Eisenhower Decision Matrix

Note: Sourced from asana.com

President Eisenhower developed this matrix and used it to help him evaluate and prioritize his tasks by importance and urgency, then broke them into four categories:

• Do First: These are urgent, important tasks with high priority.
• Schedule: These are important tasks that aren’t quite as urgent.
• Delegate: You may be able to delegate less important but still urgent tasks to someone else.
• Don’t Do: These non-urgent, unimportant items can be eliminated entirely or postponed indefinitely.

ABCDE Method

Note: Source from Clockify.me

This is another time management strategy for prioritizing assignments into five categories by importance by assigning each item a letter:

• A: Highest priority
• B: Should do soon, if not today
• C: Could do, but no serious consequences if not done
• D: Delegate or ask for help
• E: Eliminate from your list

This is very similar to the Eisenhower Matrix, with a little more flexibility around should-dos and could-dos.

Pomodoro Technique

Note: Sourced from sketchplanations.com

Use the Pomodoro technique to ‘get in the zone', focus on a task and be productive. The Pomodoro encourages you to do intense work in blocks of time with regular breaks in-between.    

• Choose a task.
• Set a timer for 25 minutes.
• Work on the task until the timer rings.
• Note where you are with the task.
• Take a 5 min break, reward yourself.
• Take a longer break of 30 minutes after every four Pomodoro sessions.

Flowtime

Note: Sourced from clockify.me

Unlike the Pomodoro Technique, Flowtime stretches out both the work and break time proportionally.

• If you work for 25-50 minutes, take an 8-minute break.
• For 50-90 minutes, you get a 10-minute break.
• And if you’ve been at it for more than 90 minutes, take 15 minutes to recharge.

Eat That Frog

Note: Sourced from @BrianTracy/X

Based on a quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”

In other words, don’t put off the biggest, hardest tasks. Get them out of the way first. Then, everything else you have to do will seem easy in comparison.

This concept can be counterproductive if you’re already feeling overwhelmed. The key is to make progress, one step at a time.

SMART

Note: Sourced from destressmondays.org

Use this technique for large and complex tasks.

• Break down the large task into smaller parts that are easier to complete.
• Use SMART thinking to describe each smaller part
  • Specific – you know what it is
  • Measurable - you can measure it
  • Achievable - you can complete it
  • Relevant – you know it must be done
  • Time-bound - you know when to complete it.
• Complete either the easiest part first or the most difficult part first – the latter will give you a greater sense of satisfaction and more incentive to complete the other parts. 

Timeboxing

Note: Sourced from medium.com

Timeboxing is a simple technique that involves allotting a fixed, unit of time for an activity, stopping when the time has finished. Once you have finished you can assess whether you were able to meet your goals.

Time Blocking

Note: Sourced from lvdletters.com

This method is similar to timeboxing, but it involves setting blocks of time aside on your calendar for specific tasks. Some people like to start each day by blocking time out on their calendars, figuring out how they’ll make the most of their time.