#time block

Free Printable 24-Hour Weekly 10-Minute Time Block Planner / Tracker Template

You might instantly recall the Lego blocks that we used to build a house when we were kids. Similarly, if we split 24 hours/1440 minutes of a day into blocks, how we spend the time is how we pile up these blocks in order the house to be built.

What is Time Blocking 

Time Blocking is a time management method that helps us get more done in the finite time by cutting a day into many chunks and each chunk is dedicated to a certain task. Some of the world’s most productive people, from Elon Musk to Bill Gates to Cal Newport (Author of Deep Work) have combined their to-do lists with this important method: Time Blocking.

A Russian entomologist Alexander Aleksandrovich Lyubishchev, kept recording the expenditure of his time, for 56 years in a row, in order to stay in control of his time. This comes with higher necessity in today’s society since 24-hour-a-day remains unchanged, while daily information explodes in the modern workplace.

How Time Blocking works

From the face value, this technique seems just a walk in the park. In what way can it really benefit us?

* It reduces context switching and mental energy loss

Time blocking is closely linked with task batching, which means similar tasks can be grouped together and distributed to time chunks. There are mainly two types of tasks at work: Deep and shallow. Deep tasks such as coding, designing, and drafting a marketing plan, usually require intensive attention and deep thinking, while shallow tasks are comparatively low-value tasks like emails, team chats and phone calls.

Setting a time frame for shallow work can prevent you from spending too much time on it and save mental spaces for other more high-value tasks. Combining time blocking and task batching also avoids frequent text-switching and helps minimize your cognitive burden caused by goal-changing.

* It helps lock your focus and reduce anxiety

Doing one task at a time can lock your focus and keep it intact, compared with splitting your attention across multiple tasks. With all mental resources invested in a single task, it can avoid getting distracted by miscellanies. With all tasks planned out alongside the day, the anxiety level is also lower because you can easily gain the control power over your workload.

* It helps keep track of your time expenditure 

When you get used to scheduling your day into set and controlled units, your own productivity pattern will form. For one thing, competitive daily/weekly tasks can be quickly arranged. For another, you’ll know the average time spent on certain tasks, which then helps you make realistic plans on time allocation. Therefore, time blocking lets you track your time-spending and further reflect on it for higher efficiency.

Is Time Blocking effective for everyone?

Well, the fact is there is never a one-fits-all solution. Time Blocking might be infeasible for reactive workers, e.g. customer support specialists, whose work  is basically based on in-time situations and thus cannot be estimated. 

However, blocking time off has an instant effect on those who have a short-term goal, no matter if it's an important exam or a job application, because they need to use their time wisely in a short period to maximize output. In another case, if you’re a fresh graduate who just joined a new company, then maybe the awareness and skills of time management are what you need, to avoid being trapped into the “keeping-busy fallacy” where workload keeps piling up but productivity keeps running low. Time Blocking also works for someone who can get a sense of accomplishment and stability from a well-scheduled daily life and who’d wish to continuously look back on his/her performance. 

Some misuses of Time Blocking

Like what’s being said, even though time blocking is a simple concept from the surface, it can still be misused and taken to extremes. There are mainly five cases that cannot be considered as an appropriate adoption of time blocking.

* Keep every minute on the regiment, and make 24 hours fully stuffed. * Too strict to the schedule and any changes or flexibility are not allowed. * Too optimistic about the estimated time arranged for a task. * No any loosening-up activities scheduled between blocks. * Sequent time chunks filled with all deep work, or vice versa.

Step-by-step guide to use Time Blocking at TickTick 

* Creating a to-do list

Creating different lists for projects or different parts of your work, and writing down what you need to do is all for the start. Don’t forget to set Tag or Priority for these tasks, because this is important for quick sorting and grouping in later arrangement.

Tip: Make sure to distinguish different Lists and Tags with color coding, because tasks will then show in the calendar in the form of color blocks, based on three options: the color of Tag, List, or Priority.

* Arranging Tasks in the Calendar 

After going to Calendar in TickTick, you can switch the view to Today (also for tomorrow/three-day/week/month). Tap “Arrange Tasks” and all tasks you’ve created before can be filtered by Lists, Tags or Priority. Here you can add any tasks into any time blocks simply via drag n’ drop. The space of each time block is adjustable and the minimum size is 15 minutes. The sequence of blocks is also changeable if you’d like to fill one time slot with multiple tasks for example, or keep a good balance between shallow and deep tasks.

After this step, you’ll be able to see a completed time-boxed schedule with tasks planned out for Today. 

Tip: If you’re using other calendar tools, you can import your data into the TickTick calendar too. 

* Starting to focus with a Pomo Timer/Stopwatch

Now, it’s time to start working! Opening a task from your Time Block 1 and starting to focus with the Pomo timer on in TickTick. Pomo helps enhance your focus and also keep a work-rest balance. But if it’s a new task and you wish to test out how much time it’ll cost, then Stopwatch instead of Pomo should come in use to count up the time. Therefore, next time when scheduling, you’ll be able to make a fair evaluation on time allowance for this task.

* Tip1: Saving competitive tasks as Templates

An easier and faster way to arrange a repetitive task is from the Template. Instead of repeating the process of creating the same task each time, a daily task such as team meeting, can be saved as a Template. With this, the task can be added to your “Today” List in just seconds.

* Tip2: Have you tried “Plan Your Day”?

I bet you a case of Poland Springs that Every health blog, post, or video has mentioned the tip: “drink more water”. Which is very true for a number of reasons. Drinking water...

Boosts your metabolism, immune system, and energy levels

Improves your concentration, mood, and skin complexity

Decreases the number of headaches and feelings of hunger

Helps digestion, the urinary system, and promotes weight loss

Strengthens your hair and nails

Flushes out toxins

You’ve probably heard all these facts before, so why are you still having difficulty chuggin’ that H20? It’s not as simple as people think, especially if it’s new to you. So I present... 

Practical Ways to try to Drink More Water 

Always have it accessible: Carry it with you where ever you go. Even just holding it or keeping it within your eyesight will remind you to drink more. One thing that helped me was keeping my straw as close as possible to me instead of the corner of my desk. 

Change your bottle or cup (only once to find your perfect fit or frequently for variety): Maybe multiple smaller cups will motivate you more because it appears less intimidating than chugging a whole bottle. Or maybe you’d prefer one bottle for a one and done type feel. 

Or buy a new one: Get a cute print and/or shape. 

Change the temperature: My mom only likes really really cold water so she keeps a lot of ice in her bottle. I prefer slightly cold water because if it’s too cold, it’s unpleasant. Find the temperature that works for you. 

Add flavoring: Some people don’t like the taste of water because they feel it’s too plain. Try out those little packets or getting those fancy bottles that let you add fresh fruit. Is the texture is boring? Try unflavored sparkling water. 

Download an app: There are plenty of cute apps that motivate you by growing plants or sending out reminders. 

Keep track of intake with a bullet journal: Do checkbooks and lists motivate you? Try bullet journaling. Check this site or Pinterest for inspirational ways to track it. 

Set goals for certain times of the day: For example, you might want to be halfway done with your first bottle before 11am. You can also purchase bottles that time block for you.

Treat is like a party drinking game: Take a swig every time you look at the time, get up from a chair, check your phone...make it fun

Free Printable 24-Hour Daily Time Block Schedule Planner - Portrait and Landscape Orientation

5/25/22 Journal: Morning Time Block!

Evi is loading the kids into the van to go to the gym as I type. We have a membership to one here in Cape Coral, and I’ve been there so frequently that I’ve forgotten the name of it. It’s stupid that I’m not going; I think I pay $50/month for my family. $20 for Evi to work out, $10 for child care, and $20 for my Personal Fat Tax.* But I keep on not canceling because I keep on convincing myself…

Why It’s Important to Block Time In Your Calendar While Working Remotely

I hate working remotely. There, I said it. And I apologize to all of those who are not working remotely and wish that they could. I am so grateful that I am able to…but boy do I miss going into an office. I have, though, why it’s important to block time in your calendar while working remotely. One thing I have learned about working remotely is that there is no “off” time. I used to have a clear…

‘[OoT][MM] I’ve been using the Song of Time like the Cane of Somaria in Master Quest’