Writing requires sustained focus that modern life constantly threatens to fragment. Client deadlines compete with personal projects, promotion competes with creation, and research can become sophisticated procrastination. This Eisenhower Matrix template helps writers protect their creative time while managing the business of writing.
Complete article with client deadline today
Client deadlines are commitments—deliver on time to maintain reputation.
Incorporate urgent editor revisions
Editorial feedback has publication timeline implications—respond promptly.
Submit piece before publication cutoff
Publication deadlines don't move—prioritize final submissions.
Address time-sensitive pitch opportunity
Some opportunities have narrow windows—respond while they're open.
Fix critical error in published piece
Published mistakes damage credibility—correct quickly and transparently.
Write first draft of book or passion project
Personal projects build your voice and career—protect time fiercely.
Outline ideas for future articles and stories
Idea development maintains creative pipeline—invest in future work.
Build author platform and reader relationships
Platform grows through consistent investment—don't neglect visibility.
Read widely in your genre and beyond
Reading feeds writing—invest in creative input regularly.
Develop new skills and craft knowledge
Craft improvement compounds—invest in becoming a better writer.
Respond to every social media comment immediately
Social engagement can be batched—protect writing time.
Answer non-urgent emails about potential work
Inquiry responses can wait—batch communications to designated times.
Research minor details for current project
Research can become procrastination—set limits and write through gaps.
Update website and author bio
Platform maintenance matters but isn't urgent—schedule periodically.
Organize writing files and archives
File organization has diminishing returns—good enough is sufficient.
Read about writing instead of writing
Learning about craft doesn't replace practice—write first, read about writing later.
Perfect first sentence for hours
First draft perfectionism is resistance—write badly, then revise.
Check sales stats or follower counts obsessively
Metrics checking is anxiety behavior—set boundaries on monitoring.
Compare yourself to other writers
Comparison steals creative energy—focus on your own work.
Wait for inspiration instead of writing
Inspiration follows action—sit down and write regardless of feeling.
Save your progress and never lose track of your tasks
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Thanks to 4todo, our hectic wedding schedule was perfectly organized."
"4todo was an indispensable helper on my long-distance hike."
"Helps me ignore the noise and focus on what moves my work forward."
Save this task list to your 4todo account and start prioritizing what matters most.
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