Time blocking is the practice of sectioning your day off into large chunks of time.<\/p>\n
Instead of juggling a number of different tasks and meetings all at the same time, you focus on a singular project for a large block of time until it’s finished and you can move onto the next project.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Why Is Time Blocking Useful?<\/span><\/h2>\nBy training a laser sharp focus on each project \u2013 and banning external interruptions from this block of time \u2013 your productivity, as well as the quality of your work, should skyrocket.<\/p>\n
You can also block time to deal with interruptions, such as emails or phone calls, that normally would have disrupted you when you were working on something else. By tackling them all at once, those emails or phone calls also takes less time, further boosting productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhen done right, time blocking can also reduce work stress and promote a good work-life balance.<\/p>\n
So how can you master time blocking?<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Time-blocking.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Explore the Different Time Blocking Methods<\/span><\/h2>\nFirst, decide which time blocking method would work best for you. This will depend on your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as your level of job autonomy and the industry you work in.<\/p>\n
Here are the four most widely-used time blocking techniques:<\/p>\n
\n- Standard time blocking<\/strong> – Set aside blocks of time, with each one dedicated to a project that you will work on that day.<\/li>\n
- Day blocking<\/strong> – Here you cordon off entire days to work on a project, leaving other days in the week free to deal with other tasks<\/li>\n
- Task grouping<\/strong> – Group tasks that are similar together and work through them all as one block<\/li>\n
- Task time limits<\/strong> – Simply limit the amount of time you will dedicate to everything on your to-do list each day to ensure you get to the bottom of the list<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Use Apps and Tools to Support Your Time Blocking<\/span><\/h2>\nAs time blocking has become an increasingly popular way to work, more and more tools have been developed that support this technique. Take advantage of the tech that\u2019s out there to make your time blocking a success.<\/p>\n
ZoomShift<\/h3>\n
With ZoomShift<\/a>, you can schedule blocks of time not just for yourself, but for your employees or team too. You can see if and when they\u2019ve completed a project, communicate with them via the platform, and even attach payroll to the schedule for those who are paid on an hourly basis.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Work-schedule-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
Google Calendar<\/h3>\n
Time blocking is a calendar-based technique, and so requires a good calendar \u2013 and Google Calendar<\/a> is one of the best. Not only can you block out time, but you can also invite colleagues working on the project with you to block out the same chunks of time, while other colleagues will be able to see that you\u2019re busy and should not be disturbed.<\/p>\nTrello<\/h3>\n
With its simple task-driven interface, Trello<\/a> is the perfect tool to boost your time blocking efforts. You can see your progress at a glance, and integrations with timer tools allow you to track the time you\u2019ve spent on each project to the minute.<\/p>\nSkedpal<\/h3>\n
When done right, time blocking can also reduce work stress and promote a good work-life balance.<\/p>\n
So how can you master time blocking?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Explore the Different Time Blocking Methods<\/span><\/h2>\nFirst, decide which time blocking method would work best for you. This will depend on your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as your level of job autonomy and the industry you work in.<\/p>\n
Here are the four most widely-used time blocking techniques:<\/p>\n
\n- Standard time blocking<\/strong> – Set aside blocks of time, with each one dedicated to a project that you will work on that day.<\/li>\n
- Day blocking<\/strong> – Here you cordon off entire days to work on a project, leaving other days in the week free to deal with other tasks<\/li>\n
- Task grouping<\/strong> – Group tasks that are similar together and work through them all as one block<\/li>\n
- Task time limits<\/strong> – Simply limit the amount of time you will dedicate to everything on your to-do list each day to ensure you get to the bottom of the list<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Use Apps and Tools to Support Your Time Blocking<\/span><\/h2>\nAs time blocking has become an increasingly popular way to work, more and more tools have been developed that support this technique. Take advantage of the tech that\u2019s out there to make your time blocking a success.<\/p>\n
ZoomShift<\/h3>\n
With ZoomShift<\/a>, you can schedule blocks of time not just for yourself, but for your employees or team too. You can see if and when they\u2019ve completed a project, communicate with them via the platform, and even attach payroll to the schedule for those who are paid on an hourly basis.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Google Calendar<\/h3>\n
Time blocking is a calendar-based technique, and so requires a good calendar \u2013 and Google Calendar<\/a> is one of the best. Not only can you block out time, but you can also invite colleagues working on the project with you to block out the same chunks of time, while other colleagues will be able to see that you\u2019re busy and should not be disturbed.<\/p>\nTrello<\/h3>\n
With its simple task-driven interface, Trello<\/a> is the perfect tool to boost your time blocking efforts. You can see your progress at a glance, and integrations with timer tools allow you to track the time you\u2019ve spent on each project to the minute.<\/p>\nSkedpal<\/h3>\n
<\/span>Use Apps and Tools to Support Your Time Blocking<\/span><\/h2>\nAs time blocking has become an increasingly popular way to work, more and more tools have been developed that support this technique. Take advantage of the tech that\u2019s out there to make your time blocking a success.<\/p>\n
ZoomShift<\/h3>\n
With ZoomShift<\/a>, you can schedule blocks of time not just for yourself, but for your employees or team too. You can see if and when they\u2019ve completed a project, communicate with them via the platform, and even attach payroll to the schedule for those who are paid on an hourly basis.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Google Calendar<\/h3>\n
Time blocking is a calendar-based technique, and so requires a good calendar \u2013 and Google Calendar<\/a> is one of the best. Not only can you block out time, but you can also invite colleagues working on the project with you to block out the same chunks of time, while other colleagues will be able to see that you\u2019re busy and should not be disturbed.<\/p>\nTrello<\/h3>\n
With its simple task-driven interface, Trello<\/a> is the perfect tool to boost your time blocking efforts. You can see your progress at a glance, and integrations with timer tools allow you to track the time you\u2019ve spent on each project to the minute.<\/p>\nSkedpal<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
Google Calendar<\/h3>\n
Time blocking is a calendar-based technique, and so requires a good calendar \u2013 and Google Calendar<\/a> is one of the best. Not only can you block out time, but you can also invite colleagues working on the project with you to block out the same chunks of time, while other colleagues will be able to see that you\u2019re busy and should not be disturbed.<\/p>\n With its simple task-driven interface, Trello<\/a> is the perfect tool to boost your time blocking efforts. You can see your progress at a glance, and integrations with timer tools allow you to track the time you\u2019ve spent on each project to the minute.<\/p>\nTrello<\/h3>\n
Skedpal<\/h3>\n