Hello! In this article, we will talk about one of the most effective tools time management - the Eisenhower matrix.

Today you will learn:

• What is the Eisenhower Matrix;
• How can the matrix be used in Everyday life(with examples);
• What are some tips to save time.

"The day is long until evening, if there is nothing to do" - says folk wisdom. Quite different aphorisms are born in busy people who run a race against time: “How would you add a twenty-fifth hour to the day?”.

In conditions of multitasking, sooner or later, every business person faces the question of the proper distribution of time resources. Starting conditions are equal for every inhabitant on the planet - an hour includes sixty minutes for absolutely everyone. But how effectively people organize their time makes a big difference between successful person and eternal loser.

The Eisenhower matrix as a method of organizing time

Time management, or is the conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific types activities in order to increase their efficiency and productivity.

Eisenhower Matrix is one of the popular time management tools that is used to prioritize business and personal tasks. It is based on the principle of classifying all cases into four categories, depending on their degree of importance and urgency. The matrix is ​​most convenient to use for short-term and medium-term planning.

This approach was pioneered by Dwight David Eisenhower, a World War II Army General and later the 34th President of the United States. The politician has always admired those around him with his ability to keep up with everything.

Once an American searched in vain for some effective way manage time and, not finding it among the existing ones, developed it on his own. The time matrix is ​​still striking in its simplicity and genius, and millions of people around the world use it for planning.

Visually, the priority matrix is ​​divided into four quadrants, where cases fit into categories: important and urgent, important and non-urgent, unimportant and urgent, unimportant and non-urgent.

The user of the matrix is ​​asked to enter all their planned activities in these quadrants. The most big job occurs just when a person makes a choice between these fields, thus deciding which things to do first and which things to do second.

Characterization of quadrants

Quadrant A: important and urgent

In this field, cases should be recorded that relate to priority areas of a person’s life and do not tolerate delay. These areas are usually family, career (for students - study), health and safety.

These cases are consistent with the following statements:

1. Failure to do so soon will significantly distance you from one of your life's long-term goals.

Example. In the near future, you are looking forward to a promotion. The manager asks you to submit a report on the work done as soon as possible. It is important? Yes, since you don't want to miss the chance career. This is urgent? Yes, because now is the time to show your diligence.

1. Late application for medical care can have severe consequences.

Example. You have a toothache. Important? Everything related to health is always important. Urgently? You run the risk of losing a tooth and will not last long on painkillers.

Quadrant B: important and non-urgent

Successful people tend to do most of their work in this quadrant. These are everyday activities that invariably serve the cause of achieving the main goals in all areas of life. They are all important, but there is no rush, as in the case of the A quadrant.

A successful person does not bring his important things to a state of emergency, but does them gradually. He most often has time to deliberately make decisions, brick by brick building the building of his future.

This zone includes all daily activities that directly relate to priority areas life: work, family, self-development, health.

They are subject to the same criteria:

• The task must be completed, but it can be postponed for a while if something important and urgent appears.

Example. You are a programmer and must hand in the program you have written by Monday. It's only Thursday, and you've already got everything ready, but you've decided to put your hand in until Friday so you can double-check everything.

Things from the B quadrant, if left unattended, can migrate to the A quadrant. Your goal is to prevent this from happening. It happens that an important matter appears suddenly, for reasons beyond your control. But often we ourselves bring things to this state, ignoring preventive examinations at the doctor and postponing important tasks until the deadline.

Quadrant C: Unimportant and urgent

These things are a bit off the top of your priorities, but doing them makes your life more comfortable and can serve you well over time.

In this area are meetings and conversations that you go to out of courtesy or out of necessity, including birthdays of not very close people, suddenly appeared household chores, some work tasks.

This quadrant has the following characteristics:

1. Completing this task quickly will help.

Example. You were planning to buy an air conditioner and found out about the sale, which will run for only one day. Important? Not particularly. The world will not collapse if you do not buy an air conditioner cheaper than you planned. Urgently? Yes, the sale is valid for one day only. A nice bonus: an urgent purchase will save a little on the family budget.

1. Indirectly, the performance of these cases may benefit the main goals, although this is not guaranteed.

Example. You are a journalist. You are invited to a banquet, where the editor of the newspaper you are interested in can come. Important? Not really, everything is too vague. Urgently? Yes, because the banquet will not last forever, you need to make a decision - either go or not.

It is likely that you will find someone to delegate the case from this quadrant. Some unimportant urgent matter can be done for you by a spouse, acquaintance, colleague, subordinate.

Quadrant D: Unimportant and non-urgent

All the affairs of this quadrant can be conditionally divided into the actual business and entertainment. Tasks include tasks that ensure your comfort, make you and your life more beautiful (for example, taking care of your appearance), but it may take some time.

For a woman, this may be a visit to a manicurist, for a man, a car wash. Of course, these things are important in themselves, but not in relation to your main areas of life.

The second group includes a pleasant pastime. It is generally considered that there is no benefit from these deeds, they are called "time wasters", they are presented as things that people do at least they would rather not do, and getting rid of them is a laudable goal.

So categorically we can only speak about bad habits like smoking and the systematic use of strong alcohol. Examples of activities such as social networking, watching light films, hanging out in clubs, playing computer games - all this has the right to be and is necessary for a person if it relaxes him and gives him pleasure.

Firstly, a person is not a robot, he needs to do something just like that, for the soul.

Secondly, unimportant and non-urgent things can be beneficial. Many computer games develop thinking, communication in social networks teaches to express thoughts, dancing in clubs helps to warm up. In addition, it has long been known that a change of activity is the best rest.

The main condition for this quadrant is not to let him take over for the most part of your time and ignore the main things that move you forward in life.

How to apply the Eisenhower matrix in practice

So, after reviewing the theoretical part, you can experience the effect of the matrix on yourself.

1. On the evening before your first day of experimentation, unfold your diary at the appropriate date and draw a four-field spread. Label them as shown in the matrix. In the absence of a diary, you can take a regular sheet. If you always carry a tablet or laptop with you, you can create a matrix in Excel.
2. On a separate sheet, write down in a column all the tasks that you intend to do tomorrow (when you acquire the skill of quickly distributing all the tasks in the matrix, you will no longer need this item).
3. Read the cases one at a time and copy each one into the appropriate quadrant of the matrix. To do this, you need to answer just two questions: is it important? Is it urgent?

1. In the case of the paper version, leave free place in each field - tomorrow you will remember other things and add them.
2. Highlight with a marker (color) already completed tasks.
3. At the end of the day, move the unfinished tasks to the next day (be sure to rewrite them on a new spread of the diary or copy them in a new Excel tab - otherwise they will be “lost”).
4. Do not deny yourself the pleasure at the end of the day to look through all the "color" parts of your matrix, that is, all the completed cases. You will feel the satisfaction of a business person whose day was not spent in vain.

An example of a completed Eisenhower matrix

With our example, we will do as we advised in the previous paragraph - first we write out all the cases in a row, and then distribute them in the matrix. In the first-person example, a professional massage therapist would be meditating.

Here is his list of tasks for the day (with commentary to let the reader appreciate the importance and urgency):

• Today 4 massages: at 9 o'clock, at 11 o'clock, at 15 o'clock, at 20 o'clock (I will take care of other things during breaks);
• Go to the accounting department (according to the contract for a massage, I should receive 60% of the cost, but in fact I receive only 50% - find out why);
• Buy cat food (it's good that I looked - there is only one feeding left);
• Visit a friend in the hospital (a close friend broke his arm yesterday, bring him something tasty);
• Call the bank, make a payment for the mortgage (today is the last day when you can pay without a penalty);
• Visit friends for a tent (today is Tuesday, we are planning a family trip on Saturday);
• Go to the pool (the more often I go, the better);
• Buy groceries (there’s something else in the fridge, we’ll last a couple of days);
• Reply to messages on WhatsApp and VKontakte (just conversations);
• Practice English for at least 20 minutes (there are many foreigners among the clients, it would be necessary to improve the language);
• Buy a new gasket for the faucet (the faucet is still dripping, but it is on the verge);
• Go to an appointment with an optometrist (every year, just in case, I go through an examination);
• Get a haircut (the look is still neat, but it’s better not to delay it);
• Throw a book about exercises for the back muscles to a colleague (I promised that I would send it right away as soon as I was at the computer).

	URGENTLY	DO NOT RUSH
IMPORTANT	Today 4 massages: at 9 a.m., at 11 a.m., at 3 p.m., at 8 p.m. Visit a friend in the hospital	Visit friends for a tent (family trip) Go to an appointment with an optometrist Go to accounting Practice English
DOESN'T MATTER	Go to the bank, make a mortgage payment Buy cat food Buy a new faucet gasket Send a book to a colleague	cut your hair Buy products Go to the pool Reply to messages in WhatsApp and VKontakte

Remember: the same thing for different people can inhabit different quadrants of the matrix. For example, for someone to work out their hobby can refer to both important and unimportant things. You and only you can distribute your affairs as you see your life priorities.

Under what conditions will the Eisenhower matrix be useful to you

Some skeptics believe that the Eisenhower matrix is ​​only suitable for managers, while a simple employee, worker or housewife will not be able to use it in practice (which is not true - the matrix is ​​\u200b\u200buniversal, we proved this by taking the case of a masseur as an example, not a businessman).

In reality, the question is not about the possibility or impossibility of using the matrix, but about the expediency of its use.

The Eisenhower system is used to plan for each day. I.e we are talking not about long-term plans (build a house, go on vacation, graduate from university), but about current tasks.

On the one hand, if a person has so few daily tasks that his memory can easily cope with them, there is no need to use the table. For example, all the plans of an employee for the day are to serve their eight hours at work and drink beer with friends in the evening. This table is not for such people.

On the other hand, if a person has goals in all aspects of his life - in work, study, self-development, family, hobbies, if he strives to be the master of his time, and not go with it - such a person always has a lot of daily tasks. And since he does not want to lose sight of them, this matrix is ​​for him.

The Eisenhower matrix is ​​no panacea for the eternal lack of time. It's more of a mini tutorial on prioritization.

Don't be surprised if you find it difficult to assign cases to quadrants at first. The moment you think and do it, you are learning. And learning something valuable always involves some effort.

Do not despair - after working with the table for several days in a row, you will acquire a skill that will turn into a skill. Subsequently, the prioritization will reach automatism.

So let's sum it up.

The Eisenhower Matrix is ​​for people like you if:

• You constantly have to choose which task to take on first;
• You are ready to get to know yourself better, ready to honestly answer questions like “what is really important to me?”;
• You want to do as much as possible - definitely more than you do now;
• You are ready to deal with such a quality of yours as procrastination - chronic postponing things “for later”.

Perhaps you are already good at managing your time.

Read the statements below and ask yourself if they are true for you. If the vast majority of points do not suit you, it is advisable for you to master time management techniques.

• You always have a clear to-do list for the day;
• You respond to business emails in a timely manner;
• You do not take work home and almost never stay late after the end of the working day;
• You don't let phone calls, visits, and social media significantly distract you from your main tasks;
• You do not do the work for your subordinates because you do not think that only you can do it really well;
• At the end of the day, you feel almost as energized as at the beginning.

If all the previous points seem logical to you, then the last one may cause an incredulous smile: “Yes, you are joking! A squeezed lemon feels more energized than I do at the end of a work day.” However, there is a large number of people who not only do not get tired, but also feel a surge of energy. And there is no secret here.

We do not get tired of the amount of work done, but of stupid, disorderly actions, senseless throwing and feeling helpless in conditions of chronic time pressure.

Of course, sometimes we cannot foresee everything. And our well-proportioned plan can be shaken due to a sudden shutdown of office equipment, a late client or a truant employee. Leave that aside for now.

The first thing to work on is how not to be a source of chaos for yourself, and then you can think about the impact of external unforeseen circumstances.

1. Clean up your desktop from documents that you no longer work with. If they are not needed very often, put them in the closet. Not needed at all - send to the basket. In a pile of papers, you can hardly find the very sheet that you will spend long minutes searching for, irritated by fruitless efforts. Please note that the tables successful businessmen look like no one is working on them: most of their surface is unoccupied.
2. Get yourself a diary and don't part with it. It's impossible to remember everything business people have long understood the need to write down everything - dates of meetings, cases, questions for reflection. Mobile phones and laptops with their calendars are often used, but a paper diary will never become obsolete - if only because it cannot break or run out of power.
3. Plan the most important thing at the time of the peak of your daily activity. We are all human beings, and even the toughest members of our species are overcome by sleep. Resisting your biorhythms is a waste of time, you will still lose. What you do in the afternoon in an hour, in the evening, with accumulated fatigue, will take you twice as much time. Therefore, do not postpone an urgent report until late in the evening, do not start important conversations before going to bed - both you and you will suffer from this approach.
4. Don't overload yourself. It's not just that your productivity will drop. With a merciless rhythm, you will definitely “burn out”, and your body, without your consent, will arrange a rest for itself, sending you to hospital bed. This is where you will lose all your saved time.

Treat yourself like a thoroughbred horse - this, of course, is a strong animal, but which of the owners would dare to drive it with a frantic gallop?

1. Don't "slow down" projects and deeds. Remember famous phrase about the fact that the best is the enemy of the good? Do you feel like the more you test your project, the better it gets? It is very important here not to “overdo” the matter, otherwise you risk feeling chronic fatigue from the impossibility of achieving the ideal. Do not strive for the ideal - these actions will waste your time.
2. Don't try to be great at everything. It takes years to become an expert in any field. It is better to stand out in one thing than to be average in everything. This is what Ocean's 11 is about. It is important to have a team where everyone is good at something, then you can easily delegate things.

It is very easy to get confused in the cycle of life events. Children are taught to distribute their time correctly by adults, who often put everything off until later. As a rule, this “later” never comes. All planned cases are smoothly pushed aside by others and in the end turn into one continuous lump of unresolved tasks.

The problem most often lies not in the number of cases, but in an irrationally drawn up schedule. People do not pay due attention to planning their activities. But by spending quite a bit of personal time learning the basics of time management, you can save a lot in the future. Then in life there will be a place not only for eternal problems but also for yourself and your family. One of the simplest and efficient technician planning is the Eisenhower principle.

What is the essence of technology?

The principle of the Eisenhower matrix is ​​the competent distribution of tasks depending on the degree of their significance. It helps to break down the entire list of tasks into important and not important, urgent and not very important. Using the matrix, you can determine the period of time that will be needed to solve the problem, because something requires more attention, and some things are not even worth five minutes spent on them.

To achieve success, you need to follow a certain algorithm. Order necessary action depends on the priority of tasks. As a rule, they interfere with concentrating on one goal various factors: personal problems, people around, habits, etc. Get rid of weaknesses and focus only on beneficial actions the Eisenhower method can help.

How did this principle come about, who formed it?

The thirty-fourth President of the United States of America, Dwight David Eisenhower, substantiated the described principle of time management. Political figure I could not leave a single task unsolved, so I tried to make my schedule as rational and optimized as possible. As a result, Eisenhower transformed all tasks into a matrix.

Today, the method of the president is also used office workers, and managers, and senior executives. This suggests that this way prioritization and indeed effective and relevant.

What is the Dwight Eisenhower Matrix?

The Eisenhower square (or principles is based on the construction of a matrix. The basis of the matrix is ​​​​the axis of importance (abscissa) and the axis of urgency (ordinate). Their mutual intersection gives four squares, each of which is filled with tasks, according to their distribution.

So, for starters, it’s worth deciding what is important and what is urgent. Important things have the greatest impact on achieving results, and urgent tasks require immediate implementation. In general, a picture is formed that gives full view about the state of affairs.

The matrix will allow you to arrange right priorities- what can wait and what will not be delayed.

What is in box A?

The first square, located in the upper left corner, is called square A. The most important and urgent tasks are written in this cell. Ideally, this square should be empty, since a rationally distributed time allows you to avoid the presence of cases of this kind in principle.

to business heightened importance can be attributed:

• health problems that usually occur at the most inopportune times;
• something that can negatively affect the results of operations;
• cases, failure to do which may lead to new problems.

Self-control of a person is responsible for the fullness of this square. After all, if new cases appear in cell A every day, the Eisenhower principle will not help. Here you should turn to time management in principle, but first you need to deal with all the cases that will fill square A in the short term.

In spite of top priority given square, you can pass the solution of the problems that fill the cell to someone else. But this is only if this is possible, and things do not necessarily require personal participation.

What tasks does square B involve?

This part of the matrix is ​​filled daily chores. As a rule, everything that deserves is included here. most attention. These are important, but not urgent matters, most of which are related to the main activity of a person. The low urgency of the tasks will allow you not to make sudden decisions, and a constructive and reasonable approach will make it possible to complete all matters more efficiently.

The activities of people who mainly solve problems from quadrant B are more productive. At good results work, such people have enough time for their personal lives, they do not experience constant stress. This square consists of tasks that have no great importance and, perhaps, to some extent everyday, but it is from them that human activity mainly consists.

Tasks from quadrant B have a strong impact on both morale and material condition. These are sports, diet, sleep, training and working activity- those things that you can’t do without, but they usually pay the least attention, letting a lot go by themselves.

What cases are included in square C?

Square C includes those things that do not bring closer to the cherished goal, but, on the contrary, slow down events, postpone the implementation of really important tasks. Most often they require an urgent investment of time, but they distract and lead astray. Here it is important to always remember the results of your activities and goals and not switch to the secondary.

AT this sector you can safely include household chores and promises made to someone. In general, these matters are not so much important as urgent.

What is included in square D?

For people who do not know how to properly plan time, things from this square take nai large quantity time. These tasks can rather be called not problems, but pleasant worries, which, moreover, do not bring absolutely any rational benefit. The influence of the square D must, if not be excluded, then at least try to reduce.

You should not replace rest with aimless monitoring of social networks, watching TV shows or series, empty chatter on the phone. Free time You can also spend it for the benefit of yourself and those around you: family, relatives and friends.

Where is the Dwight Eisenhower principle used?

The described method of task distribution is used not only to rationalize time. Accelerated analysis according to the Eisenhower principle is used, for example, to determine necessary functions shopping facilities. Product improvement at all stages life cycle called This principle combines economic and technique by determining the relationship of product properties with the cost of it. The latter must be logical and payable.

What is the principle of Eisenhower in the FSA, studied by many experts from countries with market economies: France, Germany, Great Britain, USA. As a result, it was found that in order to determine the range of relevant functions of the object, it is important to observe the proportions between their necessity and cost. The Eisenhower principle in the FSA is to analyze the product and distribute its properties into three categories:

1. Category A. Main or fundamental functions: the direct purpose of the product, for the provision of which it is necessary to spend more money.
2. Category B. Secondary product features that are related to the main one. The presence of such additions is welcome, but the absence does not affect sales too much.
3. Category C. Extra features, the absence of which will in no way affect the quality of the product. By avoiding spending on add-ons that are completely unnecessary, you can save a lot.

The practice of applying the Eisenhower principle

It is absolutely not necessary to distribute tasks exactly in the form of a matrix - squared, but at first you can do just that to ensure clarity. It is convenient to convert the standard into several lists or overall plan, where cases from different squares are highlighted in color. So, for example, both urgent and important tasks (square A) can be written in red ink, important but not urgent in green(sector B), unimportant but urgent tasks (square C) - in blue, and in black - unimportant and non-urgent. At the same time, the degree of importance of a particular case should be assessed not in the mind, but on paper. In this way, the tasks take shape, and their implementation becomes more real.

Why should this method be used?

The principle can help change your life in terms of rationalizing your personal time. Usage this method allows you to spend less time on unnecessary tasks and focus on the most promising cases, as well as enough time to devote good rest, avoiding the so-called time wasters: television, aimless wandering around the expanses of the Web and the like.

A person who applies the principles of time management in his daily activities is not only more successful than others, according to statistics, but also healthier, as he does not experience constant stress associated with overload and constant deadlines. (Eisenhower principle or any other) will help optimize your life activity in all areas.

Suppose you thoughtfully approached the formulation of the goal, overcame internal resistance in the form of fear and procrastination, found excellent motivation to achieve results. You are active and full of energy! However, after some time, you are surprised to notice that, having honestly and persistently worked out the planned 8-12 hours, you cannot determine exactly

• what of the planned has already been done;
• which intermediate result received;
• How close are you to achieving the goal you set for yourself?

The picture turns out to be quite depressing: your day is full of worries, you are always busy with something, and the result does not get closer. Instead of being satisfied that you managed to pass a few more steps on the way to the goal, you only feel tired and disappointed.

"The Goal Problem"

In time management, this phenomenon is called “goal setting problems”. Faced with it, you begin to feel famous hero ancient Greek myth- Sisyphus, who is doomed every day to roll a huge boulder to the top of the mountain, breaking down at the moment when the goal is reached. Such an unbearable boulder in your case is a heap of daily affairs, the volume of which does not decrease, no matter how hard you try.

Prioritize

Although the problem you are facing is really serious and large-scale, it is quite possible to solve it. But where to start? First, before you take action, you need to figure out exactly what you want to achieve on this stage and rank tasks according to their priority.

Don't start working on a task before you know exactly where you want to go and how far you're getting from it.

Of course, there is a whole category of things that can be done randomly, according to the “discovered-done” principle. In its own way, this is even useful: such activity creates a certain mood and helps to get involved in the main work without any problems. Such cases include, for example, household “turnover”: wash the dishes, wipe the dust, sweep the floor, etc. The list of such daily routine tasks is small, moreover, the advantage of their implementation is that you almost instantly see the result of your efforts and after completion, you experience not only a sense of satisfaction from the work done, but also quite tangible physical comfort.

However, when it comes to the tasks that need to be solved in the course of work on large-scale project, the to-do list can become almost dimensionless. A chaotic strategy will not work here - after all, you are limited in time to complete the entire project. Hence, the risk is great, solving the mass secondary issues, just do not have time to do something really important to achieve ultimate goal. Therefore, before grabbing everything at once, take a few minutes to think.

Rank current tasks

Thinking about your actions is a good idea, but you want to do it not only efficiently, but also quickly. Suitable for this purpose known method, which is actively used in time management. It is known as the Eisenhower matrix. AT different sources several various ways using this method. It seems to us the simplest and most rational one, which will be discussed below. It proved to be an excellent tool for practical application so we are happy to share it with you.

The Matrix bears the name of the 34th President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower, a former army general. It is he who is credited with the invention of this method, but, most likely, Eisenhower's merit lies in the fact that at one time he expressed the idea: "Not all urgent matters are important, and not all important matters are urgent." The quote gained popularity and, of course, formed the basis of the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe matrix.

With the help of the Eisenhower matrix, you can quickly sort even a fairly long to-do list. To do this, write down current tasks(best by using GTD methodology), and then evaluate each of them according to just two criteria:

• Does it matter? (Not really)
• Is it urgent? (Not really)

As a result, all your list items, depending on their degree of importance / urgency, can be placed in one of the 4 quadrants of the Eisenhower Matrix, which looks like this:

It should be noted that the matrix various systems time management has different names, as well as the interpretation of the quadrants may differ slightly for different authors. So, Stephen Covey, author of the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, calls it the Urgency\Importance matrix. He gives detailed recommendations on its use in his work. In other sources, this method is called a visual version of the " 4D Rules", Which we will talk about a little later.

How to work with quadrants

The Eisenhower Matrix has not only many options for names, but also many interpretations of how to deal with the tasks placed in each of the quadrants. We propose to dwell on two interpretations, the first of which seems to be more convenient for everyday use.

Method Do-Plan-Delegate-Eliminate

Actually, the name of this method already carries information about how to deal with the tasks that you have placed in each of the 4 quadrants. Let's dwell on this in a little more detail.

Quadrant 1: Urgent and Important

These are cases that require immediate action, otherwise the irreparable will happen: a fire, a bug that can block the release, or something like that. The ideal option is when this quadrant is left empty. As a last resort, you can put tasks from quadrant No. 2 into it, if unforeseen circumstances suddenly demanded their urgent solution.

Quadrant 2: Important but not urgent

This is the quadrant for the most productive tasks. They do not need to be solved this very second, so each can be reasonably planned and efficiently implemented. Working on the implementation of tasks from the second quadrant, you will end up with the same productivity, the lack of which led you to despair.

To further optimize the work within this quadrant, you can rank the tasks placed in it according to the same principle of importance / urgency. So you can first pay attention to more urgent and important (not “burning”!) tasks, and then calmly move on to solving less urgent and important (but still significant for achieving the goal) issues.

Quadrant 3: Not important but urgent

Things in this quadrant are the very distractions that disrupt the smooth flow of the workflow and interfere with the achievement of the ultimate goal. It's long telephone conversations, fruitless discussions that do not have an ultimate goal, the need to be distracted in order to help one of the colleagues, etc. It is recommended that such cases be delegated, if possible, to someone who can quite cope with them instead of you. main idea- Don't do it yourself. You can delegate them, or refuse to implement them at all.

Quadrant 4: Not important and not urgent

You can simply forget about the cases that ended up in this quadrant. As a rule, these are some of your momentary desires that have nothing to do with your goals. If such a quadrant is empty, it is perfect option. But even if there are some tasks in it that you still would like to complete, postpone the solution of this issue for an indefinitely long period and return to them after the main goal is achieved, but for now it’s just not worth wasting energy on them and time.

The 4D Rule

In fairness, it must be said that the "4D" rule in various interpretations does not necessarily describe the quadrants of the matrix we are talking about. But one of them is quite consistent with their descriptions above, and it can be used when working with quadrants:

Do, Delegate, Defer, or Dump (Do (urgently), Charge (to others), Postpone (for a while), Throw).
Do, Decide, Delegate, Delete (Do (now), Decide (in what order to do), Charge, Delete).

The main advantage of the described method is that it allows you to quickly rank any number of tasks. In addition, the matrix

• Helps to visually represent the volume of planned cases and their degree of importance / urgency. Thus, you get the opportunity to use your time efficiently.
• With its help, you can easily divide tasks into groups based on just 2 simple criteria. If not for this condition, then it would be much more difficult to distribute tasks by quadrants.

Check the effectiveness of the matrix in practice

You can use the Eisenhower matrix not only to determine which tasks bring you closer to the intended result, and which ones create obstacles on the way to the goal. You can also use this method to evaluate how effective you are overall. So, if all your tasks are placed in the second quadrant, we can say that you have reached the maximum efficiency.

In addition, the division of tasks into quadrants allows you to visually determine exactly where most of your time and energy goes, as well as tell you how to improve personal performance. For example, seriously think about delegating most tasks to other team members, or finally stop wasting time and effort on things that found a place in quadrant number 4.

You can optimize the application of the Eisenhower matrix method using applications that already exist in various options: mobile, web and desktop versions. And in order not to make mistakes in setting goals and to determine rational ways their achievements, use the service Smart Progress. With his help different people over 35,000 goals have already been implemented. Have you defined your goal?

Today we will consider how important proper prioritization in any business, and how you can learn to arrange them using a simple technique with complicated name: eisenhower matrix.

Surely each of us at least once faced with a lack of time to complete all the tasks. Moreover, there is certain category people who lack it constantly and catastrophically! Trying to do everything in time, they even try, but from this overall result only suffers more.

The main problem of such people is ignorance, or unwillingness to use them in practice. In particular, one of essential methods time management, which sounds like this: proper prioritization.

It is on the ability to correctly prioritize that the success and timeliness of the implementation of all existing tasks largely depends.

In other words, a person needs to correctly distribute the order of doing things and follow this order.

Exist different methods setting priorities. Today I want to consider one of the most popular, and perhaps the most effective method called the Eisenhower Priority Matrix. What it is and how to use it - more on that later.

The Eisenhower Matrix prioritization method was invented not even by a mathematician or psychologist, but by the 34th President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower. Being a well-known politician, he, naturally, was constantly faced with the need to fulfill huge amount affairs, and now, in order to do everything, he developed this method for himself, which today is actively used in time management to perform both work and personal tasks.

The Eisenhower Matrix is ​​a coordinate system in which the X-axis indicates the importance of the tasks that need to be done, and the Y-axis indicates their urgency. Thus, four segments are formed, which differ from each other in terms of urgency and importance. Consider what the Eisenhower matrix looks like in the picture:

The Prioritization Method The Eisenhower Matrix consists of allocating all available cases and tasks into these four segments in order to complete them in a strict sequence.

If you distribute all the tasks into these 4 segments, it turns out that:

- from above - all urgent matters;

- on the right - all important things;

- below - all non-urgent matters;

- on the left - all unimportant things.

And now let's briefly characterize each of the resulting squares in the exact sequence in which you need to perform the tasks related to them.

1. Important and urgent matters. That is, the upper right segment of the Eisenhower matrix. Here should be the most important tasks, which, moreover, must be completed urgently. What is called "a matter of life and death."

This could include, for example, completing work that is nearing the end of the deadline, an important business call if you promised to call certain time. Or, on a personal level, visiting the dentist if you suddenly have a sharp toothache.

Ideally, this square should not accumulate more than 1-2 cases. You should definitely not “shove” everything into this segment: you should objectively assess how this task is really important and really urgent.

2. Not important, but urgent. Or the upper left segment of the Eisenhower matrix. This segment should include unplanned, suddenly appeared cases that need to be done urgently, but which are not particularly important. What is called "force majeure".

For example, the boss asked me to go send mail. Or a heel flew off on the way, and you need to urgently repair it or return to change shoes. Or you suddenly remembered that a colleague has a birthday today, and the working day is already ending - you need to urgently congratulate.

It may mistakenly seem to someone that these cases are included in the first category, that is, they are important, but this is absolutely not the case. Because doing them won't affect yours in any way. later life or the results of the work - from the fact that you do these things, nothing will change at all, however, they need to be done urgently, without it in any way.

The second segment can often be empty in general: tasks in it, as a rule, appear suddenly and disappear immediately after their urgent completion.

3. Important but not urgent matters. That is, the lower right segment of the Eisenhower priority matrix. This includes all the tasks that are important to you, but do not require immediate completion. Important cases, the deadline for which is not “running out” yet, and which can wait if there are cases in the first two segments.

For example, business contacts with clients that do not have a clear time frame, current work. Personally - playing sports, studying in English reading useful literature.

It is important to understand that some cases from this category, if they are not performed, gradually rise up and move to the first segment, that is, they become urgent. For example, you need to repay the loan by the 25th. If on the calendar the 20th number is just an important matter, and if the 24th is already important and urgent.

This segment, although it is already the third in the prioritization, is of great importance, since it is the solution of the tasks included in it that has the maximum impact on the future life of a person.

4. Not important, not urgent. The last, lower left square of the Eisenhower priority matrix. This includes cases on which nothing depends at all, and which, by and large, often a person does not need at all. They are united as one general term- time wasters.

For example, chatting with a friend on the phone, climbing social network, visit entertainment sites, etc.

It is worth starting tasks from this category only if all other categories are on this moment empty.

This is how the Eisenhower Matrix prioritization method works.

That's all. I hope you take note of these helpful tips and recommendations. See you again on the site that will help you achieve success in any business and teach you how to properly manage your personal finances.

November 6, 2016

Greetings! Have you ever scolded yourself in the evening for the fact that you managed to do insultingly little during the day? Were constantly busy, but really important and urgent matters smoothly "creeped" for tomorrow?

Personally, I faced this problem regularly. By the evening, he was tired like a dog, but in fact there were mountains of unfinished work, a mess in the kitchen and the apartment was not paid on time.
I was terribly angry, but for some reason I continued to often waste time on nonsense, finishing all important tasks hastily and in last moment(and usually late at night).

This whole mess went on for quite some time. Until I started using a simple, convenient and visual tool. In my opinion, this is one of the most effective ways Clear your mind once and for all. And finally put things in order.

Meet the Eisenhower matrix as a prioritization tool.

The Matrix was invented by the thirty-fourth President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower (he served as president from 1953 to 1961).

The politician developed a universal scheme that helped him classify and sort out a bunch of daily tasks. I think the President of the United States had plenty of them. Into one beautiful moment Eisenhower made a paradoxical conclusion:

Urgent things are rarely important, and important things are urgent

By the way, the Eisenhower matrix is ​​strongly recommended by my beloved Stephen Covey in the book "Focus on the main things". I recommend downloading and studying.

The essence of the Eisenhower matrix

Majority Problem modern people- inability to prioritize when planning. We prefer to do what we like first, leaving unpleasant but important things for later. As a result, time pressure, stress and ... syndrome.

Technique from the president instantly puts everything "on the shelves."

It looks like four quadrants with two axes. Vertically, the matrix is ​​divided by urgency (“urgent” and “not urgent”), vertically – by importance (“important” and “not important”).
At the same time, the author of the theory refers to “urgent” that which cannot be postponed. And to the “important” - tasks, the solution of which depends on a full-fledged, successful and emotional life. And as my experience shows, all everyday life can be attributed to one of the quadrants.

Quadrant A. Important and urgent matters

Proper planning always leaves this box blank. Things recorded in sector A are a sign of disorganization and incorrect prioritization. “Important and urgent” is force majeure, time trouble and emergency work.

Example of cases from sector A:

• Cramming the subject last night before the exam
• Plumber call due to burst pipe
• An urgent call to a client who sent money to the wrong details
• Acute toothache and urgent visit to the dentist

Moreover, most of this list could have been avoided. Start cramming a little bit every day a week before the exam. Or visit the dentist every six months for a preventive examination. Do you agree?

Quadrant B. Important but not urgent

The most priority and promising tasks are entered into sector B - this is our most valuable square. It is from such cases, ideally, that the “To do” list for the day should consist. Statistically, someone who focuses on the B quadrant achieves best results while living a full and happy life.

The absence of the urgency factor makes it possible to solve problems deliberately and constructively. But it is worth relaxing - and much from zone B will quickly “creep” into sector A.

An example of tasks from sector B:

• Fill out utility bills
• Buy groceries for the week
• Write a trip report
• Go to the gym for a workout
• Book an appointment with a dentist
• Take a photo for a pass to the garage

Quadrant C. Urgent but not important tasks

90% of such cases distract from achieving important goals, reduce efficiency and interfere with concentration. But you still need to make them (or not - it's up to you).

An example of tasks from sector C:

• Happy birthday to a distant and very talkative relative
• Go to a reunion of graduates (you don’t want to go, but it’s inconvenient to refuse)
• Instantly take papers to the other end of the city at the request of a colleague

The content from sector C must either not be done at all, or proceed with them after the tasks from list B have been fully worked out.

Quadrant D. Non-urgent and non-important matters

In D there should be only that which does not affect the quality of our life. Have you already guessed what we are talking about? Well, of course, about “time eaters”: computer games, reading comments on social networks, talking “about nothing” on the phone, aimless shopping, solving crossword puzzles. D-zone tasks should only be completed after all other categories are empty!

1. Start your day by reminding yourself of your main long-term goal. This is something like a beacon, which you need to navigate when filling out the Eisenhower matrix. For example, the goal is “in five years”. And evaluate each item in the matrix from the position: “Doing this task will help me achieve my goal or not?”
2. If you don't like the idea of ​​drawing squares every day, you can just write A, B, C, and D on your diary.
3. Carry out all the current tasks in the exact sequence in which they are listed above: A, B, C and D. Only then will you be in time for everything and avoid “blockages” and “hands-on work”. With the right approach, there will even be time for nonsense from the D quadrant
4. Do not use cases from the fourth sector for rest in the process of work! Practice shows that social networks and “shooter games” are seriously distracting and do not allow you to fully relax

In the Eisenhower matrix, I was not satisfied with one important point: I didn't know how to prioritize tasks from different areas. With work, everything is more or less clear (although there are nuances there too). But life is not limited labor exploits»: there is still health, personal development, family and communication with friends.

In short, my problem could be formulated as follows: “What is more important - to learn 10 new English words Or do 10 ab exercises?

For myself, I solved the problem as follows. He singled out all the important areas of life: work, health, personal development, communications, economic affairs. You can add something else to this list: self-care (for girls), study (for students) or spiritual practices (for esoteric fans).

It remains only to ensure that cases from each area are entered into the matrix.

This is how my sector B looks like:

• Finalize the second part of the project for the customer (“work”)
• 3 km in the pool ("health")
• Complete 2 Business English (Personal Development) Video Lessons
• Buy groceries and cook dinner ("hozdela")
• Meet a former classmate who came to town for a day (“communications”). By the way, this item can be safely placed in sector C “On, but it doesn’t matter”

And what do I attribute to the D sector? Watching your favorite series, for example, or having a beer with friends at a sports bar.

It is clear that this is a very simplified example and the number of points in sector B is much larger. But this approach allows you to live full life, and not "burn at work" for days. Tested on myself!

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