You're striving for work-life balance with time blocking. How can you make it a reality?

You have to be honest by not only knowing what your to-do’s are, but then scheduling them, all of them, including personal time. Use time blocking to read and respond to emails from 8-9 am every morning. When that time is up, you are done with that task. This would be the same for personal time or work-life balance. Build a time block for the gym 3 days a week, reading 1 chapter of a book at night, date night every Saturday evening. I believe you make it a reality by continuing to hold yourself accountable as you would for work tasks. Lastly, be consistent. If you’re at your best in the a.m. for urgent time block tasks, stick to that. If the week is more hectic as the days progress, take notice and schedule life/flex time early in the week.

There are three main benefits to time blocking. First, it helps simplify your day, visualising it in bigger chunks of time, gaining clarity on the type of work you do. Second, it helps breaking down the work at hand, forcing yourself to write down what you actually want to achieve. The third is a bit more to do with our oan psychology. We filled the time when it is there. Time blocking can help with estimated the time you need to complete a task, but also to bring some discipline. For instance, decide that you will only spend one hour on this project today.

This may be a controversial POV but my clients tasks will "expand" to meet the time they've blocked. If they can do a task in 15 minutes, but block 30 ... it will take them 30 minutes. When I talk about time blocking I also add specific items to the blocked time. "10 am to 11 am - write two blog posts" rather than "10 am to 11 am - blogging." "Blogging" without something specific could take you down a rabbit hole and at the end of the hour, you still haven't completed the item you'd blocked off time for. I use my Google calendar, color-code it, and assign tasks in the time blocks. Then I can look at how many hours I spent blogging -- for example -- in the hours allotted. #certifiedholistictimemanagement #productivity #timeblocking

Prioritizing tasks is like choosing which battles to fight. If you tackle the most important ones first, you'll win the day. Imagine your day as a jar - if you put the big rocks in first, there's space for the small pebbles. But if you start with pebbles, the big rocks won’t fit. Getting priorities right can set you up for success or leave you stuck in chaos.

Overcommitting is a trap. When time blocking, be realistic about your tasks. Leave space for breaks and surprises. Don’t fill every minute. Add buffer time to switch between activities smoothly. This stops burnout and keeps your schedule flexible. Life is unpredictable, so make your plan adaptable and sustainable.

Balancing work and life with time blocking? Here’s how to keep it real: Back in my medical school days, I used to overcommit and end up swamped, but now I set clear boundaries. By being honest with myself about what I can handle in a day, I avoid overloading my schedule. For instance, I block out specific times for work tasks and personal time, making sure I stick to them. It’s about keeping it realistic and manageable, so I can enjoy both productivity and relaxation without burning out. ?????

If you use time blocking, it is easier to review how the time spent aligns with your goals. It is much easier to see how much time you spend on certain activities. If your main goal is to look for another job but you only spend an hour per week on it, you may consider increasing the time spent on this. We get caught up in our days so easily, with countless distractions. Reviewing helps to bring some fresh perspective.

Struggling to balance work and life commitments? Here’s my trick: regular reviews. I set aside time each week to check if my blocks are working or if I need adjustments. It’s like having a mini “performance review” for my schedule. By reviewing regularly, I catch any issues early and adjust to make sure I’m staying on track. It keeps my work-life balance in check and helps me stay on top of everything without feeling overwhelmed. ?????

Time blocking is not a set-it-and-forget-it method; it requires regular review and adjustment. At the end of each week, take some time to reflect on what worked well and what didn't. Did you allocate enough time for each task? Were there blocks where you consistently overran or didn't use all the time? Use these insights to tweak your schedule for the following week. This continuous refinement helps you stay attuned to your evolving priorities and ensures that your time blocking strategy remains effective in achieving work-life balance

Time blocking can be used to create flexibility. For instance, have a simple "buffer" time block every days. It allows you to attend to what's urgent or unplanned. And still gives you enough time in the day to re-allocate your priorities.

Struggling with work-life balance? Embrace flexibility! I use time blocks as a guide but stay open to shifting things around when unexpected events pop up. It’s like having a plan with room for spontaneity. Flexibility helps me adapt without stressing out when things don’t go as planned. So, let your schedule bend a little and stay relaxed while keeping your balance in check. ????