As an entrepreneur or small business owner, it’s important to know how to manage your time wisely. For most of us, however, this is not an innate skill. Fortunately, There are many practical methods to help your optimize your work hours. One of the ones I find useful is the Eisenhower Matrix (Also known as an Eisenhower Box, or a time management matrix. This time management method is said to have been invented by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower). To help you make the most of your own time, I have provided a free printable PDF of a blank Eisenhower Matrix.
In the Eisenhower Matrix, activities are placed into four quadrants: Important and Urgent, Important and Not Urgent, Not Important and Urgent, and Not Important and Not Urgent. To optimize your time, the items in each quadrant should be attended to in the following order:
- Important/Urgent: Do immediately and personally (e.g., crises, deadlines, problems)
- Important/Not Urgent: Get an end date and do personally (e.g.,. relationships, planning, recreation)
- Unimportant/Urgent: Delegate if possible (e.g., interruptions, meetings, activities)
- Unimportant/Not Urgent: Drop if out of time (e.g., time wasters, pleasant activities, trivia)
Blank Eisenhower Matrix Template (Time Management Matrix)
To open the PDF in your browser, please click on the image below.
Eisenhower Matrix PDF with Lines
To open the PDF in your browser, please click on the image below.
Time Management Matrix Example
Here is an example of things that below in each quadrant.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The Eisenhower Matrix is mentioned in the famous productivity book, The Seven Habits of High Effective People by Stephen Covey. Covey refers to it as a “time management matrix” and explains how to use the chart in Habit 3: Put First Things First (pg 151 of the book).
Good material andvery usefull