Eisenhower matrix
Type a task, tick whether it is urgent and whether it is important, and it lands in one of four boxes: do it now, schedule it, delegate it, or drop it. Move tasks between boxes as things change, tick them off when done, and print the matrix on one page. Your list stays in this browser.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Type a task and tick Urgent and/or Important. Both ticked puts it in Do now; important only in Schedule; urgent only in Delegate; neither in Drop.
- Change a task’s box with its Move to list when priorities change.
- Tick tasks off when they are done and use Clear finished tasks to tidy up.
- Press Print for a one-page copy of the four boxes.
How it works
The two answers pick the box:
|
Urgent |
Not urgent |
| Important |
Do now |
Schedule |
| Not important |
Delegate |
Drop |
Each box shows how many open tasks it holds. The list is saved in your browser after every change; up to 200 tasks are kept.
Example
On a Monday morning: a server outage (urgent, important) goes to Do now; preparing next quarter’s budget (important, not urgent) goes to Schedule, with a slot in the calendar; booking the meeting room for a colleague’s workshop (urgent, not important for you) goes to Delegate; tidying old newsletters (neither) goes to Drop.
Tips
- Be strict with “important”: ask whether it moves a goal forward, not whether someone wants it.
- Give each Schedule task a time in your calendar, for example with the time blocking planner, or it will stay there.
- Review the matrix daily or weekly; tasks move from Schedule to Do now when they are left too long.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Eisenhower matrix?
A way to sort tasks by two questions: is it urgent (does it need attention now) and is it important (does it serve your goals)? The answers give four boxes: do now, schedule, delegate and drop. It is named after US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was made popular by Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
What is the difference between urgent and important?
Urgent means time-sensitive: someone is waiting or a deadline is close. Important means it matters for your work, health or relationships in the long run. Many urgent things are not important, and the most important work is often not urgent, which is why it gets pushed aside.
Which box deserves the most time?
The Schedule box. Work that is important but not urgent, such as planning, prevention, learning and exercise, is what reduces crises later. If the Do now box is always full, more of that work belongs in Schedule.
What if I have no one to delegate to?
Treat the box as a place to shrink tasks: automate them, batch them into one slot, answer them with a template, or say no. The point is not to give them your best hours.
Is my list saved?
Yes, in your browser's local storage on this device, as soon as you add or change a task. It is never uploaded, so another browser or device starts empty.