Sort your to-do list with an Eisenhower matrix

Classify tasks into do now, schedule, delegate and drop, with a short reason for each call and a first action.

Change note: Initial version

Prompt

Sort the task list below using the Eisenhower matrix (urgent vs important).

Context about me and my goals: {{context}}
My top goal this {{period}}: {{top_goal}}

Tasks:
{{tasks}}

Rules:
- "Urgent" means a real consequence arrives soon if it is not done. A loud request is not automatically urgent.
- "Important" means it clearly moves my top goal or protects something I care about.
- Be decisive. If a task is ambiguous, pick the more likely quadrant and note what would change your mind.
- Anything delegated should name who or what kind of person it could go to.

Output format: a table per quadrant with columns Task | Why | Next action (verb first, under 15 words).
1. Do now (urgent and important)
2. Schedule (important, not urgent), with a suggested timeframe
3. Delegate or automate (urgent, not important)
4. Drop or defer (neither)

Finish with one sentence naming the single task that deserves my attention first.

Variables

• {{context}}About youlongrequired

  Default: Founder of a 6-person design studio; revenue depends on two big clients.

• {{period}}Planning periodselectrequired

  Options: week, month, quarter

  Default: week

• {{top_goal}}Top goaltextrequired

  Default: Land one new retainer client

• {{tasks}}Your taskslongrequired

  Default: Respond to client escalation Quarterly tax payment due Friday Organize photo library Draft 2025 hiring plan Answer 40 unread Slack threads Book flights for conference Read industry newsletter backlog Update website bio

  One task per line

Example output

**1. Do now**
| Task | Why | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Respond to client escalation | Major client at risk, directly tied to revenue | Call them within the hour |
| Quarterly tax payment due Friday | Real penalty if missed | Pay online today |

**2. Schedule**
| Task | Why | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Draft 2025 hiring plan | Shapes capacity for new retainer | Block 90 min Wed morning |
| Book flights for conference | Prices rise; networking may bring clients | Book by Thursday |

**3. Delegate or automate**
| Task | Why | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Answer 40 Slack threads | Most need a quick answer, not you | Ask studio manager to triage; reply only to flagged ones |

**4. Drop or defer**
- Organize photo library: defer to a quiet month
- Read newsletter backlog: skim headlines only, archive the rest
- Update website bio: move to schedule only if a pitch needs it

**First attention:** the client escalation, because losing one of your two big clients would undo the retainer goal.

Notes

Defining urgent and important in the prompt stops the model from treating every request as urgent. Add your top goal so 'important' has something to measure against.