Eisenhower matrix
Sort your tasks by what's urgent and what's important, then get a clear plan: what to do now, what to schedule, what to hand off and what to drop. Free, no signup.
To sort2
Next up
1 of 2Read the industry newsletter
Is it important? Is it urgent?
Tap a box or press 1–4. You can also drag any task into the matrix.Tap a box, or hold a task to drag it.
Still to sort
Do now
2Urgent and important
- Fix the bug customers reported
- Finish slides for tomorrow's pitch
Schedule
2Important, not urgent
- Plan next quarter's goals
- Book a health check-up
Delegate
2Urgent, not important
- Reply to the room-booking email
- Order printer paper
Drop
1Neither urgent nor important
- Sort old browser bookmarks
What to do next
Still to sort: 2.
How to use the Eisenhower matrix
Ask two questions about every task. Does it move an important goal forward? Does it need attention in the next day or two? The two answers put it in one of four boxes.
Write down everything on your mind, one task per line. Pasting a list from your notes or email works too.
Choose a box for each task. Important means it matters to your goals or to people who rely on you. Urgent means waiting a day or two has a real cost.
Read the plan under the matrix. Do the first box today, put a date on the second, hand off the third and let the fourth go.
Sort again at the start of each week. Tasks move between boxes as deadlines get closer.
A worked example
Seven tasks from a Monday morning list, each sorted with the two questions.
| Task | Important? | Urgent? | Box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fix the bug customers reported | Yes | Yes | Do now |
| Finish slides for tomorrow's pitch | Yes | Yes | Do now |
| Plan next quarter's goals | Yes | No | Schedule |
| Book a health check-up | Yes | No | Schedule |
| Reply to the room-booking email | No | Yes | Delegate |
| Order printer paper | No | Yes | Delegate |
| Sort old browser bookmarks | No | No | Drop |
Two tasks are left for today, a day you can actually finish. The goals session and the check-up get a slot on the calendar before they turn urgent. Two small chores go to a colleague, and the bookmarks are dropped.
What the matrix can't tell you
- How long things take
- Two tasks in Do now can still fill a whole day. Check the time with the day-capacity calculator.
- Who to hand work to
- If you work alone, read Delegate as “minimize”: batch, automate, shrink or decline.
- What is important
- That depends on your goals. The matrix only makes you answer the question honestly.
- Dates and reminders
- Sorting is not scheduling. Tasks you mean to do still need a day, and somewhere to live.
Questions about the Eisenhower matrix
What is the Eisenhower matrix?
A way to prioritize tasks with two questions: is it important, and is it urgent? It's named after US president Dwight D. Eisenhower, who separated urgent problems from important ones, and was popularized by Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
What's the difference between urgent and important?
Urgent tasks demand attention soon: a deadline, a waiting customer, a ringing phone. Important tasks move your goals forward or matter to the people who rely on you. Many urgent tasks aren't important, and most important work isn't urgent until it's left too late.
What if I have nobody to delegate to?
Treat Delegate as “minimize”. Batch these tasks into one short slot, automate them, say no, or do a lighter version. The point is to keep them from crowding out important work.
How many tasks should be in Do now?
As few as possible, usually one to three on a normal day. If the box keeps filling up, important work is probably being left until it turns urgent. Schedule more of it earlier.
Are my tasks saved or sent anywhere?
No. Tasks stay in this page's memory and are cleared when you refresh or close it. Nothing is stored in your browser or sent to Sunlet. Copy or print the plan to keep it.