The weekly review: reset your matrix in 30 minutes
A weekly review is a short, regular appointment with yourself to catch up, re-sort and plan. It is what keeps an Eisenhower Matrix accurate instead of a week out of date.
By The Eisenhower Matrix To Do App team · Updated
Why a weekly review matters
An Eisenhower Matrix is only useful if it reflects reality. Deadlines get closer, so Schedule tasks turn into Do First. Delegated tasks need a check-in. New ideas pile up in your head. A weekly review catches all of that in one sitting. David Allen made the weekly review a core habit of Getting Things Done (2001); this is a lighter version built around the matrix.
The 30-minute weekly review checklist
1. Get clear (10 minutes)
- Empty your head: write down every task, worry and idea that is not already in the matrix. A brain dump is the fastest way.
- Clear your inboxes: email, messages and paper notes. Anything that needs action becomes a task.
2. Re-sort the matrix (10 minutes)
- Do First: is everything here still urgent and important? Anything finished? Tick it off.
- Schedule: check due dates. Anything due in the next two days moves to Do First.
- Delegate: check each name. Has it been handed off? Does it need a follow-up?
- Eliminate: delete everything in it. If you hesitate, ask whether you would add it today.
- Clear completed tasks so next week starts clean.
3. Plan next week (10 minutes)
- Look at your calendar for the next two weeks.
- Choose two or three Schedule tasks that matter most and block time for them.
- Pick Monday’s first task, your frog, so the week starts with momentum.
Check your balance
A weekly review is the right moment to look at the balance bar above your matrix. If Do First held most of your tasks every day this week, you were firefighting. The fix is to give Schedule more calendar time next week, not to work longer. Our guide to the Eisenhower Matrix explains the patterns to look for.
Make it stick
Put the review on your calendar as a recurring event, at the same time each week. Keep it short: 30 minutes is enough for most people. And keep a backup: in our app, use More → Download backup during your review, so your tasks are safe even if your browser clears its storage.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for a weekly review?
Friday afternoon or Sunday evening are the most common choices. Friday lets you close the week with work context still fresh; Sunday helps you start Monday calm.
What if I skip a week?
Just do the next one. A review after two weeks takes a little longer, but the steps are the same.
Where does the weekly review come from?
David Allen made it a core habit of his Getting Things Done method (2001). The version here is simplified for use with the Eisenhower Matrix.