Time Block Scheduling

Between job hunting, building AI automations, and managing our new puppy, I've discovered a time management trick that’s changing the game. Curious? So, I had a revelation. You know those moments when you’re juggling a million things and feel like you’re barely holding it together? Yeah, that’s been me. But here’s the kicker – I found a way to manage my time without losing my mind. Intrigued? Let me spill the beans. 🗓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 Ever heard of time blocking? It’s like scheduling your day into neat little chunks dedicated to specific tasks. Think of it as creating a series of appointments with yourself. I started by blocking out time for my biggest priorities – work projects, gym, even that elusive “me time.” And guess what? It’s been a game-changer. Here’s how it works: ▶ Identify Your Tasks: List out what you need to get done. ▶ Block Your Time: Assign each task a specific time slot. Be realistic about how long things take. ▶ Stick to It: Treat these blocks like actual appointments. No skipping! 🍅 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 Now, let’s talk Pomodoro. It’s a time management method that breaks work into intervals, usually 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. After four “Pomodoros,” take a longer break, say 15-30 minutes. Here’s the scoop: ✅ Set a Timer: Work for 25 minutes. No distractions. ✅ Take a Break: Give yourself 5 minutes to stretch, grab a coffee, or check Instagram. ✅ Repeat: After four sessions, reward yourself with a longer break. 🧙♂️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗹𝗲 Balancing these techniques is key. Here’s what I learned: ✅ Mix It Up: Use time blocking for overarching structure and Pomodoro for intense focus periods. ✅ Be Flexible: Sometimes things come up. Adjust your blocks but don’t abandon them. ✅ Self-Care: Remember to block time for breaks and relaxation. Your brain needs it. Real-Life Example Just the other day, I had a packed schedule. Meetings, emails, and a looming deadline with a new client. I started with time blocking, scheduling each task throughout my day. Then, during each block, I used Pomodoro to stay laser-focused. Even with our new puppy demanding attention and my AI automation projects needing tweaks, by 5 PM, I was done with my to-do list and had time to unwind. Who knew time management could feel so liberating? Your Turn Give it a try. Start small. Maybe block out your morning or use Pomodoro for your next big task. See what works best for you and tweak it as needed. The key is finding a rhythm that keeps you productive and sane. So, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember: a little time blocking, a dash of Pomodoro, and a sprinkle of self-care can work wonders. Have a great week and happy time managing! P.S. What time management hacks do you swear by? Hit reply and let me know! Let’s share the love and the sanity. 😊

𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 Time blocking is an effective technique to take control of your day and ensure that your highest-priority tasks get the attention they deserve. This method involves dividing your day into specific blocks of time, with each block dedicated to a particular task or activity. By doing so, you can optimize your productivity, reduce stress, and maintain focus throughout the day. Imagine starting your day with a clear plan. Time blocking helps you work smarter by ensuring that each part of your day is aligned with your natural rhythms and priorities. By structuring your day with intention and clarity, you can tackle your to-do list with greater efficiency, focus, and satisfaction. Remember, the goal of time blocking isn’t just to fill your schedule, but to create a balanced workflow that supports both your professional goals and personal well-being. Imagine you're an architect, not of buildings, but of time. Every morning, you wake up with a blueprint for your day, carefully crafted to make the most of your hours. This blueprint is your time-blocked schedule, and it’s your secret weapon for success. The day begins at dawn. The morning is your prime time—your mind is sharp, and your creativity is at its peak. You know this is the perfect moment to tackle the most critical task on your list: strategic planning. In early morning hours, you immerse yourself in deep thinking, laying the foundation for the day’s work. No distractions, just pure focus on what matters most. As the morning sun rises higher, your energy shifts. It’s time to interact with others, so you step into the collaborative phase of your day. The afternoon is reserved for meetings, brainstorming sessions, and teamwork. You’ve blocked out this time specifically because you know you’ll be at your best when engaging with colleagues and tackling problems together. As the day winds down, so does your energy. The late afternoon arrives, and it’s time to handle the routine tasks that don’t require as much mental heavy lifting. You dive into your inbox, respond to emails, and tie up loose ends. It’s a satisfying way to close out the day, knowing you’ve managed your time wisely. But what makes this time-blocked schedule truly effective is the boundaries you’ve set. You’ve communicated with your team, letting them know when you’re available and when you need to be left alone. This respect for your own time ensures that each block is used to its fullest potential, allowing you to move through your day with intention and purpose. By the end of the day, you’ve accomplished what you set out to do, and it’s all because you’ve structured your day with care. Time blocking isn’t just about organizing tasks; it’s about crafting a life that balances productivity and well-being, ensuring you’re not just busy, but truly effective. #TimeManagement #Efficiency #StressManagement #Productivity

Let’s Talk About Time. People have ask me in the past how I manage to get so much done. It’s simply a method. I built a surgical time management system years ago that's essentially a hybrid of three "proven frameworks"; it's customized to match me. When I follow it, the output speaks for itself. People assume I’m a machine. Lately, I’ve been loose with it. Not off-track, but not dialed in like I should be. That’s changing now. Especially since I will be starting a Masters of Engineering in the spring. I call it "The Method to my Madness" The Eisenhower → Mind Map → Time Block Method: Achieve High Quality Volume Output, Stay Sharp, and Get More Done If you want high-quality output at a high volume, you need more than motivation. You need discipline and a bonafide system. This one works; it's not for staying busy. It's for execution and precision: 1. Start with the Eisenhower Matrix Often viewed as a productivity hack, it's more of a filter that separates movement from progress. Urgent & Important → Do it now. Important but Not Urgent → Schedule it. Urgent but Not Important → Delegate it. Neither → Delete it. Delete a lot. As much as possible. Majority of people stay stuck in reaction mode because they never clarify what actually deserves their time in a prioritized manner. 2. Turn Priorities those into a Mind Map. Brainstorm. Think about requirements and deliverables. Once you know what matters, you build your mind map. This is how you visualize your goals, responsibilities, and projects, as well as identify connections between different pieces and outcomes. Architect a snapshot of your entire battlefield.. This map is your battle strategy. Every node should be a calculated move. Every connection is a dependency. Now, you’re never guessing because you have a clear vision and path. 3. Convert the Map into EXCEL Time Blocks Here it get's surgical. Start with hour blocks but get used to honoring a schedule. Tighten it to 30-minute blocks once you’re zoned in. Eventually move to 15-minute or even 5-minute blocks when you need total control. Use 45-minute blocks to leave time for review, margin, or re-alignment Don't go cramming your calendar. You need to be constructing clarity. Every minute needs to have has a purpose, resulting in every block equaling an output. Why It Works? Well, I lived it, for 4 years. But it works because: You stop reacting and start executing. You make fewer, better decisions. You get more done in less time. You create time instead of losing it to friction. If you want to achieve a lot, don’t leave your output to chance. You need to engineer a laser focused lens, structure your days, and block YOUR time like it’s a currency. If your work matters, your time should too. Start with the matrix. Build the map. Block the time. And watch your execution go from good to elite. Always take time to REFLECT. Everyday, reflect.

Every entrepreneur wants to maximize their productivity and achieve more in less time...but nobody knows where to start. Here's the exact 5-step playbook I'd use to master time-blocking and supercharge your efficiency: 1. Audit your current time usage. Track every minute for a week. Be ruthless in your honesty. You'll likely find hours of wasted time you didn't even realize existed. 2. Identify your peak performance hours. When are you most focused and energized? These are your golden hours for tackling high-impact tasks. 3. Create time blocks for different types of work. Group similar tasks together. Dedicate specific blocks to deep work, meetings, email, and personal time. 4. Protect your blocks at all costs. Treat them like non-negotiable appointments. Learn to say no to interruptions that don't align with your current block. 5. Review and refine regularly. At the end of each week, assess what worked and what didn't. Adjust your blocks accordingly. Continuous improvement is key. The magic of time-blocking lies in its simplicity and flexibility. It forces you to be intentional with your time, eliminates decision fatigue, and creates a clear structure for your day. But here's the kicker: time-blocking isn't just about getting more done. It's about creating space for what truly matters. By optimizing your work time, you free up hours for family, health, and personal growth. Remember, your calendar is a reflection of your priorities. If you're not deliberately blocking time for your most important goals, they'll always take a backseat to the urgent but less important tasks that fill our days. Start small. Block out just one hour tomorrow for your most critical task. See how it feels. Then gradually expand. Before you know it, you'll be operating at a level you never thought possible.

What do you do when you have lots of tasks to complete and are restricted by time? I time block. I thought everyone did until I was recently on a call with several people who were totally new to the concept. As a business owner who serves multiple clients, a mother, a trustee of First Class Foundation UK a vice chair for Ethical Equity and all the other hats I wear, I couldn’t function without time blocking. I follow this exact process to ensure that I am able to remain productive, complete tasks, manage my time effectively and reduce the chances of me becoming overwhelmed. 1. **List all of the the tasks I have to complete in the time period** 2. **Break the tasks down into a checklist in Trello. Typically a big task will require a number of sub tasks in order to complete. These form the checklist** 3. **I estimate how long it would take me to complete a task, based on how long it normally would take me. I then allocate a block of time to work on this task. I normally over estimate to be safe. If I think it will take 30 minutes, I will allocate 50 minutes.** 4. **I set start and end times for my entire day, including the documented tasks but also including breaks.** 5. **Once a time slot is complete, I move on to the next.** If you often find yourself overwhelmed with all of your tasks, give the above a try and see how it goes. Do you already time block? Let me know in the comments. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hey 👋 I'm Daniella, a business growth strategist, passionate about empowering Entrepreneurs, Founders & Business Owners to grow & scale their businesses whilst reclaiming their time. I can help you to get razor sharp clarity on your vision, streamline your operations to save time & boost team performance and transform your mindset so you can Think BIG Take ACTION & Keep PUSHING to Success. 📈 I share posts mainly about business growth/scaling and business systemisation, with a sprinkling of motherhood and general musings. Drop me a DM to find out how I can help you grow or scale your service business and transform your life 😁

Show me your calendar and I'll show you your priorities... and tbh, mine used to be a hot mess. 😅 As much as I'd like to believe I somehow have less time than every other person in the world and I am just soooooo busy, we all have the same 24 hours. So what separates people who get stuff done and those who roll up on a Friday feeling like they wasted the week? Time blocking. Here's how to do it: 1. Start with your non-negotiables. Block out sleep, meals, and commute time first. These aren't optional. 2. Theme your days. Mondays for strategy, Tuesdays for content creation, Wednesdays for meetings. Your brain will thank you. 3. Block buffer time. I learned this the hard way. Back-to-back meetings kill productivity. Give yourself a few minutes between calls if you can. 4. Protect your deep work blocks like they're client meetings. Because honestly, they're more important than most client meetings. 5. Color code eVErYtHinG. Red for urgent, blue for creative work, green for admin. (I don't do this I separate personal + professional, and only color code unique things I don't want to forget but this is after tons of trial and error) Makes it stupid easy to see where your time actually goes. Time blocking changed my life and I'm never going back to calendar chaos. #timeblocking #productivity #workfromhome 22/100 ------ Follow me, zoë hartsfield for more content on creator economy, social selling + how to juggle a w2/side hustle without losing your mind. 

To-Do lists are great… until they turn into a monster. I’ve always been a to-do list fanboy. But somewhere along the way, my list became longer than my day. So I flipped the script. Instead of asking: “What task can I fit into this time?” I ask: “What time can I own for this task?” Enter: Time Blocking (aka Time Boxing). Simple idea. Big shift. You don’t find time. You assign it. Each task gets a time slot. No guessing. No scrolling through endless to-do chaos. But let’s be real — the enemy isn’t the task. It’s the distraction. So here’s what helps me protect my time blocks: 1. 1 tab rule — Only one tab open per task. 2. Phone in jail — Airplane mode or across the room. 3. Pre-commit — Tell someone what I’m doing. Public accountability works. 4. 5-min re-entry rule — If I slip, I don’t trash the whole day. I jump back in with a fresh 5-minute push. This isn’t about being a productivity robot. It’s about designing your day with intention - not letting it drift. How do you manage the battle between your to-do list and your actual time? Let’s trade some hacks.

⏰ Time Freedom: Take Control of Your Schedule ⏰ Feeling like there just aren't enough hours in the day?  You're not alone. We all have the same 24 hours in a day so we can’t get more time but we can take control of the time we have. 🔹 Prioritize Activities: Not all activities are created equal. Identify the 20% that drive 80% of your results. Focus there first. Use frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by urgency and importance. 🔹 Time Blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for different activities throughout your day. This helps in maintaining focus and ensuring that all essential tasks are covered. Multitasking is a myth, group similar activities together to minimize context switching and boost efficiency. 🔹 Identify and Eliminate Time-Wasters: Identify activities that drain your time without adding value. Limit social media usage, and avoid unnecessary meetings. Use productivity tools to track where your time goes and make adjustments as needed. 🔹 Delegate or outsource:  Delegate tasks that others can handle. Consider outsourcing repetitive or non-core activities in your business. This frees up your time for higher-value work. 🔹 Set Boundaries:  Create clear boundaries between work and personal time. Communicate your availability to colleagues and stick to your schedule. This boosts productivity and ensures quality time for yourself and your loved ones. It's okay to decline requests that don't align with your priorities. Bonus Tip: Schedule time for rest and self-care. A well-rested and rejuvenated you is a more productive you! By implementing these strategies, you can reclaim control of your schedule and achieve Time Freedom. What are your favorite time management hacks? #timemanagement #productivity #efficiency #worklifebalance