What are your Biggest Time Wasters? (FF-018)

Photo Credit: bishophouse.com However, just Google "Steve Covey 4 Quadrant Time Management Model" and you'll get a plethora of samples.

Originally Published: March 21, 2022

Revised: October 31, 2025

What are your biggest time wasters?  You know, the stuff you find yourself doing when you should be working on the high-priority project? 

I'll wait while you think of them.

The 4 Quadrant Model of Time Management, created by Steven Covey, illustrates where we should spend time on our various activities.  Ideally, we are focusing our time working on projects that are "Important and Not Urgent" (Quadrant 2 - Deep Work).  

Covey recommends we AVOID "Urgent and Not Important" (Quadrant 3 - Fire Alarms) and that we should Manage our time doing the "Urgent and Important" work (Quadrant 1 - Procrastination or mismanagement of time).

That leads me to Quadrant 4 "Not Urgent and Not Important."  Surprisingly, Covey says we should Limit (not Avoid) our time spent in Quadrant 4.  This is because we often need to invest some time here to unwind and clear our heads.  What's important is being aware of when and how long you are spending time here.  For example, watching Love is Blind at night or during a lunch break is probably just fine.  Watching it in the middle of your workday for two hours is probably not a wise strategy.

Ok, I gave you one of my guilty pleasures (yes, Love is Blind), what about you?  What is a Quadrant 4 activity that you enjoy doing...as long as you've earned that fun?  Reach out to connect with me and let’s explore how you’re balancing your time.