Planning by creating time blocks

If you have been following me for a while, you know that I use a paper planner to plan my days. I designed a planner myself, as I never wanted the traditional hourly planner. It felt to rigid. I wanted flexibility and hence designed my planner with three blocks – morning, afternoon and evening. Planning by setting blocks of time has helped to keep accountable. Throughout the years have made several adjustments.

The blocking system helps you get more things done and improves time management skills. You can manage your household with less stress. Consequently it frees up time that you can use for yourself or to spend time with your loved ones.

Through time I have learned other ways how to block time which are helpful as well. The concept is the same, but is more extensive as you assign more blocks such as errands, cleaning, sleep, work and so on and so forth.

It is very simple to do and can work for everyone, whatever your lifestyle.

Let me explain how it works!

When you are working outside the home, you know that your time at work is dedicated to your job. That period of time, is a block of time. After work, you pick up the kids and prepare dinner – that is another block of time. It is when other things crop up, such as doctors appointments or errands that things change.

But how can you start blocking your time more effectively? You have two options:

Create blocks for morning, afternoon and evening or
Create 3hrs – 4hrs blocks

In each case, write everything you want to accomplish during that block of time (don’t forget to write start and end time). Whenever something crops up put it into that block. For example an errand goes into an errand block, cleaning goes into the morning block or evening block.

Personally I have a mixture of both i.e my morning block is split in two minor block from 700am – 1000am and from 1000am – 1200pm.

It is important that you set a timer on your phone so you can transition from one block to another. Once you establish your blocks it will be easier to start planning your day.

You can download the weekly schedule for free by clicking on the image.