Sort each task by two questions that are easy to confuse: does this matter? and does this have to happen now? Most people discover their week is run by things that are only urgent.
The four boxes
Box 1 — Urgent and important
Time-sensitive items that need to be resolved immediately.
Do it now
Box 2 — Important, not urgent
Matters for your long-term goals, but is not time-sensitive. Can be worked toward one piece at a time.
Decide when to do it
Box 3 — Not important, not urgent
Things that come up and can be distractions. Complete them when you have time.
Do it later, or not at all
Box 4 — Urgent, not important
Items that demand attention for a while but do not matter much in the grand scheme.
Delegate it or resolve it later
How to use this tool
For each statement, choose Box 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Tick It depends for any item you are unsure about, or where the answer changes with circumstances. That is the asterisk from the original worksheet, and it is not a cop-out — the "it depends" items are usually the most interesting ones to discuss.
Write the condition in the box that appears: what does it depend on?
Add your own real tasks at the bottom, then read the pattern check.
Every control is a standard button, checkbox or text field. Nothing here requires a mouse, and nothing requires dragging. Box choices are shown by number and a check mark, not by colour alone.
Sort each item
Add your own
Nothing sorted yet.
Your matrix
IMPORTANCE — high to low
URGENCY: high →← low
Box 1 — Urgent and important
Do it now
Box 2 — Important, not urgent
Decide when to do it
Box 4 — Urgent, not important
Delegate it or resolve it later
Box 3 — Not important, not urgent
Do it later, or not at all
Items marked * are ones you flagged as "it depends".
Pattern check
Sort a few items and observations will appear here.
Reflect
Keep your work
This tool remembers your work in this browser on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.