"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."
–Stephen Covey, Author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
People have been practicing time blocking for nearly as long as they have been using calendars, and no wonder: The benefits of time blocking are incredible.
Increased focus.
Tasks get done much faster.
Greater attention to detail.
Improved efficiency.
The list goes on.
Besides that, there are four additional major benefits of time blocking in your business that may surprise you! These are the top four benefits my clients have reported after implementing time blocking in their business. Read on to find out how time blocking can create surprising benefits for you too!
What is Time Blocking?
Before we dive into the benefits of time blocking, let’s clarify what time blocking is. While there are many different time blocking techniques, we can think of time blocking as a planning method that breaks up your day into smaller chunks (or blocks) of time. During each time block, you can hone in and focus on a specific task or set of related tasks.
While some people are famously known for time blocking in 5-minute intervals, for light workers and creative entrepreneurs like us, time blocks of 2-4 hours work better. Through my own process of trial and error and from years of experience working with other wellness entrepreneurs, I’ve discovered that this time blocking method gives us just enough structure and flexibility. We get to reap the benefits of time blocking without feeling constrained or like we need to rebel against our schedules!
Benefit #1 of Time Blocking: GRATITUDE
Have you ever thought that time blocking in your business might be the key to finding more gratitude and giving yourself more grace? This is a benefit that many entrepreneurs I have worked with reported once they started time blocking.
There’s no denying that every small business owner has a never-ending to-do list. Yet, instead of beating yourself up for constantly having more tasks to do than you have time for, you can start appreciating that this list reflects that your business is alive and well. The moment you cross off every single task on your to-do list is the moment your business ceases to exist.
Use time blocking to shift your perception: Your to-do list is not a mountain to climb. Instead, think of it as a journey to enjoy.
Time blocking also lets you see what tasks are getting done in your business and which ones are getting pushed further and further down your list. It gives you more awareness about which tasks you enjoy and excite you, and which ones are not aligned or not driving your business forward to achieve your goals.
If there are tasks that have been on your to-do list for a long time but never make it into a time block, this can be important feedback. Perhaps it is a task that you need to reconsider doing, outsource to someone else, or is just not aligned with your direction and you can give yourself the grace to let it go.
Benefit #2 of Time Blocking: COMMUNICATION
If you have ever struggled to juggle all the competing demands on your time, you will love this benefit of time blocking - easier communication.
When you have time blocks set aside for specific tasks, it is easy to share this with your partner, kids, family members, colleagues, and anyone else who needs your time. This makes communication, organization, and coordination so much easier and keeps everyone on the same page.
With time blocks for your business in place, you can also easily see when you have time available for other, non-business tasks. Whether that’s setting aside time for date nights with your partner, one-to-one time with each child, social time with friends, or even taking your dog to the vet - you will be able to easily communicate these requirements on your time with others.
Once you implement time blocking, you’ll never have to worry about missing a family event or business tasks falling through the cracks because of other commitments!
Gratitude to Shannon Crow of The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast & Facebook Group for sharing this with me.
Benefit #3 of Time Blocking: CLAIR-ITY
I remember the times in my business before I started using time blocking. I’d be working on my social media content while worrying about bookkeeping for taxes at the same time. I’d be taking a walk in the park but my mind would be on writing my email newsletter. I could never find time for the things I loved, and even when I could, I couldn’t enjoy them fully.
Time blocking brought me the clarity I needed in my life and schedule. And this is something I have seen with many clients too.
Having specific times set aside for predetermined tasks is such a guiding light in knowing what to focus on and when. I recommend dividing your business tasks into five departments - Headquarters, Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Sales and creating time blocks for each. This will give you clarity about which tasks to do and when.
Time blocking also gives you the freedom and confidence to trust that the necessary tasks will get done in the time you have set aside for them. It can be a real weight off your shoulders to know exactly when you will have time to work on those specific tasks, and that is what time blocking can give you.
Benefit #4 of Time Blocking: BOUNDARIES
Have you heard the adage that work will expand to fill the time you have to do it? That’s where time blocking can be a real lifesaver - in developing and enforcing boundaries around your time.
When you establish time blocks in your schedule about when you will work on certain business tasks, you set boundaries that become easy to enforce. You can set up luxurious morning and evening routines that put you and your self-care first. It becomes easier for you to reschedule appointments that don’t fit into your time blocks and can even find more time for creativity.
With time blocking, you’ll avoid working yourself to the bone or overbooking yourself and stretching yourself out too thin with too many appointments. Instead, you’ll be able to build a nourishing business that works for you instead of the other way around.
I’d like to offer a gentle reminder, fellow Light Worker - your business doesn’t exist without you. Prioritizing self-care and scheduling time blocks for yourself is essential to being able to show up in your business as your best self.
Time blocking is a powerful tool that can help you manage your time and energy better so that you can make decisions from a proactive place, rather than being reactive to events as they happen. By adapting time blocking techniques to fit your needs, you’ll be able to enjoy your time both in and out of your business.
Ready to use time blocking in your business to get more done in less time? Schedule a Productivity Discovery Call to learn how and also discover if time management, project management, and more can help you get back your time!