The Eisenhower Matrix--Q4: Not Urgent and Not Important

Q4 is the reservoir of time-wasters.  Surfing the web, playing a game, lingering in the lunch room, playing fantasy sports, chatting with a co-worker about something completely irrelevant, checking Facebook for the umpteenth time.  We’ve all done it…in fact we all do it.

Two important statistics inform us here: 1. 97% of all workers goof off at times during their work week; and 2. The other 3% are liars.  Every one of us needs down time, regroup time, or a coffee break.  The challenge here is use time here minimally and strategically. Use of space, small rewards, and scheduled breaks can all help eliminate pointless time-wasters and make you feel better about what you accomplish on a given day.

What kind of worker are you?  Do you prefer your office with the door closed?  A coffee shop?  Do you have any choice about it in the first place?  Choosing a productive space can be inspiring and fruitful; choosing an unproductive one can be distracting and wasteful.  Be honest with yourself and do what you can to make your work environment good for working!

Is persistence not your strongest suit?  Is hard to get through some tasks?  Perhaps giving yourself a reward will help you stay on task.  A bite of chocolate, a cup of coffee, or a walk outside can all be motivators to help you stay out of Q4.

Next time:  Getting the Time-Alignment right