The Eisenhower Matrix, and a step toward greater productivity

If you want to be more productive in reaching some goal, you can make the decision that “Tomorrow I’m going to be different!” Every time I do that, however, it doesn’t pan out. Rarely can someone just decide to change their lives. Most of us need an actual plan. That makes sense. We’re pulled in 99 directions these days with things demanding our attention. I’m convinced of two things about modern American society: the number of people suffering from anxiety, depression, etc. is skyrocketing, and a big part of that is that our species evolved to live a life of much slower pace.

If my wife and kids would let me, I’d totally be down for transforming myself into the Ox-Cart Man.

So what can we do short of dropping out of society, Thoreau-style? There’s no one thing that can help everyone be more productive in the advance of some goal (so don’t get suckered into spending $19.99 on something that claims to do that), but when I encounter good ones I share them here.

One cool idea you might have seen is the Eisenhower Matrix, named for our 34th President who is credited with the phrase “What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.” There are many great examples of people representing this idea in a matrix or Eisenhower Box, but I’m seldom satisfied with them so I made my own custom version. The point here is that you list out the things you need to do and then you assign them to the appropriate corner of the matrix and act accordingly.

Please feel free to use, share, etc. this version with my blessing, and best wishes on your path to greater productivity!