Have you been finding yourself feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and falling into the trap that is people-pleasing? Then I’ve got a powerhouse tool for you- the Eisenhower Matrix. This has been my not-so-secret weapon when it comes to conquering the chaos and I’m excited to share it with you. I talked about this in my facebook group last night, but also wanted to talk share a bit here as well.
What is the Eisenhower Matrix?
To put it simply, the Eisenhower Matrix is a framework that splits your tasks into four categories. You’ve got your Urgent and Important (Do), Important, Not Urgent (Delay), Urgent, Not Important (Delegate), and Not Urgent, Not Important (Delete.) Basically, you’re looking at all of the things on your to-do list with intention and purpose so that the list gets a whole lot shorter.
Productivity and the Eisenhower Matrix:
There’s a definite difference between being productive and being busy, but for a lot of us, that line gets blurred. The Eisenhower Matrix is a way to get some clarity. You can see what’s actually important so that rather than just trying to get things done, you’re focused on getting the right things done. It helps to be selective with what we choose to do. This helps to redefine success so that your accomplishments are more meaningful. It gives you back control so that you can be strategic and make every action count.
Avoiding Burnout with the Eisenhower Matrix:
Before I discovered the Eisenhower Matrix, I had a tendency to burn out. I wasn’t prioritizing things for my long-term goals or creating sustainable routines. Things might work for the short-term, but then I’d end up exhausted, unmotivated, and bitter. This method helped to get better with strategic planning so that I had more time and more energy. Once I was no longer drowning in the relentless hustle, I was able to stop burning the candle at both ends and feel much more connected and excited about the work that I was doing.
How it relates to People-Pleasing Behaviors:
When it comes down to it, people pleasers mostly just want to feel liked or loved. This can come at an extreme cost, because we take on way too much with little to no return. We say yes to everything and often end up neglecting ourselves which leaves us exhausted and emotionally drained. By using the Eisenhower matrix, we can be more aware of what tasks are actually worthy of our attention and align with our values and which are purely for seeking approval. This can help with setting better boundaries and saying no to the tasks that would continue to drain us. You become aware of where you’re spending your energy and no more overcommitting, which is a great way to prioritize self-love.
Another key benefit of using the Eisenhower Matrix, which can help to reduce people-pleasing, is increased self-awareness. By forcing yourself to consider each task on your to-do list, you’re able to better recognize patterns of over commitment and what sort of things you are adding to your to-do list that really shouldn’t be your burdens to bear. This awareness can help to ease the guilt that you might feel when you first start saying no.
Using this matrix is super easy.
To get started, you just have to create four sections. Label them with the four categories (do, delay, delegate and delete) and then start breaking your to-do list between them. Make sure you are assigning each one to the appropriate category- this is the hardest part in my opinion. You might be tempted to put all of your tasks under ‘do’, especially if you’re a recovering people pleaser. But if refuse to let that validation-seeking side of you win, and instead you delegate and delete ruthlessly, your entire life could change. Think about all of the things that you could do with the extra time and energy. All of the fun you can have, the relationships you can nurture, and the accomplishments you could achieve.
It’s not just a tool for success, but for total domination!
It might be a little tricky to get the hang of at first when it comes to using the Eisenhower Matrix. But if you embrace your challenges and learn from them, this could be a real game-changer for you. You learn to become solution-oriented, to adapt and conquer, and to better use your time. This in turn will help you to claim victory over your own life and make magic happen!
You don’t have to do it alone.
If you’re still struggling with overwhelm, burnout or people pleasing, I’d be happy to work with you to help you to take back control. I offer one on one coaching as well as a free facebook community for support. You can check get more info by clicking the links, and of course feel free to reach out to me with any additional questions.
Do you think you’ll give this tool a try? Let me know how it works out for you!