Quick Guide On How Time Blocking Can Boost Productivity

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Nowadays, it’s easy to get occupied by the work that you do – whether it’s a 9-to-5 job, remote work, etc. No matter what job you have, it takes effective management to just get through the day.

With that said, it’s not a good idea to strive for perfectionism, nor to fail into the temptation of procrastinating in your work. Not even multitasking can help you take full control of your work schedule and boost productivity.

Instead, look to something called “time blocking.”

Enter Time Blocking

What is time blocking?

Essentially, it’s when you divide your days into sections, or “blocks.” From there, you would assign specific tasks to each “block.” In hindsight, you’re setting aside specific time blocks as a means to complete important tasks. Once each task is “blocked,” your schedule can be divided into chunks of time, of which you can focus on one task at a time, rather than juggle with multiple at the same time.

Time blocking comes with the following advantages:

• You’re no longer oblivious to what needs to be done.
• You’ll know for sure how long a task or project will take.
• You’ll be able to fully focus on the task at hand.

So, rather than jot down a to-do list, and hope you’ll cross everything on that list off by the end of the day, try time blocking. How? By keeping in mind these 7 tips, of course!

Let’s get started!

Don’t Multitask. PERIOD.

First and foremost, it can be tempting to multitask, even though you shouldn’t. While multitasking may seem easy at first, you might get sidetracked or overwhelmed during the day. As a result, you may find yourself starting another task before finishing the previous one. This can create a lot of confusion.

The good news is, time blocking can save you from falling into that hole of confusion.

Instead of depending on long to-do lists and getting lost in trying to multitask, time blocking allows you to see specific tasks that NEED to be focused on during a specific time frame – no questions asked. Therefore, there’s absolutely zero room to waste time, or be oblivious on what task(s) need to be done. In other words, multitasking is simply NOT worth doing.

Create A Schedule

Creating a good schedule is essential, especially whenever you’re time blocking. The most important part of time-blocking is that it lets you stick to a schedule that you’ve already planned for yourself. It doesn’t matter how simple or complex your daily schedule is; having a schedule allows time blocking to work for you, rather than have you subject to procrastination.

Separate The Most Productive From The Least

Everyone functions differently, especially when it comes to work. That means, everyone works well at different times. In other words, maybe you work well in the mornings, while your colleague works well in the evenings (or vice versa).

In that case, it’s important to learn how you function – whether you’re a morning person, or an evening person. No matter when you’re the most productive, you can set a time block for the “most productive” hours to do tasks that are considered “high-priority.” In turn, you can schedule your “low priority” tasks or leisurely activities for whenever you’re LEAST productive in the day.

Learn To Say “No”

It’s important to say “no” to things that might hinder your time spent on a highly-prioritized task. When you block out time to complete an important task, saying “no” to other things becomes easier. While it might seem frustrating to say “no” to things, it’ll be worth it once you’ve completed the important task.

Assign Times For Each Task

Now that you have a schedule established, now you can accurately assign tasks. Now, when scheduling the time-slot in the day, don’t restrict yourself to short time blocks. In other words, some tasks may need more time do than others. Essentially, you’ll need to time tasks to whatever feels comfortable for you.

Take Breaks

No matter what, you must take breaks regularly. Breaks allow you to refresh, before going back to work; and they allow you to stay focused on the task(s) at hand. So, don’t forget to add them to your work schedule.

Improve And Revise Schedule When Necessary

While there’s no set formula for scheduling, you should still make the effort to plan accordingly, even if that means updating it regularly. By improving your schedule, you’re not stuck in the monotony of doing the same thing over and over, and your work will feel refresh every so often.

BONUS TIP: Time Batching

Finally, you can also do some task batching. Similar to time blocking, task batching lets you group similar tasks together, and complete them within a time block.

Conclusion

So, there you have it!

Time blocking can do wonders for your work schedule, once you implement it. This method not only helps you plan your schedule, but it also helps boost productivity in your work. So, be sure to follow these tips, and get started with time blocking today!