Growing up, many of us heard about how there’s never enough time in the day, but those phrases fall on deaf ears when we’re young. Now that we’re older, we don’t know where time goes! If you have a lot to do but not enough time to accomplish it, time blocking may be just the practice for you. Here are some benefits of time blocking and how to use it.
What Is Time Blocking?
Time blocking is a time management tool that divides your day into small blocks of time, each devoted to a different task. However you choose to spend the block of time, you must focus on that task and that task only. Each day, you’ll begin with your schedule and work accordingly.
For time blocking to work, you must create your schedule with your tasks prioritized so you get the important things done first and work on larger projects when you have more time. The method to the madness is that you no longer have to remember what needs to be done because you’ve already made your schedule!
Why Does Time Blocking Work?
There are several reasons this seemingly simple method can work wonders for your productivity.
- You focus on one thing at a time. You already know how to tackle your day, so when it’s time to get something done, all your brain power is dedicated to accomplishing that task.
- Complete mundane tasks in no time. Whether you start or end your day with these tasks or position them in the middle as a “brain break,” time blocking allows you to complete them.
- Be more aware of how you use your time. The more you time block, the better you’ll get at it. You’ll start to see where you need to devote more or less time to certain things during your day.
- Keep your goals at the forefront of your mind. Time blocking allows you to reach your goals because you’ve made the time to do so.
Believe it or not, time blocking counteracts perfection. If certain tasks take five times longer than they should because you’re too critical of yourself, time blocking forces you to move on to the next.
How to Block
Blocking your calendar is easy; you just have to devote time to scheduling accordingly.
Start by creating your to-do list. Now, you don’t have to think of everything that needs to be done. Make sure that you give yourself open blocks for surprise tasks and that a good portion of your schedule is flexible.
Next, estimate how long you’ll need to complete each task. It’s better to give yourself an extra 30 minutes instead of rushing yourself. For big projects, don’t be afraid to break them up into smaller segments.
Lastly, add these tasks to your calendar to see how your day will pan out. Treat this like a final edit to ensure your day flows nicely and has enough breaks.
A Few Time Blocking Tips
- Figure out when you’re most productive and use that time to schedule tasks that require the most from you. This will vary from person to person. And it’s okay if you need to reevaluate how you’ve been time blocking after a few days.
- Don’t forget to block off personal time. It may sound silly to “schedule” this time, but many people are guilty of not stopping throughout the day. Take your lunch break, have coffee, or step outside; we all need breaks.
- Adjust as needed. You may discover that certain tasks are better for the end of the day or that you need to get other things out of the way each morning. This is all good for you to know as you continue time blocking.