Last week, I found myself staring at my to-do list, again. It was a mess of half-finished tasks, random sticky notes, and calendar events I barely remembered scheduling. Despite my best efforts, I felt like I was constantly reacting to my day instead of leading it.
So, in true Weekly Novice fashion, I decided to try something new: time blocking.
What Is Time Blocking?
Time blocking is a simple yet powerful technique where you divide your day into blocks of time, each dedicated to a specific task or group of tasks.
Instead of working from a never-ending to-do list, you schedule your priorities directly into your calendar. You give each task its own dedicated time slot. This lets you decide in advance how long you’ll spend on each thing, which helps you stay focused and reduces the constant mental juggling between tasks that all seem important.
My First Attempt (and What I Learned)
I started by picking my top three priorities for the day: writing, exercise, and some admin tasks. Then I gave each one a specific time block:
- 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Writing
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Administrative tasks
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Exercise
I also built in some buffer time between tasks to allow for breaks or unexpected stuff that might pop up.
The result? I was way more focused during each block, just knowing that I had already set aside time for it. I felt less overwhelmed because my day was structured. And honestly, I was pleasantly surprised at how effective I was. I didn’t follow the blocks perfectly, but I got way more done in each chunk of time than I expected.
Overall, it was a win. I’m not the type of person who naturally schedules every part of my day or fills out a calendar religiously. But even I can see how helpful time blocking is, especially when you’re facing a long to-do list that feels like a mountain.
Tips for Effective Time Blocking
If you’re curious about trying this out, here are a few things that helped me:
- Start Small: Just block out time for your top 2–3 priorities as a start. No need to go full calendar wizard from day one.
- Include Buffer Time: Breaks are important. Things don’t always run like clockwork.
- Be Flexible: If something takes longer than expected, adjust. This is a tool, not a prison.
- Review and Adjust: At the end of the day, ask yourself what worked and what didn’t. Then adjust it for the next round.
Would I Recommend It?
Yeah, I definitely would. Time blocking is great when you have a lot to do in a short period of time. By scheduling everything or just the most important things, it becomes way easier to focus on one thing at a time.
We all know the feeling of having so much to do that you can’t focus on anything. You’re trying to write an email but thinking about laundry. You’re eating dinner while worrying about tomorrow’s deadlines. With time blocking, some of that stress disappears, because you’ve already planned when you’ll handle each task. It clears space in your mind.
That said, I don’t think you need to plan out your entire life. But when your brain won’t stop spinning and your to-do list is overwhelming, sit down, take a breath, and block it out. It really helps.
Final Thoughts
Time blocking genuinely changed how I approach my busiest days. It’s given me a simple roadmap that I’m excited to use whenever I feel overwhelmed. I don’t expect it to be easy to get used to, and I’m not trying to plan out every minute of my life, but it’s good to know I have a tool I can lean on when the to-do list starts to spiral out of control. Just having that structure in place helps reduce the mental load and makes me feel more in control and effective.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try time blocking. Start small, stay flexible, and see what happens. If you liked this post, check out my view on successful habit-building.
