The Eisenhower Matrix: How to Prioritize Your Tasks

Urgent vs. Important

The Eisenhower Matrix, also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, helps you categorize your tasks based on two criteria: urgency and importance.

• Urgent tasks require your immediate attention.
• Important tasks contribute to your long-term goals and values.

This creates four quadrants:

1. Urgent & Important (Do): Tasks with clear deadlines and consequences. Do these immediately.
2. Not Urgent & Important (Schedule): Tasks that are important for your long-term goals but don't have a pressing deadline. Schedule these in your calendar.
3. Urgent & Not Important (Delegate): Tasks that need to be done now but don't require your specific skills. Delegate them if possible.
4. Not Urgent & Not Important (Delete): Tasks that are distractions. Eliminate them.

Putting It into Practice

Once you've identified your "Do" and "Schedule" tasks, you can use our timers to ensure you dedicate focused time to them. A timebox for a Quadrant 2 task is one of the best investments you can make in your future self.