Eisenhower Matrix prioritization categorizing tasks by urgency and importance into Do, Schedule, Delegate, Eliminate quadrants. Use for task prioritization, time management, or when overwhelmed.
Categorize tasks by urgency and importance to clarify what to do, schedule, delegate, or eliminate.
Take the list of tasks provided and sort them into the four quadrants. Be honest about what's truly important (moves you toward goals) versus just urgent (feels pressing but may not matter).
Context What role/area are we prioritizing for? What's the time horizon?
The Matrix
URGENT NOT URGENT
┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┐
IMPORTANT │ Q1: DO │ Q2: SCHEDULE │
│ │ │
├─────────────────┼─────────────────┤
NOT IMPORTANT │ Q3: DELEGATE │ Q4: ELIMINATE │
│ │ │
└─────────────────┴─────────────────┘
Handle these immediately—real deadlines, crises, problems
| Task | Why Urgent? | Why Important? | Do By |
|---|---|---|---|
| [task] | [urgency] | [importance] | [when] |
Block time for these—they don't scream but they matter most
| Task | Why Important? | Schedule For | Time Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| [task] | [importance] | [when] | [duration] |
Someone else can do these—or reduce their urgency
| Task | Why Urgent? | Who Can Handle? | Delegation Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| [task] | [urgency] | [who] | [how] |
Stop doing these—or radically reduce time spent
| Task | Why Are You Doing This? | Elimination Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| [task] | [reason] | [how to stop] |
Time Distribution Analysis
| Quadrant | % of Time | Ideal % |
|---|---|---|
| Q1: Do | X% | 20-25% |
| Q2: Schedule | X% | 60-70% |
| Q3: Delegate | X% | 10-15% |
| Q4: Eliminate | X% | <5% |
First Actions
$ARGUMENTS