What is Ko te Eisenhower Matrix?
Ko te Eisenhower Matrix tētahi taputapu māmā mō te whakarōpū mahi i runga i te tere (urgent) me te mea nui (importance) ki roto i ngā wāhanga e whā hei ārahi i ngā mea kia mahia ināianei, kia whakarārangi mō muri, kia tuku ki tētahi atu, ki te muku rānei.
Nō te kāwanatanga o te United States a Dwight D. Eisenhower te ingoa o tēnei matauranga. Ka wehewehia ngā mahi i runga i ngā tātaritanga rua—tere vs kore tere me te mea nui vs kore nui—kia waihangia ai ngā wāhanga e whā: (1) Nui + Tere: mahia ināianei; (2) Nui + Kore Tere: whakarārangi mō muri; (3) Kore Nui + Tere: tuku ki tētahi atu mēnā ka taea; (4) Kore Nui + Kore Tere: muku rānei. Ko te kaha o te huarahi i tōna mārama: kāore e tarekareka te whakapiki i tētehi mea i runga i te rārangi kotahi, engari ka whakarōpūhia ngā mea ki te pānga me te wā, kia noho tō aro ki ngā mea nui ake.
Usage example
Ko tētahi kaihoahoa motuhake ka whakatuwhera ake i tō rārangi mahi, ka whakamahi i te matrix: ko te rā tohe o tētahi kiritaki e tae āpōpō ki te Important+Urgent (mahia ināianei); ko te whakarite whakamahere mō te mhere hokohoko mō te mēneti e whai ake nei ki te Important+Not Urgent (whakarārangi mō muri); ko te whakahoki ki tētahi tono inā-roto mō ētahi pire pūtea (internal invoice) ki Not Important+Urgent (tukua ki tētahi kawenga); ko tētahi tuhinga i tohua i ngā tau ki mua, kāore anō kia panuitia ki Not Important+Not Urgent (muku).
Practical application
Ko te take nui o te Eisenhower Matrix ko te whakaiti i te taumata wairua me te whakawhāitanga o ngā whakatau mā te whakarato he ture-ā-toto mō te whakarōpū i ngā kawenga maha. E āwhina ki te tiaki wā mō te mahi nui (rohe rautaki, mahi hohonu, pārekareka) i te wā e whai kiko ana, ā, ka whakakī i te hararai o ngā parahanga ki te tāhōnga o ngā mea iti. Mō te tangata pūmau, neurodivergent, rānei, mā te whakamahi i te matrix i ngā wā katoa ka hurihia te pēhanga ki ngā taahiraa whai take—ahakoa mēnā e kaha ana koe ki ngā taputapu e hopu ana i ngā whakaaro i te reo, tāpiri i ngā tohu, me te tūtohu i te wāhanga e tika ana mō te mahi e whai ake ana. (Ngā taupānga pēnei i a nxt ka taea te toro atu ki tēnei huarahi mā te hopu i ngā whakaaro, tāpiri i ngā tapanga, me te tūtohu i te mea hei mahi e whai ake i runga i te tere, te mea nui, me ōu āhuatanga.)
FAQ
What if a task seems to fit more than one quadrant?
Many tasks change over time. Ask two questions: What is the real impact if this is not done? And when is a decision or outcome required? If impact is high, lean toward Important; if a deadline is near, treat it as Urgent. Re-evaluate regularly and move items between quadrants as context changes.
Can the Eisenhower Matrix handle long-term projects or habits?
Yes—break larger projects into smaller actions and classify the next concrete step. Strategic, long-term work often sits in Important+Not Urgent; scheduling recurring time blocks for it prevents last-minute urgency and supports progress through consistent tiny wins.
Is this method suitable for neurodivergent users or people with ADHD?
The matrix’s visual, rule-based nature can be helpful because it reduces ambiguous prioritisation. Pairing it with small, concrete next actions, external reminders, and low-friction capture (voice notes, quick timers) makes it more accessible. Some users prefer simplified versions (e.g., do/schedule/delegate/delete) to avoid overthinking the classification.