Before We Begin: A Quick Recap from Last Week
Over the next few weeks, we’re working through a 6-part series designed to help you finish the year strong not by doing more, but by doing what matters.
Last week, we kicked things off with a simple framework to reflect, refocus, and choose the one goal that would make the biggest difference before the year ends.
The next challenge is knowing what to prioritise each week because even with clarity, it’s easy to get pulled into urgency, busyness, and other people’s priorities.
This is where it’s easy to lose momentum - not from lack of effort, but from lack of focus.
So this week, we’re taking the next logical step: learning how to prioritise like a pro.
And for that, we’re using one of the simplest, most effective tools I use every day: The Eisenhower Matrix.
What Is the Eisenhower Matrix?
The method is built around a powerful truth:
“What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important”
The matrix divides your tasks into four simple categories:
1️⃣ Important & Urgent
Crises, deadlines, problems that need immediate attention.
Action: Do these first.
2️⃣ Important, Not Urgent
Strategic work, planning, deep work, habits - the things that build your future.
This is the quadrant where high performers spend most of their time and are the actions that will really move the dial.
Action: Schedule these items.
3️⃣ Urgent, Not Important
Interruptions, admin, other people’s priorities.
Action: Delegate or minimise.
4️⃣ Not Urgent & Not Important
Distractions, busywork, time-wasters.
Action: Eliminate.
How to Use It to Plan Your Week
Here’s how to apply this matrix as part of your weekly Sunday Reset:
Step 1: Brain Dump
Write down every task on your mind that needs to be tackled in the week ahead. Don’t forget to include the actions that are tied to your goal from last week!
Step 2: Sort Each One into the Matrix
Be honest and ruthless - don’t be afraid to use the “eliminate” quadrant.
Not everything deserves your time.
Step 3: Schedule Quadrant 2 First
This is where growth happens. Your deep work, planning, habits, long-term goals.
Protect this time and make this quadrant your priority. Everything here will be scheduled for the week ahead.
Step 4: Manage the Rest
Do the urgent & important
Delegate or minimise the urgent & not important
Delete the rest.
Step 5: Review Weekly
Your priorities shift and your matrix should too.
Review the matrix as part of your weekly reflection and or your weekly reset. This will keep you on track and accountable.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
Seeing your tasks visually forces clarity and frees up energy for what actually matters.
Why This System Works
This system helps you:
protect time for meaningful work
reduce reactivity
stop wasting energy on low-value tasks
end your week feeling accomplished, not exhausted
This is how you move the needle, every day, week, month and year.
Put your matrix together today - there’s still time. Think of all the tasks you need to get done and the actions to move you closer to your goals and get them into your matrix.
🔜 Next in the Series
Next week: Building a Structured Week - The Framework That Keeps You Consistent
I’ll show you how to turn your priorities into a weekly rhythm that supports your energy, goals, and productivity.
