What is Time Blocking?

Time Blocking refers to blocking off specific times each day for related tasks.

It’s an extension of task batching, but it’s not the same thing. Task batching calls for batching similar tasks together, while time blocking identifies a time where you do similar tasks every day. For example, house cleaning from 8-9am every day and emails from 9-10am every day.

Think of task batching as the first step and time blocking taking it further, allowing you to be even more efficient with your time. As you create habits of task batching and then time blocking, your time blocks become second nature. You don’t have to think about what you’re going to do next or when you’re going to do your cleaning, you just do it. It seems inconsequential, but when you can free your mind from thinking of the how and when, you create time to actually do.

When workers get overwhelmed with incoming emails all day and are unable to get projects done, time blocking is the first thing I suggest. Blocking off 30-60 minutes at the beginning and end of the workday to answer emails will help you free time to be laser focused on projects. If you can afford to do it, mute your emails while you’re working on projects so that you don’t hear or see the incoming emails. This will allow you to more easily get in a flow with your work and be more productive.

An Example Time Block: