Timeblocking - what is it and why does it work? How can I optimise my time better?

Time Blocking....what is it, how does it work & why is it more important with the return to the office alongside working from home. Many of my clients are grappling with the challenge of making their time productive...

Essentially #timeblocking is involves structuring your day and being more in control of how you spend your time

Many have experienced the pointlessness of schlepping into the office, only to sit on zoom calls whilst there

And working from home lacks some of the magic of collaboration and real in person moments and sparks of creativity

So how can time blocking help and how does it work?

? More control

? Increased focus

? Being more intentional and deliberate

Being proactive in how and when you check emails, do particular elements of work

? Increased productivity

When asking the why, Mindjournal recently highlights some Kings College research around the distraction of technology and how it makes us preoccupied .....with some people checking their mobile phones 80 times a day!

And those of us that have notifications set to ping any time a message comes in, you can see how we get distracted and do less proper thinking

So, what can we do and what can it look like?

? The Pomodoro method ??

This can be a great method to get some focus. Splitting gaps in your diary into 30 minute chunks, 25 minutes of focused time and then 5 mins of reward....a cuppa, a coffee, some exercise etc.

I often use this to get rid of the safari interest tabs of unread articles etc. Things that will inspire me but I haven't got round to.

?? Theming you days

This is great now that we are returning to the office or anchoring days together. Theming and being intentional about collaborating, brain storming, in person fact finding, networking etc.

For some people this might be presentation planning, pitch work, doing 1:1s with you team etc.

Other things that come up in #coaching sessions are the need to ensure some balance. When is a family day, when is gym day, when is deep work day etc,

?? Timeboxing

This is similar to Pomodoro and involves setting aside time to work through a topic. Great to put a little pressure on yourself.

For those people looking for work, the understanding that looking for jobs is a full time job! Networking, personal brand elements, applying, searching, checking in with recruiters, following or connecting with HR, reaching out, interesting coffees etc.

For the creative people, this might be the promise to write a social media post or 2,000 words each day. The benefits of this my be happiness in creativity or, promoting your business.

?? Batching up your tasks

The is essentially popping together similar tasks and being intentional about when you do them. Typical topics that work well here are checking with your team members, checking e-mail at various points in the day so we are not slaves to the inbox etc.

What are some tips to get started?

1) Analyse and identify what you need to work on

2) Have a think about what times you are most productive

3) Look into grouping meetings if possible

4) Schedule your time

5) Build in some time for yourself. It's not only about work

6) Be flexible, its ok to change and adapt

If you need help in planning your days, weeks, or life & career in general, get in touch.

Coach Mentor Consult Limited - Lee Hawkins