Time Blocking Tips

It’s a plan.

Whether you’re sorting through simple daily tasks or starting a major project at work, there’s going to be some form of planning involved.

And according to social psychologists, this planning process is usually flawed. Curiously, this flaw has a habit of repeating itself over and over again. This experience is called The Planning Fallacy.

“The planning fallacy refers to an optimistic prediction bias in which people underestimate the time it will take them to complete a task, despite knowing that similar tasks have typically taken them much longer in the past,” according to Roger Buehler, “a social psychologist who studies the planning fallacy and thought he’d be done with this research long ago.”

Can you relate?

So what are some ways to take on the challenge of planning so that the outcomes are more realistic?

To-Do List

Having a to-do list is essential. However, it’s often not enough.

“A to-do list incentivizes you to accomplish easy tasks first, with the result that difficult tasks may not get done at all. Time blocking encourages you to schedule your most important and difficult tasks when experience shows you have the most focus.”

OTC’s Guide to Time Blocking

A more intense look at your task list might lead you to realize some of those tasks are going to take longer to-do than hours in your to-day. That’s where time blocking comes in.

Time blocking is the practice of planning out every moment of your day in advance and dedicating specific time “blocks” for certain tasks and responsibilities.

Start with these steps below:

1. Determine your most and least productive times of the day. This is different for each person. Start by determining if you would be able to work better in the morning, afternoon, or night. This will help!
2. Schedule it and stick to it. It is important to hold yourself accountable. You can effectively keep track of the schedule you create using a planner, or online calendar system.
3. Put the most important tasks in your 60-minute slot. Those tasks that are a MUST should be carefully planned out. Once you set your 60-minute slots, it will be easier to set your other time slots, with less important tasks.

Texas A&M Psychological & Brain Sciences