What Is the Eisenhower Matrix?

The Eisenhower matrix, sometimes referred to as the Eisenhower box, is a time management method that splits tasks into four categories. It uses two criteria: urgency and importance. Based on these, a typical Eisenhower matrix has the following categories:

• Urgent and important: work that you should do now.
• Urgent and unimportant: tasks that you should delegate.
• Not urgent and important: assignments you should schedule for later.
• Not urgent and unimportant: time-wasting activities that you should eliminate from your schedule.

What are the classifications of tasks in an Eisenhower matrix?

Using the criteria of urgency and importance, the Eisenhower matrix divides tasks into four classifications: Emergencies, To-dos, Interruptions, and Time-wasters. These classifications are also known as the Do, Decide, Delegate, and Delete quadrants, referring to what you should do with tasks in them.

Why is it called the Eisenhower matrix?

The Eisenhower method originated from a quote by US president Dwight D. Eisenhower in which he described the two criteria of the matrix. He was quoted as saying “I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.”