Urgent-Important Matrix (Eisenhower)
Focus on what truly matters by organizing tasks by urgency and importance.
What is the Urgent-Important Matrix?
The Urgent-Important Matrix, also known as the Eisenhower Matrix, is a simple yet powerful framework for time management and task prioritization. It helps you categorize your tasks into four quadrants based on their urgency and importance, allowing you to make clear decisions about what to tackle first, what to schedule for later, what to delegate, and what to eliminate.
By visually organizing your to-do list, you can move beyond simply reacting to urgent demands and start proactively focusing on activities that align with your long-term goals.
Origin of the Matrix
The framework is attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States. In a 1954 speech, he quoted an unnamed university president, saying: "I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent."
This principle was later popularized by Stephen Covey in his best-selling book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," where he developed it into the practical four-quadrant matrix we use today. It has since become a cornerstone of modern productivity and time management strategies.
How to Use This Tool
- Add Tasks: In the "Build Your Matrix" section, type a task description.
- Assign Quadrant: Select the appropriate quadrant (Do, Decide, Delegate, or Delete) from the dropdown menu.
- Build: Click the "Add Task" button to place your task in the matrix.
- Manage: As you complete or handle tasks, remove them by clicking the icon.
- Load Example: Click "Load Example" to see a pre-filled matrix and understand how it works.
Build Your Matrix
Do Urgent & Important
Decide Not Urgent & Important
Delegate Urgent & Not Important
Delete Not Urgent & Not Important
Export Your Matrix
Once you have organized your tasks, you can download a clean report of your prioritized list for offline use, sharing, or documentation. Click the button below to generate an Excel file.