Getting Started

Learn how to start managing tasks with the Eisenhower Matrix in 5 easy steps. Master the art of prioritization with Klara.

4 min read
Last updated: 2026-02-03

What is the Eisenhower Matrix?

The Eisenhower Matrix is a time management framework that helps you prioritize tasks based on two dimensions:

  • Importance: How much does this task contribute to your goals?
  • Urgency: How soon does this task need to be done?

This creates four quadrants:

  1. Now (Urgent + Important): Do these tasks immediately
  2. Later (Important, Not Urgent): Schedule these tasks
  3. Maybe (Urgent, Not Important): Delegate if possible
  4. Skip (Neither): Consider eliminating these

Klara automatically categorizes your tasks into these quadrants based on your input.

Step 1: Create Your First Task

Click the "+" button at the top of the screen to add a new task.

Enter your task details:

  • Task name: What needs to be done?
  • Importance (1-5): How important is this to your goals?
  • Deadline: When it's due (select from presets: today, this week, next week, few weeks, next month, or later)
  • Effort: How much time/energy will it take? (minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months)

Examples:

"Sort and declutter storage room"

  • Importance: 4 (should get this done)
  • Effort: Hours
  • Deadline: This week

"Plan birthday party"

  • Importance: 5 (really matters to you)
  • Effort: Days
  • Deadline: Next month

"Complete biology homework"

  • Importance: 4 (test coming up)
  • Effort: Hours
  • Deadline: Tomorrow

Note: Urgency is calculated automatically by Klara based on your deadline and other factors. You don't need to set it manually.

Click Save to add the task.

Step 2: Watch Klara Organize

Klara uses a sophisticated algorithm to automatically place your task in the appropriate quadrant. The algorithm calculates urgency automatically based on your deadline and other factors, then combines it with your importance rating:

  • High importance + High urgency (calculated) → Now
  • High importance + Low urgency (calculated) → Later
  • Low importance + High urgency (calculated) → Maybe
  • Low importance + Low urgency (calculated) → Skip

Your task appears in its quadrant immediately - no manual sorting required!

Step 3: Adjust Deadlines

When creating a task, you must select a deadline. You can change it later for more precise prioritization:

  1. Click on a task to open the edit dialog
  2. Click "Set deadline"
  3. Choose a date (Free tier: Preset options only; Pro: Any date with custom date picker)
  4. Closer deadlines increase urgency, causing tasks to redistribute to quadrants with higher priority

Pro tip: Tasks due today receive the highest urgency rating, making them highly likely to appear in Now if they're also important.

Step 4: Complete Tasks

When you finish a task:

  1. Click the checkmark icon on the task card
  2. The task moves to your completed list
  3. Your quadrants automatically rebalance

Smart limiting: Klara limits the Now quadrant to 1 incomplete task, helping you focus on what truly matters.

Step 5: Sync Across Devices (Optional)

Want to access your tasks everywhere?

Free Tier

  • Unlimited tasks to capture everything on your mind
  • Cloud sync across all devices (requires account)
  • Recurring tasks: Bills, weekly reviews, maintenance
  • Up to 3 projects to organize different areas
  • Up to 5 collaborators per project for teamwork
  • Anonymous mode available (tasks stored locally, no account required)

Pro Tier

All Free features, plus:

  • Custom date picker for any deadline
  • Postpone tasks to tomorrow
  • Unlimited projects: Separate work/personal/projects
  • Up to 50 collaborators per project for larger teams
  • GitHub Projects integration: See your issues right in Klara

See the Pricing page for current pricing and subscription details.

Next Steps

🎉 Congratulations! You've learned the basics of Klara.

Ready to go further?

  • Read the User Guide for advanced features
  • Check the FAQ for common questions
  • Visit the Pricing page to upgrade for cloud sync and more features

Quick Tips

💡 Focus on "Now": Start your day with the single most important task in your Now quadrant.

💡 Review "Later" daily: Spend 5 minutes each day reviewing your Later quadrant to prevent tasks from becoming urgent.

💡 Eliminate "Skip": If a task stays in Skip for more than a few weeks, delete it. It's not important.

💡 Use effort ratings: High-effort tasks in Now might be better broken into smaller tasks.

💡 Celebrate wins: Klara celebrates when you complete tasks with a confetti animation - enjoy the moment!

💡 Dark mode: Toggle dark mode in the top right for reduced eye strain.

Need Help?

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