Newsletter
Self-Management2023-07-23
“Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.”
—Jerzy Gregorek
Deciding what to do, and then doing it, are the one-two punch of success, or of failure.
It starts with deciding what to do next. The classic approach is the 2 x 2 (“Eisenhower Matrix”), where tasks are classified based on two dimensions, of urgency and importance.
This leaves out an important third dimension, which is the amount of effort (or other resources) needed. This 3D approach (“Niculescu Cube”) may be more useful when making a decision. The 8 categories of tasks are:
| Category | Urgency | Effort | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Urgent | Easy | Important |
| 1B | Urgent | Hard | Important |
| 2A | Not Urgent | Easy | Important |
| 2B | Not Urgent | Hard | Important = Achievements |
| 3A | Urgent | Easy | Not Important = Addictions |
| 3B | Urgent | Hard | Not Important |
| 4A | Not Urgent | Easy | Not Important |
| 4B | Not Urgent | Hard | Not Important |
In particular, prioritizing category 2B (Achievements), and minimizing category 3A (Addictions), are key to life success. 2B or not 2B, that is the question!
At MindX Sciences we have developed a digital tool (Life x Mind) for assessing how you feel, think, and their relationship to life activities. A future roll-out will include the 8 categories above as a way of binning and getting a better handle on your life activities. You are, and become, what you decide to do, and then do.
Live. Happier. Longer.