Prioritization methods
Focus First doesn't invent a productivity system - it makes a few time-tested ones effortless to run on your own tasks. This section explains what each method is for and when to reach for it, so the plugin's features make sense rather than feeling arbitrary.
The core problem
You have more to do than time to do it. Two failure modes follow:
- Urgency hijacks importance - loud, deadline-driven tasks crowd out the quiet, important ones that actually move your life or work forward.
- Effort gets spent unevenly - you sink hours into low-payoff work and never notice the five-minute tasks that would have made a real difference.
Every method below is a lens that fights one of those. They're complementary, not competing.
The methods at a glance
| Method | The question it answers | Best when… |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower matrix | Is this urgent, important, both, or neither? | Your list is a mix of deadlines and long-term work and you keep firefighting. |
| Value / Effort matrix | What's the best return for my energy right now? | You're choosing what to build/do next and want quick wins without falling into time sinks. |
| Daily-planning methods (Eat the Frog, Ivy Lee, MITs) | Of everything, what do I actually do today - and in what order? | You have a plan but still start the day unsure where to put your hands. |
A simple way to combine them: use a matrix (Eisenhower or Value/Effort) to decide what deserves attention, then a daily-planning method to turn that into today's short, ordered list.
How this maps to Focus First
- The 2×2 view is the matrix - switch its axes between Eisenhower and Value/Effort from the header.
- The Focus section above the matrix is your daily plan - an ordered, numbered shortlist you build by tagging tasks
#focus.
Read on for the purpose and the practice of each.