Importance of time-blocking

Dear Reader,

I’m writing to you today to share with you one of the most powerful productivity techniques that I have learned in my journey as a female entrepreneur: time blocking.

But before I tell you what time blocking is and how it works, let me tell you a story.

A few years ago, when I was just starting out my business, I was overwhelmed by the amount of work and responsibilities that I had.

I thought I was being productive and efficient, but in reality, I was wasting a lot of time and energy. I was constantly switching between tasks, checking emails, social media, and messages.

I was working long hours, but not getting much done.

The result? I was burned out, stressed out, and unhappy. I had no creative ideas or inspiration. I had writer’s block and couldn’t produce any quality content.

It was a mess.

That’s when I realized that something had to change.

I needed a better way to manage my time and energy. I needed a system that would help me focus, prioritize, and achieve my goals.

That’s when I discovered time blocking.

The benefits of time blocking are numerous. Here are some of them:

• Time blocking helps you plan your day and week ahead, so you know exactly what you need to do and when.
• Time blocking helps you avoid multitasking, which can reduce your efficiency and quality of work.
• Time blocking helps you set boundaries and expectations with yourself and others, so you can say no to interruptions and requests that are not aligned with your goals.

Sounds great, right? But how do you get started with time blocking?

Here are some tips that I have learned from my own experience:

Start with your big goals and break them down into smaller tasks.

For example, if your goal is to launch a new product, you might have tasks such as researching the market, designing the prototype, testing the feedback, etc.

1. Estimate how much time each task will take and assign a deadline for each one.

Be realistic and leave some buffer time for unexpected delays or changes.

2. Stick to your schedule and respect your blocks of time.

Treat each block as an appointment with yourself and don’t let anything distract you from it. Turn off your phone notifications, close your browser tabs, and inform your colleagues or family that you are not available during that time.

3. Review your schedule regularly and adjust it as needed.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned and you might need to reschedule or cancel some blocks. That’s okay, as long as you don’t make it a habit. Learn from your mistakes and improve your estimates and priorities.

I hope this newsletter has inspired you to try time blocking and see how it can transform your productivity and performance. I know it has done wonders for me.

If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reply to DM or leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Until next time,

Tulika