Time Blocking - Getting Started
My first year out of the classroom was chaotic; I was accustomed to a bell schedule. That bell ran my entire day. I planned class time down the second, used a huge timer on the smartboard, wasn't a lot of time, outside the pockets of time that I had already planned for. Having classes, chunked my day and my tasks for me, without me even knowing.
So, now I am in this new role and I do not have classes. I do not follow this bell schedule. I have, what my principal at the time called, the luxury of time.
And how did I spend it? Frantic. Late. Behind. In a constant panic. Constant state of running because I did not have enough time to do anything.
I had to change something. I was already using a Bullet Journal, but it wasn't working for me like I needed it to. I needed more than a list. I needed a schedule.
This is when I learned the power of time blocking. When I tell you the difference it made in my life.
Time blocking is simply dividing your day into specific blocks of time, dedicated to completing a specific task.
It might take a couple of weeks to get it down, but like anything else, you can adjust as much as you need to. And just like with any other new habit, it will be challenging in the beginning; but stick to you. It is worth it in the end.
Where do you start?
- Know yourself. When are you most productive? When do you have the most time? If you are not a morning person, then don't schedule your most challenging task in the morning.
- Block off time for the reoccurring. If you have a team meeting every Monday at 10, block that time off and give yourself time before and after.
- Know what you need for the week or day. Start with the Big Rocks. Your To-Do List and group the little rocks together. Give yourself extra time to complete task, so you are not rushing or panicking. I learned that one the hard way.
- Plan your breaks. Block out time for yourself, time for lunch, and / or break time.
- Adjust, adjust, adjust. You are not a tree. If the schedule doesn't work for you, change it. Adjust it. Review your day and move around time slots for the next day.
- Plan to be interrupted. It wont be a perfect day, something will pop up that you didn't plan for. That's okay. You gave yourself extra time anyway, and you planned some breaks so things can rearrange if they need to.
Why time block?
I know. You already have a To - Do List. For some people, that is enough; but for some of us we need a little more structure. It takes a little more planning on the front end, you have to be strategic with your tasks, prioritizing what's most important and what can be done later; but our whole goal here is to plan better, us our time more effectively and efficiently.
Start small. Take your biggest rock, divide it up into hour chunks and assign little rocks to those time slots. Remember to give yourself additional time to complete the task and a break in-between.
Add it to your planner, review at the end of the day.
