Time-Blocking Will Help You Conquer Your To-Dos

  Are you a self-proclaimed multi-tasker? A dedicated to-do lister? Writing out a long to-do list can be difficult and defeating if you aren’t able to get everything checked off at the end of the day. A great way to increase efficiency and productivity on a daily basis is to time block.

According to Fast Company, “Time-blocking is essentially organizing your day in a series of time slots. Instead of writing a list of tasks that take as long as they take, with a time-blocked approach, each of these time periods is devoted to a task or tasks.” This will in turn give you a more realistic idea of what you can actually get done in a given day, and organize your duties into specific time gaps. Learning how to manage your time this way can increase productivity because time-blocking allows for prioritizing, while just writing a long list of things to do can cause stress and disappointment. Since you’re just writing down all the tasks that need to get done, it’s hard to tell how long each will take and which ones should be completed first. When time slots are set aside for each task, it’s easier to set aside the most time for large tasks, and a smaller amount of time for those that won’t take as long.

Time-blocking allows for prioritizing, while just writing a long list of things to do can cause stress and disappointment. Click To Tweet
 

Tips for time-blocking:

• Be realistic about the amount of time each activity will take. It is better to be too generous with the time slot rather than not giving yourself enough time to get it done.

• Eliminate distractions. In order to be as efficient as possible, it is vital to get into a space where interruptions will be minimal.

• Although time-blocking is meant to be a set plan, stay flexible. You may think of other tasks that need to be added to your schedule, or may have to adjust the time blocks at some point to stay on track.

• Plan a more strict work schedule around less busy days, and a more lenient one for the very busy days. (“Busy” includes days with a lot of meetings!)

 
This method of planning is meant to reduce the amount of stress people have throughout the day, and create a more organized and productive environment. According to Forbes, “when we get busy or face times of stress, it’s easy to let things slide. And before you know it, your desk and habits are in disarray. “Time blocking” is a method that just might help you avoid those moments of chaos, and keep your mind and office clear.”
 

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If you would like to begin time-blocking, but need a little help, check out this app to get started!