These are the most pressing tasks we'll likely get to this week.  When we do fire-fighting, it's all relating to stuff in this quadrant.

Quadrant 1: Urgent-Important

These are the things that matter in the long-term but will offer no concrete benefits right now or even this year. They are things we know we need to get to but probably will push off.

Quadrant 2: Not Urgent - Important

These tasks keep us busy today, but if we stop to really think about it, were a waste of time. These are interruptions that happen, such as phone calls.

Quadrant 3: Urgent - Not Important

These things are the time wasters we do because we feel like we're tired and need a break: checking and rechecking Facebook and Twitter during the day, or mindlessly eating, even though we're not hungry.

Quadrant 4: Not Urgent - Not Important

Quadrant 1 (the urgent/important tasks) you will always automatically take care off. Quadrants 3 & 4 should be eliminated to a great extent.Quadrant 2 (not urgent but important) is what will change your life over time. At least 10% of your day needs to be devoted to this important but not urgent stuff. Ideally, you're spending 30% of every day on this.

The most important quadrant

At the beginning of every week, write a two-by-two matrix on a blank sheet of paper.One side of the matrix says "urgent" and "not urgent".  The other side of the matrix says "important" and "not important." Then, write all the things you want to do that week.

Time management matrix

Stephen Covey died last week. He pioneered the business self-help genre with the 1989 publication of his mega-hit book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." When I saw he died, I got a little panic-stricken because I couldn't remember a single one of the seven habits.

Quadrant 2: Not Urgent - Important

Similar ideas to Quadrant 2: Not Urgent - Important

Quadrant 4: Not Urgent - Not Important

Urgent ≠ Important

Quadrant 3: Urgent - Not Important