About this resource
When everything feels urgent it is hard to start. This matrix sorts tasks into four boxes by urgency and importance, with a clear action for each: do now, plan a time, shorten or ask for help, and let go or leave for later. A weekly plan turns choices into action.
Purpose
To help people decide what to do first and reduce overwhelm.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Occupational therapists. Also relevant for counsellors and therapists, youth workers.
Client or participant group: Adolescents and adults who find it hard to prioritise, including people with executive function difficulties.
Practice setting: Occupational therapy, study support and work readiness.
Suggested uses
- Study and work planning
- Executive function support
- Returning to work or study
- Managing household tasks
Instructions for practitioners
- Brain-dump all tasks first.
- Sort tasks together, explaining the boxes.
- Plan when the important tasks will happen.
- Review weekly.
Instructions for clients or participants
- List all your tasks.
- Sort them into the four boxes.
- Plan your week.
Accessibility considerations
Use sticky notes for sorting. Can be completed digitally.
Scope and limitations
A planning tool. It does not assess executive function.
Research basis
Executive functions such as planning, working memory and self-control develop over time and can be supported with external structure and practice.
- Diamond, A. (2013). Executive Functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64(1), 135–168. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-113011-143750
What is included
A 3-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
