“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.”

Tony Robbins

What is time blocking?

A technique for merging task management with your calendar is time blocking. You designate tasks for each of your daily “blocks” of time. Each activity can be completed within its own time window without interfering with other tasks.

Time blocking allows you to arrange your day’s activities rather than just focusing on a big list of duties. You are compelled to plan how to spend your time as a result.

Time blocking fills up your schedule entirely. Planned and prioritized activities include rest, social engagements, and work responsibilities.

What are the benefits?

• Forget about procrastination
• Feel the pressure of deadlines
• Break down bigger tasks
• Hold yourself accountable
• Make more time for leisure

How to time block?

What do we recommend? We prefer to plan ahead and look at your obligations a day ahead. Once you have figured out what is on your table, break your day into smaller chunks. Create different interval blocks, ranging from 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Although the scheduling can be done on digital calendars, this activity can also be done on paper using a pen.

Next, begin filling the blocks with activities: meetings, school pick-ups, doctor appointments, writing time, etc. Make sure to fill in the tasks that cannot be moved around first, and then work around those ones. The flexible tasks can be filled in last.

Extra Tip

If you want to boost productivity, schedule the more difficult tasks for the beginning of the day – whether you start working in the morning or afternoon. Administrative tasks that require mechanical work rather than creativity can come next. The reason for this is that the brain needs the most concentration to complete difficult tasks. At the start of the working day, we have extra energy and concentration. That’s why you want to tackle the difficult tasks first. The rest will seem like a piece of cake!

Manage time like Musk!

One of the most effective time management strategies is Elon Musk’s five-minute rule. It forces you to set up time blocks throughout the day. You can have a detailed timetable that specifies what you will work on and when because each block is devoted to finishing one or more activities.

Musk is one of the busiest men on earth (some would say Mars too). The 5-minute rule does not leave room for spontaneity in his day – he pre-plans his days to get the most out of them. Musk’s go-to time-blocking technique is 5-minute blocks. Some may find this approach radical, but it certainly works for the brains behind Tesla!