Task Priority Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix — also called the Urgent-Important Matrix — sorts tasks into 4 quadrants based on two questions: Is it urgent? Is it important? The framework was popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who said "I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent." This free task priority matrix helps you apply the same system to your daily work.
Add your tasks, then drag or click to sort them into the right quadrant. Most people find they should delete or delegate 60-80% of what feels 'urgent.' The remaining few important-but-not-urgent tasks are where real long-term results come from.
Enter Your Task
Eisenhower Matrix
Do First
(Urgent & Important)
Schedule
(Not Urgent & Important)
Delegate
(Urgent & Not Important)
Eliminate
(Not Urgent & Not Important)
📌 5 Tips for Effective Task Prioritization
- ✓ Do First (Urgent & Important): These tasks require immediate attention and contribute to your goals. Do them now.
- ✓ Schedule (Not Urgent & Important): These tasks are important for long-term success but don't require immediate action. Schedule time for them.
- ✓ Delegate (Urgent & Not Important): These tasks need to be done but don't require your personal attention. Delegate them to others.
- ✓ Eliminate (Not Urgent & Not Important): These tasks are time-wasters. Eliminate or minimize them.
- ✓ Review Regularly: Reassess your tasks regularly as priorities can change with new information or circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Eisenhower Matrix?
The Eisenhower Matrix is a 2x2 grid that sorts tasks by urgency and importance. The 4 quadrants are: Do (urgent + important), Schedule (important, not urgent), Delegate (urgent, not important), and Delete (neither).
Why does the matrix work?
Most people spend their time on urgent-but-not-important tasks (Quadrant 3) because they feel pressing. The matrix forces you to recognize that important-not-urgent tasks (Quadrant 2) are where career and life progress actually happens.
How often should I review my matrix?
Weekly for the 30,000-foot view, daily for today's tasks. A common workflow: Sunday evening planning (weekly review), each morning picking your top 3 important-not-urgent tasks for the day.
Is this the same as the Covey Quadrants?
Yes — Stephen Covey popularized the same 4 quadrants in his book 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.' He called them Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4. The Eisenhower Matrix is the original name; Covey Quadrants is the modern label.
Can I save my tasks?
Yes — tasks save to your browser's localStorage automatically. They persist across page refreshes on the same device. No account needed.
Build Your Productivity Stack
Once you've mapped what to work on, these seven tools cover the rest of a productive day — from focused time blocks to daily routines, the real cost of the meetings you schedule, and the small random decisions that break up the work.
- Pomodoro Timer: Run focused 25-minute sprints on the tasks that made your "Do First" quadrant
- Habit Tracker: Turn your "Schedule" quadrant into streak-tracked daily habits
- Reading Time Estimator: Slot deep-reading tasks into your schedule with realistic time budgets
- Dice Roller: Break decision paralysis on equal-priority tasks — let the dice choose
- Should I Buy This: Apply the same urgency/importance framework to purchase decisions
- Study Schedule Generator: Turn your top-priority tasks into a day-by-day study plan with priority weighting
- Meeting Cost Calculator: Put a dollar figure on every sync you schedule — the true cost of the recurring meetings that crowd your "Do First" quadrant
Disclaimer: This tool is designed to help you organize and prioritize your tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix method. The categorization of tasks is subjective and based on your personal assessment of urgency and importance. This tool does not provide professional productivity advice.