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Are there just too many tasks to do in a short amount of time? Don\u2019t even know where to begin, how to organize it all, or what to prioritize first? Find yourself working at a clean desk, but with a cluttered mind? You\u2019re definitely not alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We live in an information overload society that is riddled with people, information, and tasks competing for our attention, making it extremely difficult to eliminate distractions and noise from our daily routine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Prioritization is the key. The answer to doing more better lies in how we design our time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Time management solutions are efficient tools to measure and foster productivity. And because <\/span>we can\u2019t make more time, we need to learn how to make better use of it. Instead of focusing on the number of tasks completed in a day, start prioritizing those that matter.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are countless time and project management methods<\/a> and techniques to boost your productivity and help you do your job more efficiently. A simple, yet powerful tool that does just that is the <\/span>Eisenhower Matrix<\/span>. The <\/span>Eisenhower Matrix<\/span> is an excellent task prioritization matrix for practising better time management. <\/span>Even if you\u2019ve never heard of the term, you have probably been using the method.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It goes without saying that most successful people are adept time and project managers. As key skills in any industry, time and <\/span>task management<\/span><\/a> require focus, prioritization<\/a>, and planning to increase productivity and achieve your goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, if we\u2019re honest, staying organized and on top of deadlines isn\u2019t always that simple. Keep reading to learn about how the <\/span>Eisenhower Matrix<\/span> can help you get things done\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>Eisenhower Matrix<\/span> (also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, Eisenhower Box, Eisenhower Method, and Time Management Matrix) is a decision-making method that helps you sort out tasks based on the criteria of urgency and importance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Although simple in its makeup, this prioritization matrix is powerful. Use it to eliminate the noise and time-wasting activities in your life, help you combat the \u201cmere-urgency\u201d effect (more on this later), and increase your mental legroom to make progress on your long-term goals.<\/span><\/p>\n This method is particularly useful for people who:<\/span><\/p>\n With oodles of time management strategies and tools to choose from, what makes the <\/span>Eisenhower Matrix<\/span> so noteworthy? It is remarkable because, despite its simplicity, it has outlived the trends (having often been repackaged and sold as new!) and continues to produce results.<\/span><\/p>\n For those of us more familiar with US History, the name Eisenhower probably rings a bell. The term does indeed derive from the 34<\/span>th<\/span> president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Having served as a five-star general in the United States Army, better known as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during World War II, Eisenhower had to continuously make tough decisions <\/span>due to the nature of his job and responsibilities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.” \u2013 Dwight D. Eisenhower<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Fun fact: the method first became popular through its appearance in the genre-defining self-help book <\/span>Seven Habits of Highly Effective People<\/span><\/i>. The author, <\/span>Stephen Covey<\/span><\/a>, repackaged Eisenhower\u2019s decision-making principles into a template to prioritize tasks, now known as the <\/span>Eisenhower Matrix<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The <\/span>Eisenhower Matrix<\/span> is <\/span>an extremely effective way to prioritize and manage both your time and your tasks. Arranged into four categories, the decision-making method is based on two simple criteria: urgency and importance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The matrix is systematized with four quadrants, structured according to urgency on the x-axis and by importance on the y-axis. <\/span>According to priority and urgency levels, the user organizes their tasks and activities into the following categories:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Being able to categorize your daily and weekly tasks into these four quadrants is a challenge and arguably the fundamental and most complex skill for utilizing this prioritization matrix.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>Pareto-Principle<\/span><\/a>, 80% of the planned results can be achieved with 20% of the total effort. Problem: most people often invest more of their time in miscellaneous activities rather than focusing on tasks that will produce the best results with the least amount of effort.<\/span><\/p>\n This is a consequence of \u201c<\/span>present shock<\/span><\/a>\u201d \u2013 a condition in which we lose our sense of the long-term narrative and direction, because of living in a continuous, always-on, \u2018now\u2019 moment. Research shows that we live in a pattern, dubbed the \u201c<\/span>Mere-Urgency Effect<\/span><\/a>\u201d, where we tend to prioritize tasks with deadlines <\/span>over tasks without one regardless <\/span>of the impact they can make in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n It is, therefore, pertinent to be able to distinguish the urgent tasks and activities from those that are important. Urgent tasks are things that require an immediate attentive response such as a tax deadline, health scare, or scheduled parent-teacher meeting. According to Brett McKay, founder and editor-in-chief of the <\/span>Art of Manliness<\/span><\/a>, “Important tasks are things that contribute to our long-term mission, values, and goals.” Deciding which tasks you should or should not do becomes much easier when you are certain about what is important to you.<\/span><\/p>\n Rory Vaden, author and Self-Discipline Strategist explains that most people are trading their to-do lists for emergencies. In <\/span>Procrastinate on Purpose,<\/span><\/i> he describes most successful people as \u201c<\/span>time multipliers<\/span><\/a>\u201d who begin their day by posing the question: \u201cWhat are the most important things that I can do today that would free up more time tomorrow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n S<\/span>o instead of continuing your tiresome and likely unhealthy cycle of decision-making, begin making truly smarter, more conscious choices today.\u00a0 Stop hustling without purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n Popular Youtuber John Green comments on <\/span>productivity<\/span><\/a>: <\/span>\u201c<\/span>I would argue life is not about becoming the most efficient, problem-solving, value-creation machine you can become. <\/span>To me, productivity is mostly a matter of recognizing that time is what we have<\/span> and that it is imperative to be a steward of our most precious resource: time.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Quadrant 1 tasks are inevitable, and characterized as urgent and important; they require direct and immediate attention. These tasks have a tendency to be more tedious and challenging consequently requiring more time and attention to complete.<\/p>\n Tasks that land in the first quadrant are often the direct result of procrastination. They should, however, be tackled first and completed as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Use Mark Twain\u2019s Eat the Frog<\/a> principle to master possible task paralysis. The term \u2018eat that frog\u2019 refers to getting your worst task out of the way first. Eating the frog implies you finish a task you don\u2019t want to do, but know you have to do. These tasks ultimately give you a strong feeling of accomplishment once completed.<\/p>\n For those of us who work best under pressure or with clear deadlines, you can use the Pomodoro technique<\/a> to help you focus on the task.<\/p>\n Types of Quadrant 1 Tasks include:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not every important task has to be finished in one day. Tasks that are important, but not urgent are generally long-term projects or assignments that require sufficient planning and a certain amount of time to be executed properly.<\/p>\n Termed the sweet spot of personal time management, the second quadrant is the spot focused on personal improvement in terms of opportunities and growth. Quadrant 2 is the perfect location to write down a list of your meaningful goals. Remember to set realistic deadlines even for tasks that aren\u2019t urgent.<\/p>\n Types of Quadrant 2 Tasks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Quadrant 3 is where the mere-urgency effect affects lives. Even if you and I were the best multi-taskers and extremely efficient in our jobs, we have to face the fact that we aren\u2019t Superman.<\/p>\n The common phrase, \u201cteamwork makes the dream work\u201d isn\u2019t famous just because it is catchy, but because it is true.<\/p>\n Good leaders and managers know when to do a task themselves and when to delegate the work to someone else. Sometimes it\u2019s best to delegate a task<\/a> you could do yourself to a co-worker knowing they might be the better person to complete the job.<\/p>\n Types of Quadrant 3 Tasks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Quadrant 4 is the quadrant of excess and immediate gratification. Tasks that are neither urgent nor important are to be placed in the trash, out of sight and out of mind. Depending on the situation, such tasks could reappear on your to-do list in a week\u2019s time but do not need to be done yet and may even be considered a waste of time.<\/p>\n Types of Quadrant 4 Tasks:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Advantages of the time management matrix:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Disadvantages of the Eisenhower Matrix:<\/strong><\/p>\n Staying organized in this time-pressured world can prove challenging due to overlapping commitments and spontaneous \u2018urgent\u2019 meetings. A recurring false pretence of urgency can also cloud one\u2019s understanding or definition of an \u2018urgent matter\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A common cause of stress and job burnout is improper time management. Utilizing this method helps you learn key principles of planning, prioritizing, delegating, and scheduling. The <\/span>Eisenhower Matrix<\/span> is a simple aid to help you increase productivity and complete tasks that matter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This prioritization matrix may not work for all, but it\u2019s a great starting point. You can use it as a stepping stone to finding a more personalized, better-suited technique. So, what are you waiting for?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We know that habits don\u2019t happen overnight. Just like in sports, practice makes perfect. Sometimes it takes a little (or a lot!) of<\/span> experimenting to find what system works best for you and your team. But the reward for finding the system that fits you best, whether for personal or business use, is<\/span> incomparable.<\/span> I think it\u2019s safe to say that it\u2019s more effective to invest enough time for the important but not urgent things now, rather than waiting until the frog has doubled in size. What type of productivity tools and time-saving methods are you using?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cheers,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jessica and the Zenkit Team<\/strong><\/p>\n Image Credits: Carl Heyerdahl<\/a> via Unsplash,\u00a0fotografierende<\/a> via Pexels, JESHOOTS.com<\/a> via Pexels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Are there just too many tasks to do in a short amount of time? Don\u2019t even know where to begin, how to organize it all, or what to prioritize first? Find yourself working at a clean desk, but with a cluttered mind? You\u2019re definitely not alone.\u00a0 We live in an information overload society that is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":90492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16661,16663],"tags":[14903,14909,14900,14899,14901,62,14908,122,14907,14904,14905,65,23,68,69,146,14906,14902],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"productivity](\"https:\/\/zenkit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/productivity-quote-screensaver.png\")
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\nWhat Is the Eisenhower Matrix?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nWhere Does the Term Come from?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nHow Does It Work? The Eisenhower Matrix Explained<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nWhy Everything We Know About Productivity Is Wrong: How to Decipher the Urgent from the Important<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nStart Doing What Matters Using the Eisenhower Matrix<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nBest Practice Tips for Using the Eisenhower Matrix<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nConvinced That the Eisenhower Matrix Is for You? Here Are Some Things to Consider<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nKey Takeaways on the Eisenhower Matrix, Time Management, and the Universe<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nFinal Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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