The Eisenhower Matrix
Urgent is not the same as important
We confuse motion with progress. The inbox demands attention. But urgency is not importance.
Four quadrants that separate what demands attention from what deserves it.
The Eisenhower Matrix divides tasks into four quadrants: Urgent and Important (do now), Important but Not Urgent (schedule), Urgent but Not Important (delegate), Neither (eliminate). Most people live in quadrants 1 and 3. True productivity lives in quadrant 2.
The Mental Model
-
List Everything
Write down all tasks and commitments. -
Classify Each Item
Place tasks into the four quadrants. -
Act Accordingly
Do Q1 immediately. Schedule Q2. Delegate Q3. Delete Q4. -
Protect Quadrant 2
Block time for important non-urgent work.
A Worked Example
Sarah uses the matrix and discovers: Q1 has one crisis, Q2 has neglected strategic work, Q3 has 15 requests others could handle, Q4 has three pointless committees. She delegates Q3, drops Q4, blocks mornings for Q2. Within weeks, she is less busy but more effective.
When to Apply
- You feel busy but unproductive
- Urgent tasks interrupt important work
- You want to be strategic not reactive
When Not to Apply
- You're in an actual emergency
- Your role requires constant reactive work
Try This Once
List 10 things you did this week. Classify them. How much time in Q2?