The Eisenhower method is a time management principle you can use to improve the way you prioritize your tasks.
This time management technique evaluates each of your given tasks accordingly. All of your tasks are analyzed and grouped together by using quadrants of four sections:
1. Urgent and Important - 1st Priority
2. Not Urgent but Important - 2nd Priority
3. Urgent but Not Important - 3rd Priority
4. Not Urgent and Not Important - 4th Priority
Imagine a square with four sections where each section is for each of the priorities above.
These are the four divisions of tasks you should understand for the Eisenhower method. Here is a brief explanation on how each level of priorities is treated:
1. The tasks in the 1st Priority group are done immediately and personally.
2. The tasks in the 2nd Priority group are given a deadline or an end date.
3. The tasks in the 3rd Priority group should be delegated to a person capable of doing it.
4. The tasks in the 4th Priority group are dropped. Meaning, it can be skipped from being done.
The Eisenhower method is used by the US President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his governance. It shows the way on how he performed his tasks as he handled great responsibilities.
There is a quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower that is very relevant to his personal time management strategies:
"What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important."
President Eisenhower was a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II. He served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe.
He had the responsibility for supervising and planning the invasion of North Africa and the successful invasion of Germany and France. Later he became the first supreme commander of NATO before he became president.
You may look at it as something used by a highly accomplished person that makes it look complicated. However, the principle is easy to apply for your personal time management benefit.
You may have a to-do list of tasks or a planner where your activities are laid down. You will just have to categorize them according to the level of priority.
Urgent and Important - 1st Priority
These are the most important ones and you have to quickly take action on them. These are unexpected situations and you will usually not have any time to plan for it.
Examples:
a. Putting out the fire of something burning
b. Taking someone to the hospital for emergency reasons
c. Answering the phone call from your boss
Not Urgent but Important - 2nd Priority
These tasks are not immediate, but they are significant in your life. You will usually have the time to plan for them and work things out in careful procedure.
Examples:
a. Preparing for the business seminar
b. Planning for the wedding ceremony and activities
c. Working on class projects
Urgent but Not Important - 3rd Priority
These are things and events that can happen instantly and may need your immediate attention and action, but you can ignore them for later or delegate them to someone who can do it.
Examples:
a. Answering e-mails and phone offers
b. Interruptions from co-workers with their random conversations
c. Doing the lawn and managing the garden
Not Urgent and Not Important - 4th Priority
The last of the four priorities in the Eisenhower method is the least important and can be done away. These are usually timewasters that can take your energies away from accomplishing something productive.
Examples:
a. Watching TV and playing video games
b. Social media and texting, except for business reasons
c. Gossiping, chitchats or casual conversations
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The Eisenhower method can be your principle of personal time management strategies. You just have to segregate your tasks accordingly and follow the method sincerely and you will see the results with the way your time is used and the accomplishments you make.
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