This year my schedule has completely changed – I went from working full time outside the home to being a work from home mommy taking care of my baby boy and running my online business.
It’s been great – a dream come true, actually – but it has brought some new challenges with time management. I tried a few different methods, but what seems to work the best for me is time blocking and batching tasks. They really go hand in hand but today I want to focus on time blocking – how to implement it and how it can help simplify your life.
Flexible scheduling with categories
First of all, what is time blocking? It’s basically just scheduling your day into blocks of time that are categorized. It allows for a fairly flexible schedule where you focus on one thing at a time.
For example, you can include time blocks for chores, work, family time, reading time, etc. The possibilities are endless and can be more broad or more specific. You’ll just use whatever works best for you and your situation.
Here’s an example of how I have used time blocking in my schedule in my home management spreadsheet:
Intentional timing
Time blocking allows you to be intentional with your timing.
Say you only want to spend 30 minutes per day on a specific category. Once that time slot is scheduled, you know you have that time set aside. And once that time block is done, you know you accomplished your goal for the day.
Better focus
Another great benefit of time blocking is increased focus. I find that categorizing my time allows be to better focus and not jump around from task to task.
My categories are fairly broad, but I know what time I have set aside for housework. I’m able to focus on household chores during that time and not worry too much about it the rest of the day.
Batch tasks
Time blocking makes it easier to batch tasks in the same category. For example, you could have a cooking time block once or twice a week to prep your meals.
Another example could be writing – maybe you have a specific time each day or a few times per week to sit down and reply to emails.
Easier planning
Time blocking also makes it easier to plan!
Once I make my categories I can usually plan the right amount of tasks per category within my time frame.
Also, once the categories are established you have a great starting point for making your to-do list each day.
More productivity
The intentional timing, batching tasks, planning, and better focus all leads to better productivity throughout your day. You’re able to get things done in a more efficient manner and then have more time for what matters most to you!
Time blocking has been great for me as I’ve adjusted to a new schedule this year. I think it can work well no matter what your life looks like!
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