How To Get Over A Mental Block

Time is our most precious resource, especially when trying to achieve our professional goals, but most of us are bad at managing our time—or at the very least, we could be better. Fortunately, there are potential solutions. Time blocking is a strategy that forces us to think more critically about the time we spend and how we're spending it, and if harnessed properly, it can greatly improve your productivity.

What Is Time Blocking?
- Time Blocking: The Basics
- Time Blocking Variations You Should Know
- Is Time Blocking Bad?
19 Practical Ways to Use Time Blocking
Common Time Blocking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Tips from Time Blocking Experts
The Best Time Blocking Apps
Conclusion
More Tips for Better Time Management

What Is Time Blocking?

Time Blocking: The Basics

Time blocking is a strategy in which you'll break your time down into discrete "blocks" or set increments wherein you'll accomplish specific tasks.

For example, in an 8-hour day, you might work with 16 30-minute time blocks, assigning tasks like "email catch-up," "daily meeting," or "project B" to each 30-minute block.

Time Blocking Variations You Should Know

Here are some distinctions of time blocking you should know about.

1. Task Batching

This refers to grouping similar tasks to complete all at once. Therefore, you won't have to switch contexts throughout the day.

2. Day Theming

This is an extreme version of time blocking. It is perfect for people who deal with many areas of responsibilities and need to block each day based on a theme.

3. Timeboxing

This refers to setting aside time to focus on a certain task or activity within a specified period of time.

Is Time Blocking Bad?

Time blocking is only bad if you don't give yourself the freedom to rest and enjoy your personal time. Even if you consider yourself as an achiever who constantly pushes for great results, scheduling your tasks using time blocking will allow you to get into a more productive rhythm.

19 Practical Ways to Use Time Blocking

1. Understand the Philosophy Behind Time Blocking

First, understand why time blocking is so popular (despite so many other time management techniques in use). The task of time blocking is relatively simple, but the thinking behind it is more multifaceted.

Time blocking helps you achieve several goals simultaneously. It helps you treat your time like a resource, budgeting it the same way you would your income. It helps you track your time and identify sources of waste.

It forces you to dedicate your attention to concrete intervals and, therefore, helps you prioritize. It also gives you a consistent system you can apply to any important task^[1] .

2. Stop Multitasking

The science has been clear for decades now: multitasking simply doesn't work.^[2] No matter how good you think you are at multitasking, chances are, you'd be much better off focusing on one task at a time.

In fact, studies have shown that multitasking reduces productivity by 40%.^[3] Time blocking forces you to avoid multitasking if you're implementing it properly.

For a given time block, set only one task; for example, during your 30-minute "finish sales proposal" task, don't allow yourself to get distracted by emails, phone calls, or other unrelated tasks. This change alone can make a massive difference in your productivity.

3. Decide on Your Chosen Increments

So far, we've used the example of a 30-minute time block, but this isn't a requirement. Time blocking can work no matter what kind of increments you're working with. In fact, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is notorious for his ability to block his days down to 5-minute intervals.^[4]

Different people function well in different systems, so consider your options carefully; smaller time intervals allow you to be more precise with your schedule, but they can also be more stressful to manage. If you're not sure, start with something broader, like 45-minute or 1-hour intervals.

4. Take Time to Assess Which Parts of Your Day to Time Block

You don't have to block out your entire day, especially if you're just starting out, so think about which times of your day you'd like to block off.

For most newcomers, this means blocking out the "core" of your day—something like 10 am to 4 pm—after your morning routine is over, but before your daily wrap-up. For more advanced time blockers, it's better to block your entire day, from start to finish—even your personal life.

5. Choose the Right Documentation Strategy

Even if you have a photographic memory, you'll find it hard to keep your time blocking schedule clear in your head. Instead, you'll need to rely on some kind of documentation system.

The exact system isn't important, so long as it works well for you. A good calendar app or Google Calendar should be able to help you block off your time in regular intervals, and set alarms so you know when one time period is up.

If you're old fashioned, you may use a written planner or even a series of sticky notes to help you keep track of your day. In any case, some kind of automated timer is a good way to keep yourself aware of time's passing.

6. Give Yourself a Buffer

Before and after each block of time, give yourself a small buffer of extra time. For example, if you're working with 30-minute chunks of time, give yourself 5 additional minutes to serve as empty space between tasks. If you want to keep your schedule tidy, work for 25 minutes, and leave 5 minutes to spare.

This will help you finish tasks that don't fit neatly into your original time blocking plans since most incoming work isn't so naturally organized.

7. Don't Forget Warmups and Cooldowns

If you're like most people, you don't begin the workday at peak productivity. It takes you time to start up your devices, get coffee, read emails, and just "settle in" overall before it's time to work. At the end of the day, you'll be interested in finishing things up and preparing to leave.

Don't be too harsh with blocking these time periods; instead, treat them as a unique, open-ended block. For example, you can block most of your day in 15-minute intervals, but leave yourself a 1-hour "warmup" and 30-minute "cooldown."

8. Block Time for "Deep" Tasks

"Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. " -Cal Newport^[5]

Deep tasks are tasks that require your total focus or tasks that serve as major projects rather than individual, small responsibilities. They should be blocked in a way that allows you to focus on them exclusively; any block assigned to a deep task should include no other tasks or allowances. Even so, a single block may not be enough; don't hesitate to assign multiple blocks to the same important work.

Check out the following video to learn how to be productive with deep work:

9. Spend Time Doing "Shallow" Tasks

Time blocking shallow tasks works a little differently. Shallow work involves tasks that don't require much time or attention, and they tend to accumulate throughout the day. You won't need a full block to work on any single shallow task, so instead, consider blocking shallow tasks in groups.

For example, you could dedicate a block for checking "email, social media, and project management platforms," or "catching up on communications."

10. Do Your "Reactive" Tasks

Reactive tasks are informal tasks that are hard to predict and even harder to prioritize. They often come in the form of interaction.

For example, you may need to manage an ongoing dialogue with your employees to coordinate work on a specific project. Again, you'll want to consolidate these tasks in a block for the entire category.

11. Don't Be Tempted to Skip Break Time

In a strategy that's all about productivity, it's easy to lose sight of the importance of breaks. But you'll need to block time for breaks the same way you would any other task—or else you'll run the risk of burnout.^[6] This includes not just lunch, but also smaller breaks throughout the day.

Small interval time blocking, like intervals of 10 or 15 minutes, works best here. If you're working with 30-minute blocks, consider hybridizing individual blocks with both breaks and work.

Check out this article to learn why breaks are so important.

12. Make Your Time Blocking Plan Visually Appealing

To avoid missing tasks, you need to make sure that your eyes don't miss them. This is why creating a time-blocking plan using vibrant colors is needed.

If you use paper, use a different color pen or write in capital letters to make it stand out among your other items. If you are using a task manager, label or flag it somehow with tags or a similar method that highlights it for you.

13. Create a Replicable Formula

After you've blocked time for a few shifts, try to create a template you can use for all your future time blocking needs. Assign blocks for all your predictable, routine tasks, then leave room in the rest of your schedule for less predictable priorities or those that are determined on a per-day basis.

14. Be Prepared to Fail and Estimate Poorly (at First)

Most people are terrible at naturally tracking their own time and even worse at estimating how long tasks take.

When you write out your first draft for time blocking, be prepared to feel embarrassed at how wrong you were about the true length of even your most common tasks. To compensate for this, try to overestimate the amount of time it takes to do a given task, giving it more block space than you think it needs.

This may interfere with your productivity slightly the first few days you try it, but once you get a feel for how long each type of task takes, you can gauge your time blocking much more accurately.

Better yet, use a time tracking app to get an accurate calculation of how long you actually spend on routine tasks so you can improve your estimates and cut down on the learning curve!

15. Notify Others That You're Time Blocking

People around you should know when you are busy so they won't try to reach you during those times.

Give a heads-up to your bosses, coworkers, and partners that you're going to be time blocking. When you start this practice, your habits are going to change.

You might take longer to respond to certain emails, you might be more cutthroat when it comes to meeting timing, and you'll almost certainly be more regimented in how you work throughout the day. People will be far more understanding if they know the reason why.

16. Schedule a "Catch up" Day

Even with time blocking, things will slip through the cracks. You'll miss a handful of tasks, or you'll need another hour or two to finish up that important project.

To avoid stressing yourself out, simply give yourself a free catch-up day that's at least somewhat block-free. It's beneficial to give yourself the extra flexibility as you finish your priorities.

17. Don't Get Frustrated When You Need to Revise Your Approach

Studies suggest the "best" time blocking strategy for an average person is working for 52 minutes, then breaking for 17.^[7] But this won't necessarily work for you. Everyone has unique preferences and working styles, which will be more conducive to alternate time structures.

Some people need longer, less frequent breaks, while others need shorter, more frequent ones. Be ready to revise your approach as you learn more about yourself.

18. Expand Time Blocking to Other Areas of Your Life (If It Works for You)

Spend a few weeks blocking time in your professional life and evaluate how it works for you.

Does it seem to be making you more productive or more stressed?

If time blocking during your work day makes you more productive and doesn't increase your stress, consider applying it to other areas of your life in the long term. Block out time for home chores and socializing the same way you do with projects and tasks at work.

However, if blocking time is too regimented or simply isn't effective for you, don't be afraid to keep it restricted to work, or abandon it entirely.

19. Stick to the Blocked Times for 30 Days

To make time blocking a habit, you need time to let it stick. Repeat the blocked time for 30 instances.

Not only will the blocked times become part of the flow of your week, but you'll also discover how crucial these items you're blocking out time for are. You'll also be able to figure out how much time you really need, whether or not that time of day works for you, and so much more.

Common Time Blocking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Here's a look at the most common time blocking mistakes people make, and tips you can use to overcome them.

Starting your date late

If you don't start your day on time, most of your effort that goes into time blocking will be for nothing. As much as you can, get up early so you won't feel rushed throughout the entire.

However, keep in mind that "early" is subjective, so assess your daily activities and find out when is the best time to start your day.

Procrastinating

Procrastinating is bad for your concentration, and it will only make you go around in circles while making excuses to not get work done. Because of this, it makes way for backlogs.

One way to stop procrastinating is to reward yourself after the end of the day. It could be a nice meal, or a night out with your best buddies.

Undervaluing tasks

Another rookie mistake of people who try time blocking for the first time is miscalculating the energy and time it takes for them to finish tasks. Instead of doing this, give yourself some allowance.

Giving up too early

Time blocking is a learning process. A lot of people give up on this effective strategy prematurely because they failed the first time.

Give yourself time to get used to this technique. Over time, you'll be surprised at how much your productivity will improve because of it.

Tips from Time Blocking Experts

We've rounded up vital tips from experts to make time-blocking easier for you.

See It as a Game

According to Cal Newport, time blocking should be seen as a game because time blocks should not be rigid. Instead, it should be flexible enough to forgive lapses when you fall short.

"This type of planning, to me, is like a chess game, with blocks of work getting spread and sorted in such a way that projects big and small all seem to click into completion with (just enough) time to spare." -Cal Newport

Know When to Say No

It's easy to get overwhelmed by saying yes to every single task assigned to you. However, you can't time block your way into finishing an overwhelming amount of tasks. The best tip to remember is that sometimes, it's completely okay to say no.

Have a Clock Nearby

Your internal sense of time may be great, but you shouldn't depend on it if you don't want to miss anything important. To make sure you don't lose track of time, have an easy-to-read clock in your working area. This will ensure you remain on schedule.

The Best Time Blocking Apps

If you don't want to use pen and paper to time block your days, technology is on your side. Here are our favorite time blocking apps.

Clockwise for a smart calendar extension that enables you to focus more on what matters
TimeBlocks is great to intuitively time block your time easily
Plan for a free app that is linked to Google and Outlook
Sunsama to plan your day
HourStack to compare estimates to the actual time you spend doing tasks
TickTick Premium for a to-do list with great time blocking feature

Conclusion

Time blocking isn't the right strategy for every professional or every situation, but if considered and executed properly, it can save you a ton of time—and directly boost your productivity.

Use it to get a better understanding of how you're spending time throughout the day, improve your focus, and effectively prioritize simultaneously.

More Tips for Better Time Management

7 Effective Time Management Tips To Maximize Your Productivity
10 Practical Ways to Improve Time Management Skills
10 Proven Time Management Skills You Should Learn Today

Featured photo credit: Emma Matthews Digital Content Production via unsplash.com

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