What is Eisenhower Matrix And How It Can Change Your Life.
Imagine you’ve got a to-do list as long as a CVS receipt. You’re staring at it, feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders, and thinking, “How am I ever going to get all this done?” This is where the magical, mysterious-sounding Eisenhower Matrix comes in. Except, it’s not magic, nor is it mysterious. It’s a simple, yet profoundly effective way to sort your chaotic list into something that actually makes sense. And no, it’s not a new fad diet or a workout routine, but it might just change your life as much as those things promise to.
So, what is the Eisenhower Matrix? Let’s break it down. Imagine dividing your to-do list into four boxes:
- Important and Urgent
- Important but Not Urgent
- Not Important but Urgent
- Not Important and Not Urgent.
It’s like playing a game of Tetris with your tasks, but instead of trying to fit them into clear lines, you’re organizing them based on what needs your attention right now and what can wait.
You can use Eisenhower Matrix in the Tick-Tick app. Tick-Tick is that all-in-one app that will help you to organise your life, learn or unlearn habits and focus on your important tasks. You can learn about Tick-Tick and other useful apps I use here.
Now, you might be thinking, “Alright, but how does sorting things into boxes change my life?” Let’s dive into some examples that show the Eisenhower Matrix in action:
The Endless Email
You’ve got fifty unread emails. Ten of them are from your boss, thirty-five are newsletters you don’t remember subscribing to, and five are from your friend asking for confirmation about the trip we planned. According to the Eisenhower Matrix, your boss’s emails are both Important and Urgent. Friend’s emails? Important but Not Urgent (because let’s face it, planning trips is fun, but it can wait until after work). Those newsletters? Not Important and Not Urgent. See how that helps prioritize?
You can create these labels in your email and organise your emails accordingly. Trust me, this will change your life.
Let’s take another real life example
Picture this: It’s a Wednesday, and you’ve got a job interview at 2 PM. This is the kind of opportunity you’ve been waiting for, so it’s top of the list – Important and Urgent. On the same day, you realize you’re down to your last clean shirt. Laundry day can no longer be ignored. But here’s the thing: your laundry, while important (because let’s face it, nobody wants to run out of clean clothes), is not urgent when compared to your job interview.
So, you prioritise. Your morning is dedicated to prepping for the interview – reviewing your notes, getting your outfit ready (thankfully, that last clean shirt is interview-appropriate), and maybe even doing some breathing exercises to calm those nerves. The laundry? It can wait until you’re back home, basking in the glow of an interview well done. If the interview wraps up early and you’re feeling energized, great! You can tackle the laundry then. If not, it’s okay to push it to the evening or even the next day. The world won’t end if you do laundry on a Thursday instead of a Wednesday.
On the same day, you will have other tasks such as calling an unknown number of which you have a missed call of, which is urgent, but not important. And watching a movie, which is totally not urgent and not important for sure, right? Righttt?
This simple example showcases the essence of prioritising based on urgency and importance. It’s about recognising that while many tasks feel pressing, distinguishing between what needs immediate attention and what can wait is key to managing your time and stress levels effectively. Plus, acing that interview might just lead to a job that lets you afford a laundry service, so there’s that silver lining!
See, the beauty of the Eisenhower Matrix is that it doesn’t just help you with your to-do list. It teaches you about life. It shows you that not everything that screams for your attention deserves it. It helps you find balance, reduce stress, and focus on what truly matters to you. And perhaps most importantly, it gives you permission to not do everything at once, because let’s be real, you’re a human, not a superhero (unless you’re actually a superhero, in which case, can you sort my to-do list?).
So next time you’re drowning in tasks, remember this ultra cool-sounding principle.
