Eisenhower Matrix

What Is the Eisenhower Matrix?

The Eisenhower Matrix, also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, is a decision-making framework that helps you prioritize tasks by sorting them into four quadrants based on urgency and importance. It is named after Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, who was famous for his exceptional productivity and ability to manage competing demands.

The Four Quadrants

• Quadrant 1 — Do First (Urgent + Important): Crisis tasks, deadlines, and emergencies that need immediate attention. These are the fires you must put out today.
• Quadrant 2 — Schedule (Important, Not Urgent): Long-term goals, strategic planning, skill development, and relationship building. This is where your most meaningful work lives. High performers spend most of their time here.
• Quadrant 3 — Delegate (Urgent, Not Important): Interruptions, some emails, certain meetings, and other people's priorities that feel pressing but don't advance your own goals. If possible, hand these off.
• Quadrant 4 — Eliminate (Neither Urgent nor Important): Time-wasters, busywork, excessive social media, and activities that provide neither progress nor genuine rest. Minimize or cut these entirely.

Why the Eisenhower Matrix Works

Most people default to working on whatever feels most urgent, which means Quadrant 3 tasks constantly crowd out Quadrant 2 work. The matrix forces you to separate urgency from importance — a distinction that is critical but surprisingly hard to make in the moment. By visually mapping your tasks, you gain clarity on where your time is actually going and where it should be going.

How to Use This Tool

Type a task into the input field, select the quadrant it belongs to, and click Add. You can drag and drop tasks between quadrants as your priorities shift. Review your matrix regularly — ideally at the start of each day or week — to make sure you are investing enough time in Quadrant 2 activities, which drive long-term success.