How to Use Quartask: Your Complete Guide to Mastering the Eisenhower Matrix

Meta Description: Learn how to use Quartask—the free Eisenhower Matrix app. Complete guide with task management tips, board organisation, reminders, and productivity hacks.

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What Is Quartask?

Quartask is a free online Eisenhower Matrix app that helps you organise tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance. Think of it as a smart to-do list that automatically shows you what to work on next.

The core idea: Every task fits into one of four quadrants. Once you know which quadrant a task belongs to, you know exactly what to do with it.

Getting Started

Step 1: Sign Up (30 seconds)

Visit quartask.com and click Get Started Free. You can sign up with Google—no credit card, no trial period, no hidden fees. Everything is free, forever.

Step 2: Create Your First Board

Your first board is automatically created. A board is like a project or a context. For example:

• Personal Board — errands, chores, personal goals
• Work Board — projects, tasks, meetings
• Weekly Board — this week's priorities

Tip: Keep it simple. Start with one board. You can always create more later.

Step 3: Add Your First Task

Click in any quadrant and type your task. Hit Enter. That's it.

What to add first: Brain dump everything on your mind. Don't filter. Don't prioritise yet. Just get it out of your head and onto the board.

Understanding the 4 Quadrants

Quadrant 1 — Urgent & Important (Do First)

What goes here: Deadlines, crises, last-minute requests

When to use it: A report due today. A client issue that needs immediate attention. A forgotten appointment.

Rule: Limit Q1 to what fits in a single day. If your Q1 is overflowing, you're spending too much time firefighting.

Quadrant 2 — Not Urgent & Important (Schedule)

What goes here: Long-term goals, planning, skill development, health

When to use it: Strategic projects. Learning a new skill. Exercise. Relationship building.

Rule: This is the most important quadrant. Tasks here drive real progress. Protect time for Q2 every week.

Quadrant 3 — Urgent & Not Important (Delegate)

What goes here: Interruptions, some emails, status meetings

When to use it: Tasks that feel urgent but don't move your goals forward.

Rule: Ask yourself: Does this really need me? Delegate, postpone, or batch-process these.

Quadrant 4 — Not Urgent & Not Important (Eliminate)

What goes here: Busywork, excessive social media, low-value activities

When to use it: That "interesting" webinar. Organising files for the third time. Scrolling Instagram during work hours.

Rule: Eliminate without guilt. Every hour in Q4 is an hour stolen from Q2.

Advanced Features

Boards for Different Contexts

Create separate boards for different areas of your life:

1. Click + New Board button
2. Name it (e.g., "Work," "Side Project," "Home Renovation")
3. Start adding tasks

Use case: Switch between boards based on context. At work? Open your Work board. Planning a holiday? Create a Travel board.

Recurring Tasks

For weekly or daily tasks, create a recurring task:

• Weekly review → every Monday
• Exercise → set as a daily Q2 task
• Bill payments → set reminders monthly

Pro tip: Add recurring Q2 tasks first. They're easy to skip if they're not on the board.

Reminders

Never forget a deadline again:

1. Click on any task
2. Set a reminder time
3. Get a push notification at the scheduled time

Works on: Desktop browser notifications + mobile push (coming to Flutter app).

Shared Boards

Collaborate with your team:

1. Open a board
2. Click Share
3. Copy the link and send it to your team
4. Everyone can see and update tasks

Best for: Team sprint planning, family chore boards, shared project tracking.

Achievement Calendar

Track your daily streaks:

• Each day you complete a task, mark it on the calendar
• Build a streak (7 days, 30 days, 365 days)
• The visual streak is surprisingly motivating

Pro tip: Even completing ONE task counts. Don't break the streak.

Sticky Notes

Use sticky notes for:

• Quick ideas that aren't tasks yet
• Weekly goals written large
• Motivational quotes
• Brainstorming before organising into quadrants

Best practice: Collect ideas on sticky notes during the week, then organise into the matrix during your weekly review.

Quartask Workflows for Maximum Productivity

The Daily Workflow (5 minutes)

Time	Action
Morning	Review Q1 and top Q2 tasks
Start	Work on #1 Q2 task before checking email
Midday	Quick scan—any Q3 tasks to batch?
End of day	Move incomplete tasks, set tomorrow's priority

The Weekly Workflow (10 minutes)

1. Review — What moved forward this week?
2. Refresh — Move incomplete tasks, adjust priorities
3. Reset — Clear Q1 from last week, plan Q2 for next week
4. Reflect — Use sticky notes for lessons learned

The Monthly Workflow (30 minutes)

1. Archive — Completed boards from last month
2. Audit — Are your quadrants balanced?
3. Adjust — Create new boards for new projects
4. Celebrate — Look at your Achievement Calendar streak

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Quartask

1. Start with a Full Brain Dump

Before organising, dump everything into the matrix. Don't worry about which quadrant—just get it out. Then sort. This prevents the "I'll remember it later" trap.

2. Keep Q1 Lean

If Q1 has more than 5-7 tasks, you're in firefighting mode. Most of them probably belong in Q3 (delegate) or Q2 (schedule). Be honest about what's truly urgent.

3. Schedule Q2 Time in Your Calendar

The biggest mistake Quartask users make: filling Q2 with important tasks but never scheduling time to do them. Block 2 hours twice a week for Q2 work. Treat it like a meeting with yourself.

4. Use the "2-Minute Rule"

Any task that takes less than 2 minutes? Do it immediately. Don't put it in the matrix. Just get it done. This keeps Q1 from accumulating tiny tasks.

5. Review Every Week Without Fail

Skipping the weekly review is the #1 reason boards get stale. 10 minutes on Sunday or Monday morning keeps everything current.

6. Don't Over-Organise

A board with 50 perfectly categorised tasks is still 50 tasks. Focus on completing, not organising. Use Quartask as a tool for action, not a filing system.

Common Questions

Q: How is Quartask different from Todoist or Trello? A: Quartask is built specifically around the Eisenhower Matrix. Instead of flat lists or Kanban boards, every task is automatically prioritised by quadrant. You don't need a separate system for prioritisation—it's built in.

Q: Can I use Quartask on mobile? A: Yes! Quartask has a Flutter mobile app for Android, and the web app works great on mobile browsers. Full mobile features coming soon.

Q: Is Quartask really free? A: Completely free. No paid tiers, no trial periods, no credit card needed. We're supported by non-intrusive ads.

Q: Can I export my data? A: Your data stays with your Supabase account. You can access it anytime through your Quartask account settings.

What's Next?

You now know everything you need to start using Quartask effectively. Here's your action plan:

1. Today: Sign up and do a brain dump into all 4 quadrants
2. This week: Complete your first weekly review
3. This month: Build a 7-day streak on the Achievement Calendar

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Start prioritising better today. Create your free Quartask account—no credit card needed, takes 30 seconds.