Organise tasks by urgency and importance using the Eisenhower Matrix. Do, Schedule, Delegate or Eliminate.
What Is Eisenhower Matrix?
The Eisenhower Matrix (also called the Urgent-Important Matrix) is a prioritisation framework that sorts tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance. Quadrant 1 (urgent and important) tasks are done immediately. Quadrant 2 (important but not urgent) tasks are scheduled. Quadrant 3 (urgent but not important) tasks are delegated. Quadrant 4 (neither urgent nor important) tasks are eliminated.
The framework is named after President Eisenhower, who said: "What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important." Most people spend too much time in Quadrants 1 and 3 (reacting to urgency) and too little in Quadrant 2 (proactive important work like planning, relationship building and health).
Your matrix autosaves in your browser for everyone, free or Premium. Premium removes the 20-task limit, lets you save and switch between multiple named matrices (e.g. separate boards for work and personal life), and adds a Weekly Review dashboard summarising what you completed in the last 7 days and flagging tasks that have sat untouched for over a week.
How to Use This Tool
Add your tasks and assign each one to a quadrant based on urgency and importance.
Quadrant 1 (Do First): urgent and important — handle these immediately.
Quadrant 2 (Schedule): important but not urgent — plan time for these.
Quadrant 3 (Delegate): urgent but not important — assign to someone else if possible.
Quadrant 4 (Eliminate): neither urgent nor important — stop doing these.
Premium: save your current matrix as a named board to keep multiple matrices side by side, and check the Weekly Review dashboard to see what you completed and what has gone stale.
Tips & Best Practices
If everything feels urgent and important, you are not distinguishing between urgency and importance — they are different things.
Quadrant 2 (important but not urgent) is where personal and professional growth happens — protect this time.
Email, most meetings and many notifications are Quadrant 3 (urgent but not important) — reduce these ruthlessly.
Review your matrix weekly and adjust — priorities shift as circumstances change.
Common Use Cases
Prioritising a busy workload by separating urgent from important.
Weekly planning to ensure important long-term goals get attention.
Time management coaching and personal productivity improvement.
Team prioritisation workshops and project planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Eisenhower Matrix?
A framework that divides tasks into 4 quadrants: Do First (urgent+important), Schedule (important), Delegate (urgent), Eliminate (neither).