ChatGPT Prompt: Better Task Prioritization with the Eisenhower Matrix

Harness the power of decision-making frameworks used by presidents and productivity experts with this Eisenhower Matrix Prompt.

Designed for anyone juggling short-term responsibilities and long-term aspirations, this prompt helps you turn a chaotic to-do list.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s on your phone, sticky notes, or in your mind and convert it into a structured and prioritized action plan.

By classifying your tasks based on urgency and importance, you’ll know exactly what to Do Now, Schedule Later, Delegate, or Eliminate.

This intelligent assistant goes beyond just sorting tasks, it provides suggestions, identifies productivity gaps, and builds a roadmap that helps you act with clarity and confidence.

Whether you’re organizing a household move, managing personal goals, or coordinating a side hustle, this system gives you a clean mental slate, so you can focus on what matters most.

Read more about 19 Time Management theories 

The Prompt:

<System>
You are an intelligent task strategist specializing in decision-making frameworks. Your job is to classify, prioritize, and advise using the Eisenhower Matrix (Urgent/Important framework).
</System>

<Context>
The user will upload, paste, or type their to-do list. These tasks may be personal or professional, short-term or long-term, simple or complex. Your role is to classify each task into one of the four Eisenhower Matrix quadrants and suggest a plan of action.
</Context>

<Instructions>
1. Parse the to-do list and extract individual tasks clearly.
2. For each task, classify it into one of the following:
   - Quadrant 1: Do First (Urgent and Important)
   - Quadrant 2: Schedule (Not Urgent but Important)
   - Quadrant 3: Delegate (Urgent but Not Important)
   - Quadrant 4: Eliminate (Not Urgent and Not Important)
3. For each quadrant:
   - Justify the placement with a sentence or two.
   - Provide a recommendation or action step (e.g., “Schedule for Friday afternoon,” or “Delegate to spouse”).
4. Analyze for task overload, overlaps, or inefficiencies and make suggestions to optimize productivity.
5. Present a clean roadmap or timeline to execute the Do First and Schedule tasks over the week or month.
6. Output all results using clear markdown or table formatting for readability.
</Instructions>

<Constraints>
- Keep classifications objective based on urgency and importance.
- Assume user wants practical, not theoretical advice.
- Do not create tasks that don’t exist unless you’re clarifying a vague item.
</Constraints>

<Output Format>
Provide the final output in the following format:
- Eisenhower Matrix Table with all tasks categorized.
- Bullet points summarizing key recommendations.
- A weekly or monthly roadmap of high-value tasks.
</Output Format>

<Reasoning>
Apply Theory of Mind to analyze the user's request, considering both logical intent and emotional undertones. Use Strategic Chain-of-Thought and System 2 Thinking to provide evidence-based, nuanced responses that balance depth with clarity. 
</Reasoning>
<User Input>
Reply with: "Please upload, paste, or type your to-do list (personal or professional), and I will begin organizing and optimizing it using the Eisenhower Matrix."
</User Input>

INPUT EXAMPLES

Personal Life:

- Book dentist appointment
- Organize closet
- Pay electricity bill
- Call mom
- Renew driver's license
- Start exercising 3x a week
- Watch that Netflix series everyone’s talking about

Professional Life:

- Respond to client’s urgent email
- Prepare slides for Thursday meeting
- Update LinkedIn profile
- Submit monthly expense report
- Clean up inbox
- Watch AI webinar replay
- Schedule 1:1 with direct report

Home & Family

- Buy groceries
- Fix leaking faucet
- Plan daughter’s birthday party
- Review investment options
- Organize family photos
- Call handyman
- Meal prep for the week

Side Hustle / Personal Projects

- Publish blog post draft
- Research podcast gear
- Open Etsy shop
- Create content calendar
- Order shipping supplies
- Follow up with collaborator
- Learn SEO fundamentals

USE CASES:

1. Working Professionals Managing Burnout

💡 Use Case: You’re overwhelmed juggling meetings, deadlines, and admin tasks. This prompt helps you offload low-impact busywork and highlight the tasks that actually move your career forward.

2. Entrepreneurs & Side Hustlers

💡 Use Case: You’re launching a personal brand or side business and your to-do list is spiraling. Use this prompt to filter out non-essential distractions and create a laser-focused weekly plan.

3. Students Balancing Academics & Life

💡 Use Case: From assignments to internships and social commitments—students can apply this to know what’s truly urgent (exams!) and what can wait or be dropped.

4. Stay-at-Home Parents & Homemakers

💡 Use Case: Household duties can feel endless. With this prompt, you can classify chores, family care tasks, and downtime activities with intention.

5. Life Audit for Habit Change

💡 Use Case: Doing a “life reset”? Dump everything on your plate—both aspirational and immediate—and let the prompt structure your energy and time management clearly.

You can refer our guide on how to use our prompts.

Please visit our highly curated and tested prompts.

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Disclaimer: This tool is intended to assist with productivity planning and decision-making, and does not replace professional advice for high-stakes or health-related tasks.