The Best Technique for Prioritizing

Over the years I've learned a little about time management and prioritizing. I've tried many things. Lots of them being mistakes. Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes. 

The following is one of the better techniques that I've found. The technique is the 4 quadrant technique  It's pictured right here. 

How it Works

As you see in the picture there are four quadrants. You'll want to spend most of your time in quadrant two, if you want to be the most effective. Quadrant two is for important, but not urgent tasks. Such as, planning, preparing, prevention, relationship building, and personal development.

You want to minimize the amount of time you spend in quadrants one and two. You can minimize the amount of items in your quadrant one by spending time in quadrant two, planning for those deadlines, and other issues. The only thing you can't really plan for in quadrant one is emergencies. 

To minimize the time spent in quadrant three resist the urge to pick up the phone while your in the middle of something. Don't read all of the forwarded email's you get. Quadrant three is difficult, because we think that the items are urgent, when they're really not.

If you want to be the most effective person you can be, then you defiantly don't want to be spending time in quadrant four. Quadrant four is not urgent, not important stuff. Such as, watching TV, playing games, some texting and phone calls, and other time wasters. 

Everyone makes mistakes, try to minimize the amount you make and learn from mine.