I don't think I've ever really thought about it. Mostly I just do whatever is next. I always have several projects "in the works" so there's always something to work on. Things take priority if they have due dates. Right now my top priority is getting the wall hanging done for the fair. Then I think I have a baby quilt to do before too long for a friend. Everything gets dropped when there's a baby quilt due. I always have them done within a month of the baby's arrival.
I don't do quilts as gifts for Christmas or birthdays. It's too much stress to quilt on that kind of deadline.
After the wall hanging and the baby quilt are done I have three twin size quilts that need done, a queen size that's ready to put together and a queen size that's ready to quilt.