Prioritizing tasks is not easy. You often work on tasks without realizing that there are more important things to do. The Eisenhower Matrix is a powerful time management system named after former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The system helps clarify your priorities so you can complete your tasks in a timely manner without missing deadlines.
By using this system, you don’t have to think twice about how best to tackle your to-do list. Let’s explore the Eisenhower Matrix system and some mobile apps that use this feature to organize your tasks.
How does the Eisenhower matrix work?
The Eisenhower Matrix is based on organizing your tasks in a 2×2 grid. Each task is measured by two variables: importance and urgency. How important and urgent a task is determines its place in the matrix.
An example of an important and urgent task is a deadline due tomorrow. This would go in the upper left quadrant. However, not all important tasks are urgent. Exercise, personal growth, and networking are all examples of things that are important but don’t require your immediate attention.
With the Eisenhower Matrix, you can measure your productivity and understand your priorities. It will also help you avoid the unfortunate situation that you have little time left to work on something important.
1. Dwight – ToDo Priority Matrix
Dwight – ToDo Priority Matrix is an app that makes intelligent use of the Eisenhower Matrix. You can create tasks individually or assign them to a list. The home page shows how many tasks are due in each quadrant, and tasks are broken down by their due date.
After a task is created, it is assigned to the backlog – a temporary storage unit for collecting tasks before they are assigned to a quadrant. This is handy for jotting down quick ideas. You can also set due dates for tasks. Tasks with due dates are automatically sent to the Today, Tomorrow, or Sometime tab.
To access each quadrant, tap the Eisenhower Matrix icon at the bottom of the home screen. Each quadrant has its own page so you can focus on one category at a time. You can also sync your Outlook emails and mark them as tasks.
Download : Dwight – ToDo Priority Matrix for Android (Free) | iOS ($3.99)
2. Priority Matrix
Priority Matrix offers many effective time management tools for you and your team. You can add notes to tasks and resources, including files and URLs. The Notifications tab notifies you when another member mentions you in a task, so you can stay organized on your team.
Projects is the app’s name for matrices. You can access your projects by tapping the grid icon in the top banner of the home page. If a quadrant becomes too crowded, you can resize the matrix with the middle arrow button.
Another standout feature is the advanced filtering and sorting options. You can filter tasks by due date and assigned tags. There is also an option to add custom filters to save for later use.
Download: Priority Matrix for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
3rd performance
Notion is an app that many people use for many valid reasons. One of the many useful things you can do in Notion is create an Eisenhower matrix.
Notion’s Eisenhower Matrix Template is a free resource that you can download from the online template gallery and easily apply to your workspace. The template offers two options for viewing your Eisenhower matrix: table view and board view.
In the table view, you can measure the priority of your tasks based on two attributes: importance and urgency. Then you can use the sort option to reorder your tasks and start working on urgent and important tasks. Board View organizes your tasks into a grid if you prefer the original Eisenhower Matrix look and feel.
Download: Notation for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
4. Improve my life
When you have a cluttered to-do list and don’t know how to deal with it, this app will help you get your priorities back in order. Improve My Life divides your life into eight main categories, including Self Improvement, Health and People, allowing you to create a personal development plan for your ideal life.
For each new task, you can choose which of the eight segments it belongs to and mark its importance and urgency. To find the Eisenhower Matrix feature, click the menu icon in the top left corner to access the sidebar.
Improve My Life also offers an intelligent assistant that provides insights based on your current time management setting. This makes Improve My Life ideal for a first app if you’ve never used the Eisenhower Matrix before.
Download : Improve My Life for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
5. Miro
Miro is an advanced note-taking whiteboard app that you can use for personal or business use. Miro offers a flexible approach to adding notes to your matrix. You can add notes as text by typing T, or you can add sticky notes by tapping N.
First, log in or create a free account, then download the Eisenhower Matrix template. With Miro’s infinite canvas size, you can design and customize your matrix to the size that works best for you. There are also smart gesture controls that let you zoom in and out with one finger.
For further customization, you can add tags to any note in your matrix. There’s also a chat feature if you want to discuss elements of your Eisenhower Matrix with your team, such as how best to complete tasks.
Download: Miro for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
6. Tick Tick
TickTick is a widely used task management app that helps you keep track of your priorities. The app includes an impressive array of features to boost your productivity, including a Pomodoro timer, a habit tracker, and, most recently, an Eisenhower Matrix template.
To access the Eisenhower Matrix feature, go to Settings, tap the tab bar, and then select Eisenhower Matrix to add it to the navigation bar. On the function’s page, you can view and create tasks for each quadrant of the matrix. You can also use TickTick’s priority labels to add tasks to the matrix without having to navigate to them.
TickTick seamlessly leverages the Eisenhower Matrix, allowing you to improve your time management skills. For an extra touch, you can change the position of the quadrants by tapping the three dots in the top-right corner.
Download: TickTick for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
Master time management with the Eisenhower Matrix
You can use the Eisenhower Matrix in almost any scenario. Whether you’re planning a trip, starting a new job, or are a college student with tons of homework to do, the Eisenhower Matrix will help you complete tasks as efficiently as possible. Try this time management system to spend more time on what matters most and reduce time spent on smaller tasks.
