Your Freelance Business, Stabilized

Be your own best boss, for real. Use this matrix in 4todo to ensure you're always dedicating time to your pipeline, so you can stop worrying about where the next check is coming from.

DO FIRST
  • Meet a critical client project deadline

    This is your bread and butter. Delivering high-quality work on time is crucial for repeat business and your reputation.

  • Respond to an urgent client issue or revision request

  • Send a final reminder for an overdue invoice

PLAN THIS WEEK
  • Send out three personalized pitches to potential new clients

    This is the most important task to prevent the 'feast or famine' cycle. Make this a non-negotiable weekly task.

  • Update your portfolio with your latest and best work

  • Learn a new, in-demand skill to expand your service offerings

DELEGATE
  • Answering a non-urgent email from a potential but un-vetted client

    This feels urgent but can be a time sink. Use a template to direct them to your services page or booking link.

  • Attending a free webinar that isn't directly applicable to your skills

  • Engaging in social media conversations with no clear business goal

SKIP IF NEEDED
  • Endlessly tweaking your personal website design instead of pitching

  • Comparing your income and projects to other freelancers on social media

  • Spending hours on administrative tasks you could automate

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

local_fire_department

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.

calendar_month

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.

group

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.

delete

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

What is the biggest mistake freelancers make that the matrix can prevent?

The biggest mistake is getting stuck on the 'hamster wheel' of client work (Quadrant 1) and neglecting business development (Quadrant 2). This leads directly to the 'feast or famine' cycle. The matrix is a visual tool that forces you to schedule time for marketing and sales, ensuring a steady stream of new leads.

How does a freelancer handle the 'Delegate' quadrant without a team?

For a freelancer, 'Delegate' (Quadrant 3) means 'Automate' or 'Outsource.' Use software to automate invoicing and scheduling. Hire a bookkeeper for a few hours a month. Use email templates for common inquiries. Every task you automate or outsource frees up time for billable work (Q1) or growing your business (Q2).

My client says their request is urgent. How do I know if it's truly 'Important'?

Importance is tied to the agreed-upon project scope and goals. If the 'urgent' request is essential to achieving the core goal of the project, it's Important (Q1). If it's a new idea or outside the original scope, it's likely Not Important for the current project (Q3). You can then treat it as a new request to be scoped and scheduled separately, protecting the current project's timeline.

Loved by Users

"Thanks to 4todo, our hectic wedding schedule was perfectly organized."
Haoya
Indie Hacker
"4todo was an indispensable helper on my long-distance hike."
Haomega
Fullstack Developer
"Helps me ignore the noise and focus on what moves my work forward."
Ben
Startup Founder

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

No credit card • setup less 1-minute