# Time Blocking: The Ultimate Guide

![rw-book-cover](https://blog.superhuman.com/content/images/size/w1200/2022/03/00_Hero---Everything-you-need-to-know-about-calendar-blocking.jpg)

## Metadata
- Author: [[Jenna Scaglione]]
- Full Title: Time Blocking: The Ultimate Guide
- Category: #articles
- Document Tags: [[productivity]] 
- URL: https://blog.superhuman.com/time-blocking/
- Archive: https://web-archive.alecodes.page/bookmarks?bf=1&search=&title=Time%20Blocking%3A%20The%20Ultimate%20Guide

> [!note]
> **Background:** How can I effectively utilize calendar blocking to enhance my productivity and manage my tasks more efficiently?
> Here are the top three most important takeaways or to-dos that stood out to you regarding your intent:
> 🗓️ **Define Theme Days:** Consider assigning specific themes to each day of the week, such as dedicating Wednesdays to meetings and Thursdays to creative tasks. This can help streamline your focus and make your week more structured.
> ⏳ **Schedule Breaks and Reactive Time:** Incorporate 15-30 minute breaks throughout your day to recharge, and allow for 1-2 hours of reactive time each week to accommodate unexpected tasks. This will help maintain your energy and flexibility in your schedule.
> ✅ **Prioritize and Map Out Tasks:** Before scheduling, categorize your tasks into meaningful work, "me" time, high priority, and low priority. Then, start mapping out your week by assigning specific blocks of time for each task, ensuring a balanced and focused approach to your workload.
> [!tldr]
> Time blocking, also known as calendar blocking, is a method that can help individuals accomplish important tasks, feel more in control of their day, and dedicate time to activities that enrich their lives. By designating blocks of time in their calendar for specific tasks, individuals can avoid distractions and stay focused. The process involves creating weekly and daily goals, prioritizing tasks, and assigning calendar blocks for each task. Additional tips include scheduling reactive time, breaks, and tasks with productivity in mind. It's important to remain flexible and experiment with different strategies to find what works best for each individual.

## Highlights
Committing to a daily to-do list is a significant accomplishment. It provides structure and direction for personal or workday time management, and helps us avoid randomly completing tasks. It can also feel liberating to transfer your to-do items from your head to paper or an app. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rcxb6bdxq1m7ykh6573qwg))

Calendar blocking involves designating blocks of time during your day to essential tasks and scheduling them into your calendar. By assigning tasks to time blocks, you can easily avoid distractions and stay more focused. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rcz2wktsfweqh3kcdf0t43))

Create weekly and daily tasks/goals
What are your goals for the week ahead? What would you like to accomplish? [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rh1f2e92jbv0s6j3tb15y9))

Prioritize your tasks
Next, divide your tasks into four categories: (1) meaningful work, (2) "me" time, (3) high priority, and (4) low priority. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rh28qw4faekc503axpzx93))

Define your calendar blocks ... Start mapping out your week and assigning calendar blocks of time for each task you wrote down.

Scheduling in a little reactive time (around 1-2 hours a week depending on your profession) will give you some wiggle room in your schedule should unexpected situations arise. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rhb4qmt7yh3ph64xy6yp2n))

Schedule 15-30 minute breaks throughout the day to recharge, use the bathroom, drink water, etc. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rhjxrm3f4dyxxch1xqt3pw))

Schedule tasks with productivity in mind [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rhsjknppx61zz2tbsnw9f3))

Don't schedule more than 90 minutes for each task — the science says so! ... our body rhythms play out in 90 minutes of activity, followed by 20 minutes of rest.

**Are you trying to accomplish more than what is humanly possible in one week?** Instead of cramming tasks or removing "me" time, consider what you can push off until next week. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rj2nffa0g1b7jgb8x22kff))

Are those priority items really a priority for this week? ... When we're stressed, we can sometimes see tasks as more urgent than they really are.

**Try defining theme days** 
Maybe Wednesdays will be meeting days, and Thursdays will be dedicated to creative endeavors. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j9rj4rasqpqhp893dqddng04))

