Have you ever had a day full of tasks and still feel like you haven’t accomplished anything at the end of the day? If so, we have the perfect solution for you!
The Urgent Important Matrix aka the Eisenhower Matrix is a helpful tool to organize and prioritize your tasks.
In the Urgent Important Matrix tasks are organized into 1 of 4 sections; Urgent & Important, Non-Urgent & Important, Urgent & Unimportant, and Not-Urgent & Unimportant. See below for more details!
First Section – Do It Now!!
The tasks in this section are considered urgent and important. More specifically, they have fixed deadlines and have negative consequences for non-completion.
Ask yourself: “What NEEDS to be done today?”
PRO-TIP: Prioritize tasks that need to be completed within 1-2 days in this section and cannot be done by anyone else.
Second Section – Schedule!!
The tasks in this section are considered important but not urgent. These tasks typically don’t have a fixed or upcoming deadline, so they are easy to procrastinate on.
Ask yourself: “What do I want to make time for?”
PRO-TIP: Prioritize tasks that are supportive of your long-term projects or goals.
Third Section – Delegate!!
The tasks in this section are considered urgent but not important. More importantly, these tasks also have fixed deadlines but do not need to be completed by you!
Ask yourself: “Who can I assign these to?”
PRO-TIP: Prioritize duties that don’t require your specific skill set. You can check the progress via email.
Fourth Section – Minimize!!
This section is typically known as “Don’t Do It” or “Delete It”, but life is meant to be enjoyed! The items in this section are not considered urgent or important, so it’s recommended they are performed in moderation.
Ask yourself: “How do I want to spend my leisure time?”
PRO-TIP: These items in excess are distractions, but pleasant in moderation.
MORE PRO-TIPS
The goal is to COMPLETE. Limit each section to no more than 5 items per 1-2 days.
Make a matrix that includes professional and personal affairs.
If you are ready to maximize your day, click the link below for your free Urgent Important Matrix template download!