Playing With Blocks
Our ultimate guide to time blocking
No matter how many posts, podcasts, and resources we have on time blocking, I always feel like this is a topic that we could write countless posts about. Because while the theory behind it is so foundational and the mechanics so simple, the applications are endless.
Our most comprehensive breakdown of time blocking and the one we point to most often is the first in this collection, How to Be a Productive Powerhouse Using Time Blocking. The important word in that title is not productive, not powerhouse, or the phrase time blocking; it’s using. (The verb is always going to be the most impactful word, but more on that in a future collection.) Theory and mechanics are useless if you don’t put them to use.
What works for me might not work for you and vice versa. My energy peaks and valleys are likely different from yours. What holds my attention might be different. And my life looks different from yours. So while below you will find no less than 20 posts on the topic, the point of this collection is not to study them all, but to read one or maybe a few, and then take something you learn and apply it to your own circumstances.
In this collection you’ll find posts about:
Now, go play with some blocks.
The Fundamentals of Time Blocking
Everything you ever wanted to know (and maybe some things you didn’t) about time blocking and applying it to your weekly schedule.
The Energy + Time Equation
As much as we try to treat them as infinite, time and energy are both finite resources. And because we can’t manufacture more of either, the trick is to match your best work to where they overlap.
Focus, Recovery, Admin, and Social Blocks
Match your work (your time, energy, and attention) to one of four types of blocks.
The Building Blocks of Time Blocking
It’s amazing what work can get done in spurts of two-hour increments.
Containers for the Work
Without clear boundaries (time blocks), your tasks and projects will bleed into each other, leaving you feeling scattered and in a never-ending task-switching cycle.
Time Blocking and Teams
Creating a time-blocked schedule for you is one thing; working it around a team is quite another. One block you might want to start with is your team’s social blocks (meetings).
Blocking Time for Your Team’s Focus
Teams don’t need better task tracking. They need a way to protect and measure their capacity for meaningful work.
Resources and Worksheets
We love a good worksheet, and these two resource libraries provide a treasure trove, not just on time blocking but many other topics. On our free planners and worksheets page, you’ll find our Heat Map and Weekly Block Blueprint worksheets, and for teams you’ll find the Meeting Template and Team Focus Block Audit Worksheets. Enjoy!
Now over to you. Tell us how you are applying some of these principles. Who knows, maybe it will inspire another post on time blocking. (Because clearly we don’t have enough already!)
Feeling like your schedule runs you instead of the other way around? Our Productivity Coaching can help you build a block schedule that actually fits your life, protects the blocks that matter most, and adjusts as your seasons change. Learn more about Productivity Coaching.