Do You Prioritize Like Eisenhower?

The problem: There is much to do and you're not sure where to start.

For a really low-tech solution, take a look at a workflow strategy attributed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, known as the Eisenhower Matrix. There are thorough descriptions out there, but here's the general idea:

You have something to do. You can define it as important or not important, urgent or not urgent.

If something is both urgent and important, do it immediately.

If something is urgent but not especially important, try to delegate.

If something is important but not urgent, schedule time to work on it.

If it's neither urgent nor important, some say "throw it away." I don't know anybody who's got that luxury, so that last group is kind of the end-of-the-day list.

It's a very simple method for organizing a list of tasks, and I think it requires a certain kind of workday. Maybe it's too simple.

What do you think? How do you decide what needs doing and when?

Photo via Wikimedia Commons.