and begin your day. Almost immediately, notifications start appearing.
An email from your manager.
A message from a team member.
A reminder about a meeting later this morning.
Everything feels important—and everything feels urgent.
Next Page
Time Remaining: 8 hrs
Stress Level: Low
Tasks Completed: 0/5
Incoming Tasks
You now have multiple competing priorities. Everything needs attention—but not everything matters equally.
Meeting Reminder
Team sync at 10:00 AM.
Client Request
We need a response within the hour!
Manager Email
Can you send me the updated report ASAP?
Team Message
Hey, I'm stuck--can you help me with this?
Report Deadline
Due by the end of day.
Continue
What is your first move?
You can't do everything at once. What you choose to do first will shape the rest of your day.
Help your team member
Jump in and assist right away
Respond to emails
Step back and decide what matters most
Review and prioritize tasks
Start working through your inbox
10:30 AM - New Demands Emerge
You've cleared some emails, but higher-impact work hasn't started.
A new request comes in from leadership.
Your inbox continues to grow.
Your earlier decisions are starting to show their impact.
The pressure is building.
Next Page
10:30 AM - New Demands Emerge
You've made your first move, organizing your day--but the day doesn't slow down.
A new request comes in from leadership.
Your inbox continues to grow.
Your earlier decisions are starting to show their impact.
The pressure is building.
Next Page
10:30 AM - New Demands Emerge
You helped your teammate, but your own priorities are now behind.
A new request comes in from leadership.
Your inbox continues to grow.
Your earlier decisions are starting to show their impact.
The pressure is building.
Next Page
Time Remaining: 7 hrs
Stress Level: Low
Tasks Completed: 1/8
Incoming Tasks - Pressure is Building Fast
You've completed 1 task, but you have a backlog of items to complete. Meanwhile, new demands are coming in and your inbox is growing.
Meeting Conflict
Two meetings overlap. You need to choose which one to attend.
Client Follow-Up
Client is waiting and expects a response within the hour.
Leadership Request
Need input for executive meeting in 30 minutes.
Meeting Reminder
Team sync at 10:00 AM.
Client Request
We need a response within the hour!
Manager Email
Can you send me the updated report ASAP?
Team Message
Hey, I'm stuck--can you help me with this?
Report Deadline
Due by the end of day.
Next Page
Time Remaining: 7 hrs
Stress Level: Medium
Tasks Completed: 0/8
Incoming Tasks - Pressure is Building Fast
You've made progress, but not everything is complete. New demands are coming in and previous tasks are still waiting.
Meeting Conflict
Two meetings overlap. You need to choose which one to attend.
Client Follow-Up
Client is waiting and expects a response within the hour.
Leadership Request
Need input for executive meeting in 30 minutes.
Meeting Reminder
Team sync at 10:00 AM.
Client Request
We need a response within the hour!
Manager Email
Can you send me the updated report ASAP?
Team Message
Hey, I'm stuck--can you help me with this?
Report Deadline
Due by the end of day.
Next Page
Time Remaining: 7 hrs
Tasks Completed: 0/8
Stress Level: Medium-High
Incoming Tasks - Pressure is Building Fast
Although your relationship with your team member has benefitted, your work is piling up as new demands continue to come in.
Meeting Conflict
Two meetings overlap. You need to choose which one to attend.
Client Follow-Up
Client is waiting and expects a response within the hour.
Leadership Request
Need input for executive meeting in 30 minutes.
Meeting Reminder
Team sync at 10:00 AM.
Client Request
We need a response within the hour!
Manager Email
Can you send me the updated report ASAP?
Team Message
Hey, I'm stuck--can you help me with this?
Report Deadline
Due by the end of day.
Next Page
What do you do next?
As the day progresses, your choices have greater consequences. Consider:
- Which tasks will have the greatest impact if completed?
- What might happen if you delay certain work?
- Are you reacting to urgency—or choosing intentionally?
Handle the leadership requst
Respond to the client and begin work.
Focus on the client follow-up
Resolve the meeting conflict
Provide meeting input right away.
Decide which meeting to attend.
1:30 PM - The Day is Slipping Away
You shift your focus to leadership’s request, preparing your input quickly.
The response is appreciated—but it takes more time than expected.
Meanwhile, other work continues to pile up.
Your inbox grows. Deadlines are approaching.
You handled an important task—but at a cost
Next Page
1:30 PM - The Day is Slipping Away
You follow up with the client and begin making progress on their request.
The client responds positively—and momentum builds.
You’ve addressed an important need and moved work forward.
However, other responsibilities are still waiting.
Progress is happening—but the day is far from under control.
Next Page
1:30 PM - The Day is Slipping Away
You take time to resolve the meeting conflict and coordinate schedules.
The issue is cleared, and your team has clarity moving forward.
However, this work doesn’t reduce your task load.
Key responsibilities are still waiting—and time is slipping.
You’ve improved coordination—but not progress.
Next Page
Time Remaining: _____hrs
Stress Level: _____
Tasks Completed: _____/8
[Decision 3 - Placeholder]
As this is a prototype, this pathway has not been fully developed. It serves as a placeholder for future completion, including decision outcomes and a final reflection.
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
You focus on the client and move the work forward. One key task is now complete--but other demands are still waiting. Prioritizing high-impact work can create momentum and reduce future pressure. Consider how completing meaningful tasks early can shape the rest of your day.
Continue
You sort out your schedule and reduce confusion, but no real progress is made. Your task list remains untouched, and time continues to slip away. Staying organized is important, but it's not the same as making progress. Consider how you can balance coordination with completing meaningful work.
Continue
You jump in to help your team member right away. While your support is appreciated, it pulls your attention away from your own highest-priority work.
Continue
You begin working through your inbox, responding to messages as they come in. It feels productive—but as you focus on emails, higher-impact priorities remain untouched.
Continue
You pause and take a moment to assess your tasks. By identifying what matters most, you set yourself up to use your time effectively. This choice helps you stay focused and intentional.
Continue
You respond quickly to leadership, but it pulls your focus away from your core work. Important tasks remain unfinished, and your workload is growing. In fast-paced environments, urgent requests often feel like the top priority, but they don't always drive meaningful progress. Consider how balancing urgency with long-term impact can change your outcomes.
Continue
The Workday Challenge
Nina Valli
Created on April 15, 2026
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Transcript
The Workday Challenge
Prioritizing Under Pressure
An interactive simulation on time, tasks, and decision-making.
Start The Challenge
By the end of this simulation, you will be able to:
As you move through the simulation, your choices will affect your time, task completion, and stress level. Monitor the dashboard at the top of the screen to track your progress.
Start Your Day
9:00 AM - Your Workday Begins
You log in and begin your day. Almost immediately, notifications start appearing.
An email from your manager.
A message from a team member.
A reminder about a meeting later this morning.
Everything feels important—and everything feels urgent.
Next Page
Time Remaining: 8 hrs
Stress Level: Low
Tasks Completed: 0/5
Incoming Tasks
You now have multiple competing priorities. Everything needs attention—but not everything matters equally.
Meeting Reminder
Team sync at 10:00 AM.
Client Request
We need a response within the hour!
Manager Email
Can you send me the updated report ASAP?
Team Message
Hey, I'm stuck--can you help me with this?
Report Deadline
Due by the end of day.
Continue
What is your first move?
You can't do everything at once. What you choose to do first will shape the rest of your day.
Help your team member
Jump in and assist right away
Respond to emails
Step back and decide what matters most
Review and prioritize tasks
Start working through your inbox
10:30 AM - New Demands Emerge
You've cleared some emails, but higher-impact work hasn't started.
A new request comes in from leadership.
Your inbox continues to grow.
Your earlier decisions are starting to show their impact.
The pressure is building.
Next Page
10:30 AM - New Demands Emerge
You've made your first move, organizing your day--but the day doesn't slow down.
A new request comes in from leadership.
Your inbox continues to grow.
Your earlier decisions are starting to show their impact.
The pressure is building.
Next Page
10:30 AM - New Demands Emerge
You helped your teammate, but your own priorities are now behind.
A new request comes in from leadership.
Your inbox continues to grow.
Your earlier decisions are starting to show their impact.
The pressure is building.
Next Page
Time Remaining: 7 hrs
Stress Level: Low
Tasks Completed: 1/8
Incoming Tasks - Pressure is Building Fast
You've completed 1 task, but you have a backlog of items to complete. Meanwhile, new demands are coming in and your inbox is growing.
Meeting Conflict
Two meetings overlap. You need to choose which one to attend.
Client Follow-Up
Client is waiting and expects a response within the hour.
Leadership Request
Need input for executive meeting in 30 minutes.
Meeting Reminder
Team sync at 10:00 AM.
Client Request
We need a response within the hour!
Manager Email
Can you send me the updated report ASAP?
Team Message
Hey, I'm stuck--can you help me with this?
Report Deadline
Due by the end of day.
Next Page
Time Remaining: 7 hrs
Stress Level: Medium
Tasks Completed: 0/8
Incoming Tasks - Pressure is Building Fast
You've made progress, but not everything is complete. New demands are coming in and previous tasks are still waiting.
Meeting Conflict
Two meetings overlap. You need to choose which one to attend.
Client Follow-Up
Client is waiting and expects a response within the hour.
Leadership Request
Need input for executive meeting in 30 minutes.
Meeting Reminder
Team sync at 10:00 AM.
Client Request
We need a response within the hour!
Manager Email
Can you send me the updated report ASAP?
Team Message
Hey, I'm stuck--can you help me with this?
Report Deadline
Due by the end of day.
Next Page
Time Remaining: 7 hrs
Tasks Completed: 0/8
Stress Level: Medium-High
Incoming Tasks - Pressure is Building Fast
Although your relationship with your team member has benefitted, your work is piling up as new demands continue to come in.
Meeting Conflict
Two meetings overlap. You need to choose which one to attend.
Client Follow-Up
Client is waiting and expects a response within the hour.
Leadership Request
Need input for executive meeting in 30 minutes.
Meeting Reminder
Team sync at 10:00 AM.
Client Request
We need a response within the hour!
Manager Email
Can you send me the updated report ASAP?
Team Message
Hey, I'm stuck--can you help me with this?
Report Deadline
Due by the end of day.
Next Page
What do you do next?
As the day progresses, your choices have greater consequences. Consider:
Handle the leadership requst
Respond to the client and begin work.
Focus on the client follow-up
Resolve the meeting conflict
Provide meeting input right away.
Decide which meeting to attend.
1:30 PM - The Day is Slipping Away
You shift your focus to leadership’s request, preparing your input quickly.
The response is appreciated—but it takes more time than expected.
Meanwhile, other work continues to pile up.
Your inbox grows. Deadlines are approaching.
You handled an important task—but at a cost
Next Page
1:30 PM - The Day is Slipping Away
You follow up with the client and begin making progress on their request.
The client responds positively—and momentum builds.
You’ve addressed an important need and moved work forward.
However, other responsibilities are still waiting.
Progress is happening—but the day is far from under control.
Next Page
1:30 PM - The Day is Slipping Away
You take time to resolve the meeting conflict and coordinate schedules.
The issue is cleared, and your team has clarity moving forward.
However, this work doesn’t reduce your task load.
Key responsibilities are still waiting—and time is slipping.
You’ve improved coordination—but not progress.
Next Page
Time Remaining: _____hrs
Stress Level: _____
Tasks Completed: _____/8
[Decision 3 - Placeholder]
As this is a prototype, this pathway has not been fully developed. It serves as a placeholder for future completion, including decision outcomes and a final reflection.
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
Time: 8 hrs
Tasks: 0/5
Stress: Low
Next Page
You focus on the client and move the work forward. One key task is now complete--but other demands are still waiting. Prioritizing high-impact work can create momentum and reduce future pressure. Consider how completing meaningful tasks early can shape the rest of your day.
Continue
You sort out your schedule and reduce confusion, but no real progress is made. Your task list remains untouched, and time continues to slip away. Staying organized is important, but it's not the same as making progress. Consider how you can balance coordination with completing meaningful work.
Continue
You jump in to help your team member right away. While your support is appreciated, it pulls your attention away from your own highest-priority work.
Continue
You begin working through your inbox, responding to messages as they come in. It feels productive—but as you focus on emails, higher-impact priorities remain untouched.
Continue
You pause and take a moment to assess your tasks. By identifying what matters most, you set yourself up to use your time effectively. This choice helps you stay focused and intentional.
Continue
You respond quickly to leadership, but it pulls your focus away from your core work. Important tasks remain unfinished, and your workload is growing. In fast-paced environments, urgent requests often feel like the top priority, but they don't always drive meaningful progress. Consider how balancing urgency with long-term impact can change your outcomes.
Continue