what I do, is first align my cards by rank to see if i have any trips or quads, if I have trips, I try to make a boat using the smallest pair with them (to save the bigger pairs for other rows) then I look at them by suit to see the possible flushes...
then I start at the back and try to make my best hand, working forward.. and if I have to sacrifice something, like by putting a big pair in the front and having 2 smaller pair in the middle, so be it.