Mastering Productivity for writing and coding
Non-Member? I got you.
Okay, so a quick background about me —
I code.
I also write.
And I also play badminton :)
Now, balancing work, personal projects, and sports often feels like juggling flaming torches while while walking a tightrope.
We go on and read countless articles, try every other app, and scribble to-do lists across countless notebooks, but yet end up feeling overwhelmed.
Now, most of us use a notepad, write our to-do and love striking off what we have accomplished. You also love doing that, don’t you? My flatmate used to love it, I swear.
And then one day, we stumbled upon the Eisenhower Matrix — a deceptively simple tool that redefined how we approach our days.
So, who and what is Eisenhower?
The Eisenhower Matrix, named after former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is a time management framework that categorizes tasks based on their urgency and importance. Need more detailed info — Click this Wikipedia link.
The key to the Eisenhower Matrix isn’t just categorizing tasks — it’s acting on them effectively.
Here’s how I tackled each quadrant:
- Quadrant 1 (Do): I started scheduling time blocks for high-priority tasks like client deadlines or urgent system issues. Knowing I was proactively addressing these reduced my stress significantly. [Important and Urgent]
- Quadrant 2 (Decide): This was the game-changer. I began dedicating at least an hour daily to strategic goals — writing articles, learning new tech skills, and planning long-term projects. The clarity and satisfaction I gained from investing in this quadrant were immense. [Important but Not Urgent]
- Quadrant 3 (Delegate): For tasks like scheduling meetings or handling routine requests, I learned to say, “Can someone else do this?” This was tough initially — I’m naturally hands-on — but delegating freed up precious time. Sometimes, even buying shirts for festivals xD [Not Important but Still Urgent]
- Quadrant 4 (Delete): Goodbye, endless Instagram scrolling! Goodbye, random meetings for a quick 2 minutes message at work [Not Important and Not Urgent]
Conclusion:
Look, the Eisenhower Matrix isn’t a magic wand, but it’s an incredibly effective tool for gaining clarity and control.
I also did some minimal changes and built a night routine if you want to check them out :)
And while I am writing this, my imaginary girlfriend is screaming at me saying:
You forgot to mention that you sometimes cheat and categorize a Netflix binge as ‘self-care’ and add it to Important and Urgent
In case we are meeting for the first time, come over here, it’ll be worth the roller coaster of articles that are gonna come up in the next few weeks.