Your friend group decided to take a last minute trip to Florida! A group of five people putting their hands in middle and then up in the air.

They also decided that YOU should plan the trip.

Woman laying in the sand sunbathing, then a big wave washes over her unexpectedly.

That's a big job! Where do you start?

An Eisenhower Matrix can help!

What is an Eisenhower Matrix?

The Eisenhower Matrix is named after a famous quote by the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower:

I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.

President Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, smiling and waving.

Flaticon Icon The Eisenhower Matrixis a way to help you organize and prioritize tasks, based on their urgency and importance.

Read more about the Eisenhower Matrixin this Byte!

How should I get started?

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First, get all of the ideas, thoughts, and tasks that are swirling around your head out! Do a brain dump.

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  • Open the notes app on your phone or get a piece of paper.

  • Write down EVERYTHING about the trip that's in your head.

Quiz

What should you write on your brain dump list? Select all that apply.

What do I do with this gigantic list?

Now you will utilize the Eisenhower Matrix to help you prioritize your tasks by urgency and importance. Sort each item on your list into the following categories:

Top left: urgent & important, do first. Top right: important & not urgent, do later. Bottom left: urgent & not important, del

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URGENT & IMPORTANT

  • All tasks that must be done right away!

  • Schedule a time to do them ASAP.

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IMPORTANT, BUT NOT URGENT

  • These tasks are important but don't need to be done immediately.

  • Schedule an upcoming time to do them.

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URGENT, BUT NOT IMPORTANT

  • Tasks that need to be done right, but it doesn't matter if you're the one to do them.

  • Who can you ask to help?

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NOT URGENT & NOT IMPORTANT

  • Let these tasks go!

Quiz

Which of these tasks would be categorized as urgent and important?

An example Eisenhower Matrix for a trip

Flaticon Icon URGENT & IMPORTANT

  • Find and book airline tickets

  • Find and book hotel accommodations

Flaticon Icon IMPORTANT, BUT NOT URGENT

  • Determine the itinerary

  • Decide if a rental car is needed

  • Buy sunscreen

  • Make a plan for splitting costs

Flaticon Icon URGENT, BUT NOT IMPORTANT

  • Ask Sara to find a seafood restaurant and make reservations for Friday evening

  • Ask Juan to make a grocery list for the week

Flaticon Icon NOT URGENT & NOT IMPORTANT

  • Get matching towels for the group

Quiz

Where would you place "pack your suitcase" on the matrix?

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