You need to manage your time better. How can you use the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks?

The Eisenhower matrix is a "time-tested" method to manage time and tasks. At the start of the day, most people either get overwhelmed by the amount of work or get distracted by insignificant tasks that keep them busy but do not give productive output. Starting the day with a to-do list, categorizing & focusing on the work based on the most urgent & important tasks can make a big difference in increasing productivity & output. The Eisenhower matrix has 4 categories: 1- urgent & important 2- Important but not urgent 3- Urgent but not important 4 -Neither urgent nor important Once you sort all the tasks of the day into these 4 categories, the to-do list and the mind get de-cluttered making it easier to focus and maximize time & productivity.

Yes, this is important as well as what is high-impact, high-value deliverables. Use these two frameworks together and work might be more meaningful and manageable. However, it is useful to always be on the same page about what is considered high impact/value to you as it might differ from your manager's perspective :)

Given the nature of my job, working alongside with other off-location offices, to maximize the Eisenhower Matrix, I regularly review and adjust my tasks based on changing priorities, daily and weekly goals, and external factors such as syncing with the other location offices since we have to work together on some tasks. I frequently reassess my matrix, and I'm flexible in moving tasks between quadrants, schedule specific time blocks for each, delegate when possible, and eliminate unnecessary ones, as we have rotating tasks or punctual adhocs to work on. There are three moments on my week where I do this: Mondays and Fridays (opening and closing of the week) and daily (first thing in the morning), for all the routine tasks.

The Eisenhower Matrix is essentially an organisational tool for structuring a process in the most efficient and priority-based way possible. - To effectively implement this matrix, however, you need to put the work into your plan. You have to have a clear idea, ideally in writing, of what your four quadrants include, leaving out no details. - This allows you to tackle your CPS process without distractions, or sidetracks. - It also allows you to reach milestone points (one of the most important factors during CPS processes). I.e. once you complete your quadrant 1 tasks, you can set yourself a break, or a rest, etc. - These four quadrants can be set over a longer period of time, too. They don't have to be daily task quadrants x4 etc.

Given the fast pace nature of my working envirnoment, I apply the Matrix by: . quickly joting down all tasks or commitments for the day. . I categorize each task to one of the four quadrants based on the 2 main categories: Urgent and Important: TO DO NOW, for Later, Urgent bot not important: delegate none of the categories: eliminate or leave it on a backburner (you never know when you're going to need it). After this exercise, I start using the same order as above. When the day ends I review the list (matrix) and make adjustments for the next day. And also very important, I use the KISS "mantra" I learned in college, Keep It Simple Stupid. Because if we don't apply it, then we're risking losing the entire Matrix's purpose.

This is assuming we do not have more incoming tasks than what we currently have on our plate. Sometimes the 'urgency' of incoming tasks may trump our plans, adding to our stress levels especially if we are a good planner. Remaining flexible will be crucial. How we can manage these occurrences is by communicating our plans with whoever is tasking us with new deliverables. Discussing the different timelines of deliverables to manage expectations and co-create less stressful outcomes needs to be our objective. It is important to let others know when we need help, and it is safe to ask for help. Multitasking causes our brains to force reboot sometimes, without us realising, which can be more detrimental to brain health in the long term.

The Eisenhower Matrix is a tool that is as simple as it is productive, allowing ideas and tasks to be structured with a strategic order of priority. In today's environment, full of change, speed and uncertainty, this significantly reduces ambiguity and helps to focus on what is important, separating it from what is urgent.

An a very beneficial factor about the Eisenhower Matrix is that it guides you to identify the tasks that can be delegated and the ones you need to handle yourself.

One strategy I've found particularly effective is leveraging Copilot, to consolidate and summarize all my tasks into a single, organized to-do list. Once my tasks are neatly outlined, I employ the Eisenhower Matrix to methodically tackle them, allowing me to focus on what truly needs immediate attention while scheduling or delegating others appropriately. This approach has significantly enhanced my time management skills and overall productivity.