Time Blocking

What is Time Blocking?

Time Blocking is a time management technique that divides your day into smaller blocks of time. During each block of time, you focus on a single task or a group of similar tasks1234. The process is simple and essentially, it’s a time management skill3.

This technique integrates the function of a calendar with that of a to-do list5. It involves planning your day in advance and allocating specific portions of time to certain tasks, e.g. 20 minutes for email, 30 minutes for meetings, two hours for deep work, etc4.

The key to this method is prioritizing your task list in advance — a dedicated weekly review is a must. Take stock of what’s coming up for the week ahead, and make a rough sketch of your time blocks for each day2. At the end of every workday, review any tasks you didn’t finish — as well as any new tasks that have come in — and adjust your time blocks for the rest of the week accordingly2.

With days that are time blocked in advance, you won’t have to constantly make choices about what to focus on. All you need to do is follow your time blocked schedule. If you get off-task or distracted, simply look at your schedule and get back to whichever task you blocked off time for2.