The Eisenhower Matrix
Prioritize strategically by separating urgent from important
What Is the Eisenhower Matrix?
The Eisenhower Matrix, also called the Urgent-Important Matrix, is a decision-making framework attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States. Eisenhower famously said: "What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important."
The matrix helps you escape the "urgency trap" — constantly reacting to urgent tasks while neglecting what's truly important for long-term success. By categorizing tasks into four quadrants, you can make strategic decisions about where to invest your time and energy.
The Four Quadrants
Quadrant 1: Do!
Urgent & Important
Crises, deadlines, emergencies. Handle these immediately but minimize them over time.
- • Client emergency
- • Project deadline today
- • Broken production system
- • Medical emergency
Quadrant 2: Decide!
Not Urgent but Important
Strategic work, planning, relationships. This is where high-performers live — invest most time here.
- • Strategic planning
- • Learning & development
- • Exercise & health
- • Relationship building
Quadrant 3: Delegate!
Urgent but Not Important
Interruptions, some emails, other people's priorities. Minimize or delegate these distractions.
- • Most emails
- • Some phone calls
- • Low-value meetings
- • Others' requests
Quadrant 4: Delete!
Neither Urgent nor Important
Time wasters, busy work, distractions. Eliminate these ruthlessly.
- • Mindless scrolling
- • Excessive TV
- • Busy work
- • Trivial tasks
How Boost Makes It Visual & Actionable
Boost's Eisenhower Matrix brings this powerful framework to life with interactive features:
- •Visual Quadrants: See all four categories at a glance with color-coded headers
- •Inline Editing: Change priority and urgency right in the matrix to move tasks between quadrants
- •Start Focus: Launch Pomodoro sessions directly from the matrix
- •Unified Data: Changes sync instantly with Kanban, Pomodoro, and all other views
Best Practices
📅Do a Weekly Review
Every Sunday or Monday, review your matrix. Move tasks between quadrants as priorities shift. Aim to spend 70% of your time in Quadrant 2.
🎯Be Honest About Urgency
Just because someone else thinks it's urgent doesn't make it so. Question false urgency before moving tasks to Quadrant 1.
🛡️Protect Quadrant 2 Time
Block calendar time for important-but-not-urgent work. This is where you build the future and prevent future crises.
✂️Ruthlessly Cut Quadrant 4
Track how much time you spend on Q4 activities. Set hard limits on social media, Netflix, and other time sinks.