If you often prolong tasks by trying to get everything just right , set a strict timebox for finishing the task and stick to it. The downside, of course, is that your tasks are everywhere—your inbox, your to-do list app, your team’s project management tool, the notepad beside your desk. 5. The value of time blocking is that it helps you build your day around your priorities. Task batching is when you schedule a number of smaller, closely related tasks to perform within a time block. What is “time blocking” Time blocking is the practice of scheduling appointments on your calendar to illustrate when you’re going to work on a particular task or project.

Depending on how much things fluctuate during your week, it can help to do time blocking each day (either at the end of the previous day or first thing in the morning – whatever works better for you), or at the start of the week. For example, let’s say I have a task on my to-do list like: “Prepare sales presentation” I would then “block” out (or “schedule”) time … It combats procrastination and helps you follow through on your goals. I check email from 9 a.m. to 9:20 a.m., I write two short pieces for The Billfold between 9:20 a.m. and 11 a.m., and so on. Once you have your weekly goals set, it is time to start time blocking. To-do lists, while necessary, are the minutiae of what we do with our time, and mostly detail the things we have to do as opposed to the things that are most important.

Time Blocking Vs. Sometimes, we try to do too much and focus on every little thing while neglecting some of the bigger, more meangingful tasks that will enhance our bottom line. By scheduling your time in advance, you are able to more easily say no to non-priorities. For example, you may have a number of different paperwork tasks, like invoicing, reading memos, and signing key documents. Task Batching Vs. Day Theming. Time blocking can also help you prioritize your tasks based on order of importance. I used to write time and duration notes next to every item on my to-do list (“The Write Life: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.”) but by this point I can do a lot of my time blocking in my head because I know my typical daily routine.

Time blocking is closely related to task batching and day theming. Block scheduling, on the other hand, is the big picture, category-level view we need to pay attention to in order to truly be in control of our time. Time blocking can help by imposing time limits on your projects.