{"id":1763,"date":"2023-11-24T12:04:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T12:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.co\/?p=1763"},"modified":"2024-07-08T16:12:55","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T16:12:55","slug":"time-blocking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.co\/time-blocking\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Stuff Done with Time Blocking"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last updated on 24th November 2023<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you often find yourself drowning in a sea of never-ending to-do lists, desperately trying to juggle multiple tasks at once? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, fret no more because we’ve got the ultimate time management hack that will skyrocket your productivity and have you checking off tasks like a well-oiled machine! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get ready to embrace the power of time blocking and unlock the hidden potential of your day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll guide you through the art of effectively allocating your precious time, maximising focus, and achieving more than you ever thought possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Say goodbye to distractions and hello to laser-like concentration as we dive into the secrets of mastering time blocking. Get ready to reclaim your productivity and conquer your goals, one blocked-out moment at a time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is time blocking?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Time blocking<\/em><\/strong> is a time management strategy that focuses on scheduling out all of your tasks in order to help you discover where improvements can be made, and ultimately help you pack as much as possible into your working day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use time blocking to manage your day-to-day tasks, but also to help you chip away at those bigger, future goals – such as writing a book, or gaining a new qualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an example of a day in the life of someone who uses time blocking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"time<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As you can see, time has not only been set aside for work tasks but also the smaller details of the day, such as commuting to and from work, and coffee breaks. Scheduling in moments like this gives you a more accurate view of your day and ensures you aren\u2019t blocking out your time with unrealistic expectations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another way to avoid over-scheduling is to include buffer time. Buffer time is a couple of minutes (usually 10-15) between tasks. You can use this to deal with those pesky little errands that pop up throughout the day. Or, better yet, you can use this as a time to reset your brain between tasks – which can have a positive effect on productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A study by the Draugiem Group<\/a>, a collection of Latvian companies, found that their most productive employees didn\u2019t actually work more hours than others, they simply took more breaks. On average, the high-productivity group worked for 52 minutes and then took a 17 minute break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"work<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to get stuff done with time blocking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have a good grasp on what time blocking is, let\u2019s talk about how you can implement it into your day and start getting stuff done! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best things about time blocking is that it can work for anyone, in any industry. From freelancers to agencies, from one-man teams to enterprises – time blocking is for everyone. You can even start using it to get more out of your weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve used Google Calendar<\/a> to demonstrate time blocking because it\u2019s free and easy to use, but you should be able to do this in most calendar apps. To add time entries, all you need to do is click on the date and enter your data:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"google<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The app is also really intuitive and able to link images to certain tasks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"google<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can also set alerts within Google Calendar so you know when it\u2019s time to move on to your next task – much better than checking the clock! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"google<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first step towards blocking out your day is to schedule in all of your regular tasks. These are the things you do every day without fail. Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"schedule<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Notice that we\u2019ve included time to check emails and eat lunch – it\u2019s important to account for everything<\/em> in order to better understand your schedule and ensure you\u2019re getting the most out of your day. Being realistic also makes you much more likely to stick to your routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, fill the time that you have left with the tasks you would like to complete or work on over the course of the day. It\u2019s important to understand how you work best in order to be more productive. For example, if you are more productive when you get lost in a task (by spending hours of uninterrupted time on it) then schedule your time to reflect that. If you struggle to concentrate for long periods, then schedule your tasks in for shorter time frames. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think you\u2019d benefit from regularly switching between tasks, then the Pomodoro technique could be great for your time management. Named after a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, the Pomodoro technique is the process of working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5 minute break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pomodoro<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The idea behind this is that you\u2019ll be able to give your full attention to your task, knowing that you have a 5 minute break coming up. Any potential distractions can wait until your break. If this sounds like the technique for you, here\u2019s a useful, online \u2018tomato timer<\/a>\u2019 that you can use to block out your time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After scheduling in your regular tasks and your tasks for the day (along with your buffer time!<\/em>), your calendar should look something like this: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"colour<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve used a colour code to differentiate between tasks: <\/p>\n\n\n\n