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You can’t be present in your purpose when you're buried in your to-do list.

BELAY helps you reclaim the space to lead intentionally by matching you with a U.S.-based Executive Assistant, Accounting Professional, or Marketing Assistant.

Because when you delegate the distractions, you get your time, clarity, and peace of mind back.

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Ready to let go of the busywork and lead with intention?

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The Eisenhower Matrix

The first step is knowing what needs to be done. The Eisenhower Matrix is a tool named after U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. It works like this.

First, make a list of everything you need to do. You might need a really big pad of paper.

Then, create a 2x2 table. Label the first column "Urgent," and the second column "Non-Urgent," where urgent means the task has a specific deadline and non-urgent means it doesn’t. Label the first row "Important," and the second row "Non-Important," where important means the task is related to your goals and values, and non-important means it isn’t. 

Like so:

Now, go through your to-do list and place each item in the corresponding quadrant.

Quadrant 1: Important & Urgent

These are the things that matter to you and need to be done in a timely manner. Maybe that’s an important presentation you have to give by the end of the week. Or you need to prioritize helping your child study for a task. These are the tasks you need to give priority to.

Quadrant 2: Important & Non-Urgent

These are long-term projects with no deadline, like a book you want to write or a trip you’ve been meaning to take. Arguably, this is the best quadrant to be in. Urgency, while motivating, can be stressful. 

Quadrant 3: Non-important & Urgent

These are things that have to get done, but don’t necessarily require your specific skillset. Like mowing the lawn or preparing your taxes. These are tasks that are best to delegate to someone else.

Quadrant 4: Non-Important & Non-Urgent

These are the distractions. Things that won’t get you anywhere you need to go. Think: organizing a box that’s going to get messy again, no matter what. 

Once you sort your tasks into the corresponding boxes, open up your calendar and schedule time to tackle all your first and second-quadrant items. Don’t leave anything unattended. Spend some time delegating the third quadrant items. And let go of the rest.

With your to-do list under control, you can feel assured you’re working on the right things at the right time. And won’t feel the need to try to tackle the world all at once.

Another thing that will go a long way toward feeling in control is a good night’s sleep. On a recent episode of my podcast, I spoke with sleep expert Dr. Matthew Walker about the profound importance of sleep (🎧 Listen on Apple or Spotify).

Matthew dives into his QQRT framework, which stands for Quantity, Quality, Regularity and Timing. It highlights how sleep is not just about how many hours you get; it’s about how deeply you sleep, how consistently you sleep and how well it aligns with your natural biological rhythms.

If you’re regularly struggling with sleep, this episode is a must-listen.

Community Challenge

Looking at your Eisenhower Matrix, what are three things stressing you out that you can let go of? What’s one non-urgent but important task you can do with that found time? Reply to this email right now and tell me what valuable task you’re going to make space for this week. I can’t wait to read your answers and to share some of them here.

Last week, I challenged you to show up for somebody you care about. Your responses were heartwarming.

Reader Deb has a beautiful annual ritual. “Friendship day is the first Sunday of August each year. I send cards to all of my friends, old and new, every year. I remind them of how important they are to me and how important friendship is. I send over 300 cards USPS. You have no idea how much they love this and many go on to do the same. It is a great gesture of love and friendship declaration.”  What a touching tradition, Deb.

Reader Julia is grateful to the people she works with. “This week, and every year at this time, I get all of the administrators, administrative assistants, and guidance counselors in the high school building where I teach small gifts of appreciation for all of their hard work all year. Without them, our building wouldn't run. I know how easy it is to feel unnoticed and taken for granted. I want them to feel appreciated, noticed, and important!” That’s so thoughtful, Julia. I’m sure they deeply appreciate you.

Reflect & Respond

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