Creative Time-Blocking Techniques

#ADHD brains 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 - until we actually have it. Then? 𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐢𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝. As a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 and 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡, I see this all the time with my high school and college students. They 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 a system to manage school, work, and life, but when they try to use one, 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. Then the self-blame kicks in: "𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?" "𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥?" Time feels 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐲for #ADHD brains. Hours disappear, tasks pile up, and suddenly, it’s Sunday night with six assignments due. The problem isn’t laziness, it’s that 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐃𝐇𝐃 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬. We need a 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 that keeps us on track without feeling like a prison. Here’s some options that may help (certainly has helped me, my own childre, my students & my clients): ✔️ 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 – Instead of planning the day from scratch, attach tasks to things that already happen. Meals, work, exercise; these are predictable, so we use them to create structure. (Example: “After lunch, I work on math. After dinner, I review notes.”) It’s like using 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 to navigate time. ✔️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 – Assign specific types of tasks to different days. No more wondering, “When should I do laundry?” It’s already planned. Self-Care Sundays for laundry & errands, Finance Fridays for budgeting. ✔️ 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 + 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 – #ADHD thrives on 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. If digital planners work, color-code your time blocks: 🟣 Life skills (laundry, errands) 🟢 Homework & studying 🔵 Social time Structure shouldn’t feel like a 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, it should feel like 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. When we stop forcing ourselves into systems that don’t work and start 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬, we stop fighting time and start working with it. #ADHD #ExecutiveFunction #TimeManagement #CollegeSuccess #Neurodiversity

These 3 work blocks have changed my life! 👇 As an agency owner, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks that demand attention every day. From managing sales, operations, and administrative duties to developing strategies and creating content, the to-do list often seems endless. This constant juggling act can quickly lead to burnout if not managed effectively. I used to struggle with this until I discovered the power of time blocking—a technique that has significantly transformed the way I work. 💫 By dividing my day into specific blocks of time, I’ve been able to focus more effectively, reduce stress, and increase productivity. [1] Strategic Blocks: These are the most critical parts of my schedule. I allocate 3-4 hours for strategic blocks, usually at the beginning of the week. During these blocks, I focus on high-level strategy work, such as long-term planning, business development, and innovation. Research shows that working in focused time blocks can increase productivity by up to 80% because it minimizes distractions and allows for deep work (Cal Newport, Deep Work). [2] Buffer Blocks: Buffer blocks are shorter, typically around 1 hour per task, and are reserved for day-to-day operations and lower-level tasks. This includes responding to emails, attending meetings, and managing team communications. By grouping these tasks into dedicated time slots, I avoid the constant context switching that can reduce productivity by up to 40% (American Psychological Association). 3. Breakout Blocks: Breakout blocks are my secret weapon against burnout. Scheduled once a week for 2-3 hours, these blocks are designed to give me mental free time. Whether it's taking a walk, reading, or simply relaxing, this time is crucial for recharging. Studies suggest that taking regular breaks can improve mental clarity and creativity, reducing the likelihood of burnout (Harvard Business Review). By structuring my time into these blocks, I’ve been able to stay focused on what truly matters, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and prevent burnout. Time blocking has been a game-changer for my productivity and well-being, and I highly recommend it to anyone struggling with an overwhelming schedule. ⏱ #timemanagement

In high-growth startups, speed is an asset—but without structure, it quickly turns into misalignment. As an Operator, one of the most effective ways I drive clarity, protect focus, and help teams operate at their best is through time blocking. It’s not about squeezing more into the day. It’s about making sure time is aligned with priorities—at every level of the business. Here’s the system I rely on: 1. Color-code by theme. Strategy. Deep work. Ops. People. Life. I scan my calendar and instantly know whether I’m working on the business—or buried in it. 2. Block proactively—not when it’s already too late. If it’s important, it gets time before the week fills up. This protects priorities from becoming afterthoughts. My weekly calendar is blocked and prepped before Monday morning. 3. Move blocks—don’t delete them. Structure should flex. But if it mattered enough to schedule, it matters enough to reschedule. 4. Let your calendar mirror your role. Some weeks require decisions. Others demand space to solve root issues. Time blocking evolves with the company. 5. Make space strategic. I block time for walking 1:1s, solo beach treks after work, and actual thinking. Because clarity is a leadership advantage. Time blocking isn’t a productivity hack. It’s a leadership discipline. And in fast-moving environments, it becomes cultural. Your calendar should reflect your role in driving the business forward—not just surviving the week.

The best productivity hack I use as a mompreneur? ↓ ↓ ↓ TIME BLOCKING Welcome to the series: “Diary of a Real Mompreneur” I’ve been running a marketing agency for 13 years. I’m also a wife and a mom of 5. It’s a constant juggle. Some weeks, I have to miss dinners. Other weeks, I have to reschedule client calls. But here's what saved me from burnout (and breakdown) ↳Time-blocking based on my energy, not just the clock Here’s how it works 👇 Mornings = Deep work I batch strategy calls, writing, and hard decisions when my mind is fresh Afternoons = Flex time This is where I handle lighter tasks and quick emails. Evenings = Boundaries This time belongs to my family. No notifications, no client calls. I stopped trying to “fit into” 5 am routines or hustle culture. I started creating a rhythm that respects my season of life. Since then, I’ve stayed consistent. I’ve felt less overwhelmed. I’ve actually enjoyed building my business again. You don’t need more hours in the day. You need more intention in how you use them. This is your reminder: You’re allowed to do it your way More real-life mompreneur lessons are coming soon. Stay tuned ❤️ P.S: If you like tips like this, join 11,000 more Executives who binge my Newsletter https://lnkd.in/g_eEur6c

𝐉𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐭. 😅 There was a time when I’d come home from work completely drained. I’d stare at my laptop, knowing I had content to post, messages to respond to, and offers to promote but all I wanted was to sink into the couch and scroll aimlessly. 🤔Sound familiar? Then one day, I realized: I was treating my business like a side chore instead of the life-changing mission it was meant to be. And most importantly 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 at the very bottom of my own priority list. Here’s what changed everything: ✨ 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 ✨ 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 ✨ 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘌 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 Let’s talk about prioritizing for a second. ➡️ What does it actually look like to prioritize your coaching business, career, and still have time for YOURSELF? Here are 3 powerful shifts I made that helped me show up better for my business, my job, and my life: 𝟏. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 – 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 👉 Example: Instead of a never-ending to-do list, I blocked off Tuesdays for content creation and scheduled posts at 7–7:30 AM. On alternate days before 9 AM, I followed up with clients. Some days were also for course creation and learning—because what we know isn’t always enough to grow. ✅ This gave my business structure without overwhelming my day. ✅ My mornings became creative zones; evenings were for me. 𝟐. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 "𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫" 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 👉 Example:Every Sunday, I spend just 60 minutes reviewing my goals, updating my calendar, and prepping my LinkedIn content. ✅ I walk into the week knowing what matters most. ✅ No more posting on the fly or wasting time deciding what to focus on. 𝟑. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 👉 Example: I schedule workouts, time with loved ones, or prayer time the same way I’d book a client call. ✅ You can’t pour from an empty cup. ✅ Prioritizing yourself is what gives you energy to serve your clients and your 9–5 with excellence. Remember this... You don’t need more hours in the day. You need more intention with the hours you already have. 💡 So let me ask you What does prioritizing your time look like for you right now? And what would change if you gave yourself permission to protect your dreams just as much as you protect your job? 👇 Drop your thoughts below I’d love to hear what you're working through! My name is Viviana I am a Business Coach and LinkedIn Visibility Mentor. Connect with me for more ways on how to find balance, staying organized and prioritizing while still doing what you love. #ThePartTimeEntrepreneurProject #TimeManagement #mycoachviviana