In my experience, there are two questions that can help clarify the entire process behind the Eisenhower Box. One final note: it can be hard to eliminate time wasting activities if you aren’t sure what you are working toward.
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And to be honest, if you simply eliminated all of the things you waste time on each day then you probably wouldn't need any tips on how to be more productive at the things that matter. I find that the Eisenhower Matrix is particularly useful because it pushes me to question whether an action is really necessary, which means I’m more likely to move tasks to the “Delete” quadrant rather than mindlessly repeating them. 2Īs Tim Ferriss says, “Being busy is a form of laziness - lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.” Too often, we use productivity, time management, and optimization as an excuse to avoid the really difficult question: “Do I actually need to be doing this?” It is much easier to remain busy and tell yourself that you just need to be a little more efficient or to “work a little later tonight” than to endure the pain of eliminating a task that you are comfortable with doing, but that isn’t the highest and best use of your time. That’s not a reason to be lazy, but rather a suggestion to force yourself to make hard decisions and delete any task that does not lead you toward your mission, your values, and your goals.
There is no faster way to do something than not doing it at all.
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In other words, the fastest way to get something done - whether it is having a computer read a line of code or crossing a task off your to-do list - is to eliminate that task entirely. Elimination Before OptimizationĪ few years ago, I was reading about computer programming when I came across an interesting quote: Here are some other observations I’ve made from using this method. And like anything in life, consistency is the hard part. The reason I like the Eisenhower Matrix is that it provides a clear framework for making the decisions over and over again. Separating these differences is simple enough to do once, but doing so continually can be tough.
Meanwhile, in the words of Brett McKay, “Important tasks are things that contribute to our long-term mission, values, and goals.” 1 Urgent tasks are things that you feel like you need to react to: emails, phone calls, texts, news stories. What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important. The Difference Between Urgent and Important Here is an example of what my Eisenhower Box looks like for today. The great thing about this matrix is that it can be used for broad productivity plans (“How should I spend my time each week?”) and for smaller, daily plans (“What should I do today?”). Neither urgent nor important (tasks that you will eliminate).Urgent, but not important (tasks you will delegate to someone else).Important, but not urgent (tasks you will schedule to do later).Urgent and important (tasks you will do immediately).Using the decision matrix below, you will separate your actions based on four possibilities. The Eisenhower Box: How to be More ProductiveĮisenhower’s strategy for taking action and organizing your tasks is simple. Let's talk about how to be more productive and how Eisenhower's strategy works. His most famous productivity strategy is known as the Eisenhower Box (or Eisenhower Matrix) and it’s a simple decision-making tool that you can use right now. And for that reason, it is no surprise that his methods for time management, task management, and productivity have been studied by many people. During his time in office, he launched programs that directly led to the development of the Interstate Highway System in the United States, the launch of the internet (DARPA), the exploration of space (NASA), and the peaceful use of alternative energy sources (Atomic Energy Act).īefore becoming president, Eisenhower was a five-star general in the United States Army, served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II, and was responsible for planning and executing invasions of North Africa, France, and Germany.Īt other points along the way, he served as President of Columbia University, became the first Supreme Commander of NATO, and somehow found time to pursue hobbies like golfing and oil painting.Įisenhower had an incredible ability to sustain his productivity not just for weeks or months, but for decades. Dwight Eisenhower lived one of the most productive lives you can imagine.Įisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, serving two terms from 1953 to 1961.
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