The Magic of Time-Blocking

Time-blocking is literally my favorite thing. Well, my favorite work-related thing. One of the universal truths of life in the marketing world is that it never feels like you have enough time.

With meetings, coworker chats, and unexpected tasks piling up on top of your usual responsibilities, it’s no wonder that time can feel like it’s slipping through your fingers. And if you’re working from home, the allure of pets, family members, or even the adorable dog strolling past your window can be particularly tempting. These seemingly small distractions can add up quickly, making it feel like there’s never enough time in the week to hit all your deadlines.

This is where time-blocking comes to the rescue. It might take a bit of experimentation to get your block schedule just right, but once you do, you’ll discover some precious free time in your day!

Start by reviewing your current schedule (if you have one). Determine how much time each of your daily tasks actually takes—whether you estimate or track your time over a few days. Be sure to account for everything, even the smaller tasks like checking your email for 10 minutes. This will give you a clear picture of where your time goes and help you structure your blocks more effectively.

Your blocks can be as specific or as loose as you want!

For example, my time blocks have looked like this before:

9:00 – 9:30: Check emails and Slack messages 9:30 – 10:20: Account interaction time 10:20 – 10:30: Mental health break 10:30 – 12:00: Client A focus time 12:00 - 1:00: Lunch 1:00 – 1:30: Reserved for miscellaneous tasks

1:30 – 3:00: Client B focus time 3:00 – 3:15: Mental health break 3:15 – 3:45: Account interaction time

3:45 - 5:00: Schedule posts 5:00 – 5:30: Check emails, close out tasks for the day

They've also looked like this:

9:00 - 9:30: Check emails and Slack messages 9:30 - 10:30: Account interaction time

10:30 - 11:30: Research & ideation for Client C

11:30 - 12:30: Lunch

12:30 - 3:30: Content creation for Client C

3:30 - 4:00: Account interaction time

4:00 - 5:00: Schedule posts

5:00 - 5:30: Check emails, close out tasks for the day

The key is to tailor your block schedule to fit your personal needs and working style. For instance, if you’re most creative in the afternoons, schedule your creative tasks then. If you need more breaks or want to set aside specific “office hours” for coworker meetings, be sure to incorporate those into your schedule. Make your block schedule work for you, and don’t hesitate to adjust it as you go to better suit your needs.

Sticking to your schedule can be the toughest part, but I’ve got a few tips to make it a bit easier.

1. Set up your block schedule in your calendar. If your coworkers can book time on your calendar, mark your breaks and focus times as busy so they don’t get overbooked. Set up notifications for your time blocks so you get reminders when it's time to switch tasks, helping you stay on track.

2. Don’t cram your entire day with essential tasks. Leave some space for breaks, unexpected tasks, and buffer time to handle meetings or other surprises that might come up.

3. Remember that it’s YOUR schedule. Feel free to adjust, move things around, and make it work for you. If a meeting disrupts your plan, shift your blocks instead of cutting them short. If something needs to be rescheduled for another day, go ahead and make that change. The goal is to create a schedule that serves you, not to stress over rigid adherence.

4. Stick with it! If you finish a task ahead of time, reward yourself with a break or tackle a small task not on your schedule. Avoid jumping straight into the next block or your schedule’s purpose will be lost.