“I DON’T KNOW HOW I’LL EVER FINISH! THERE’S NO END IN SIGHT!”
(me to my coach this week)⠀
Her: “So, let’s get you back to time-blocking”
Me: “Oh, riiight! That thing I used to do that worked so well and so I quit doing it” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Time is a crazy thing if you don’t set up how you choose to spend it. It’s sort of a misnomer really, because we aren’t DOING anything to time, what we really “block” is our own mental turbidity.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So what is time-blocking and how do you do it?!⠀
Basically, you set up your day into blocks dedicated to a specific task. It helps you:⠀
- Be realistic about your goals⠀
- Focus on what is important⠀
- Become more efficient⠀
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START WITH A TO DO LIST⠀
The first step is to write down everything you need to accomplish. Some say to put the most important at the beginning, but I like to start with a few easy things because as I check them of the list, it feels good. If I had “WRITE BOOK” or “RECORD ONLINE COURSE” at the top of the list, that would feel too daunting. Instead I start with some soft ball tasks like “take shower” or “feed dog.” The point is to get some momentum. The brain really likes this. Then, get an idea of the most important things you need to accomplish and list it toward the top/middle—when you’re still fresh.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
BE REALISTIC
Focus on accomplishing the 1-3 most important things on your list for the day. The less important tasks can be done on another day. It’s good to block off no more than an hour at a time, because after an hour of working on something, your productivity starts to wane⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
TAKE MOVEMENT BREAKS⠀
We aren’t meant to sit at desks for hours and hours. Every hour do 5-10 min of yoga, light stretching, quick dance to a favorite song or a walk around the block. This does wonders for your mood and ability to focus. Keep your heart pumping, energy levels up and happy hormones a-flowing⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How do you set up your day for productivity?
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