Free Online Tool

Eisenhower Matrix

Prioritize your tasks using the proven Eisenhower Method. Sort tasks by urgency and importance to focus on what truly matters and eliminate time-wasters.

🔥

Do First

Urgent & Important
    đź“…

    Schedule

    Not Urgent & Important
      đź‘Ą

      Delegate

      Urgent & Not Important
        🗑️

        Eliminate

        Not Urgent & Not Important

          How the Eisenhower Matrix Works

          Quadrant 1: Do First

          Urgent + Important — Crises, deadlines, problems that need immediate attention. Do these tasks immediately and personally.

          Examples: Project deadline tomorrow, client emergency, health issue

          Quadrant 2: Schedule

          Not Urgent + Important — Long-term development, planning, prevention. Schedule time for these tasks—they build future success.

          Examples: Exercise, learning new skills, relationship building, strategic planning

          Quadrant 3: Delegate

          Urgent + Not Important — Interruptions, most calls, some meetings. Delegate these or set boundaries to minimize time spent.

          Examples: Some emails, phone calls, minor requests from others

          Quadrant 4: Eliminate

          Not Urgent + Not Important — Time wasters and distractions. Eliminate these activities to free up time for Q2.

          Examples: Excessive social media, busy work, unnecessary meetings

          Tips for Using the Eisenhower Matrix

          1

          Start with Q1

          Handle urgent-important tasks first. But if you are always in Q1, you need more Q2 time to prevent fires.

          2

          Protect Q2 Time

          Block calendar time for important-not-urgent work. This is where growth and improvement happen.

          3

          Question Q3 Tasks

          Just because something is urgent for others does not make it important for you. Learn to say no or delegate.

          4

          Be Ruthless with Q4

          Track how much time goes to Q4. These activities feel relaxing but do not recharge like true rest does.

          Eisenhower Matrix FAQ

          The Eisenhower Matrix, also called the Urgent-Important Matrix, is a prioritization framework attributed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It helps you categorize tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance, making it easier to focus on what truly matters.
          Urgent tasks demand immediate attention—they are deadline-driven. Important tasks contribute to long-term goals and values. Many tasks feel urgent but are not important (distractions), while truly important tasks often are not urgent (strategic work).
          Q1 (Do First): Urgent + Important tasks like deadlines and crises. Q2 (Schedule): Not Urgent + Important tasks like planning and learning. Q3 (Delegate): Urgent + Not Important tasks like interruptions. Q4 (Eliminate): Not Urgent + Not Important tasks like time-wasters.
          Quadrant 2 contains activities that build long-term success: planning, relationship building, skill development, and prevention. People who spend more time in Q2 have fewer Q1 emergencies because they proactively address issues before they become urgent.
          Schedule Q2 activities first—block time for strategic work before your calendar fills with urgent items. Learn to say no to Q3 and Q4 activities. Review your matrix weekly to identify patterns and adjust your time allocation.
          This usually indicates poor prioritization habits or overcommitment. Step back and ask: What would happen if I did not do this today? Truly urgent-important items have serious consequences. Many "urgent" items are actually Q3 in disguise.
          Yes! The Eisenhower Matrix works for all types of tasks. You can use one matrix for everything or separate matrices for work and personal life. The key is consistently evaluating tasks against the urgency/importance criteria.
          Daily: Quick scan to prioritize the day. Weekly: Review all tasks and adjust categorizations. Monthly: Analyze patterns—are you spending too much time in Q1 or Q3? The goal is gradual migration toward more Q2 time.
          Yes, your tasks are saved in your browser local storage. They will persist between visits on the same device and browser. Your data never leaves your device—it is completely private and offline.
          Currently, you can copy tasks manually. Use the matrix as a thinking tool rather than a complete task manager. Many people use it for weekly planning, then move tasks to their regular to-do app.