Make Better Decisions, Faster

Your brainpower is finite. Stop wasting it. Use this matrix in 4todo to instantly categorize your decisions, so you can apply deep thought to what matters and automate the rest.

DO FIRST

  • Decide on a response to a critical, time-sensitive PR issue

    This requires immediate, clear-headed thinking. The consequences of inaction are high.

  • Make a final call on a project with an immediate go/no-go deadline

  • Choose a vendor to fix an urgent system failure

PLAN THIS WEEK

  • Decide on your strategic priorities for the next year

    This is a high-leverage decision that shapes the future. Schedule significant time for this and protect it.

  • Choose a long-term career path or business direction

  • Evaluate and select a key strategic partner or hire

DELEGATE

  • Decide which non-urgent emails to answer first

    This feels urgent but is low-impact. The best decision is to not decide now; handle in a batch later.

  • Choose a time for a routine future meeting

  • Pick a design for an internal, low-stakes presentation

SKIP IF NEEDED

  • Spending an hour deciding what to watch on a streaming service

  • Debating which brand of office supplies to order

  • Agonizing over the perfect email signature

checklist

That's a lot to remember!

Save your progress and never lose track of your tasks

✓Based on the Eisenhower Matrix framework
✓The task list and priorities are clear at a glance
✓Free forever, no credit card

How to Use the Priority Matrix

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Start with Red (Important + Urgent)

Tasks in this quadrant are highly important, and the deadline is right around the corner. It's like having a paper due tonight or a client's system suddenly going down. You have to drop everything else, get on it right now, and give it your full focus. This is your top priority.

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Schedule Yellow (Important + Not Urgent)

This is the foundation for your long-term success. These are things that matter for your future but aren't urgent right now, like learning a new skill, exercising, or planning for next month. Because they're not urgent, they're easy to forget. What you need to do is put them on your schedule, set a fixed time for them, and stick to it.

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Delegate Blue (Not Important + Urgent)

These tasks may seem urgent, but they're not important to you. They're the kind that interrupt your flow, like unnecessary meetings or small favors others ask of you. The best approach is to let someone else handle them or deal with them quickly, and don't let them steal your valuable time.

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Skip Gray (Not Important + Not Urgent)

Tasks in this quadrant are neither important nor urgent. They're purely a drain on your time and energy, like mindlessly scrolling on your phone. The best approach is simply not to do them, and save that time for the tasks in the Yellow quadrant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Eisenhower Matrix fight 'decision fatigue'?

Decision fatigue is the decline in the quality of your decisions after a long session of decision-making. The matrix is a system to conserve your mental energy. It forces you to quickly eliminate or delegate low-impact choices (Quadrants 3 & 4), so you can save your best brainpower for the high-impact decisions in Quadrants 1 and 2.

What kind of decisions belong in Quadrant 2 (Schedule)?

These are your most significant, strategic decisions: choices about your career, business strategy, major investments, or key relationships. The matrix reminds you to schedule dedicated, high-quality time to think through these choices, rather than making them hastily under the pressure of Quadrant 1.

How do I quickly categorize decisions without overthinking it?

Use a simple two-question test. First, 'If I did this, would it make a significant positive impact on my long-term goals?' If yes, it's Important. If no, it's Not Important. Second, 'If I don't do this today, will there be immediate, serious negative consequences?' If yes, it's Urgent. If no, it's Not Urgent. This quick filter is usually enough to place most items.

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Ready to Get Organized?

Save this task list to your 4todo account and start prioritizing what matters most.

  • ✓Organize tasks using the proven Eisenhower Matrix method
  • ✓Access your checklist from any device, anytime
  • ✓Track progress and stay motivated
  • ✓Customize for your specific situation

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