Time blocking explained
A to-do list says what to do but not when. Time blocking answers the when. You look at your tasks and your meetings, then draw blocks on the calendar for deep work, email, admin and breaks.
The plan will break, and that is fine. When a block runs over, you redraw the rest of the day rather than abandon it. The point is that every hour has an intention.
Try it today
- Before work, list today's tasks and look at your fixed meetings.
- Give your hardest task the first open block of 60 to 90 minutes.
- Batch small tasks like email into one or two short blocks.
Where it comes from
The method is closely associated with Cal Newport, who wrote about it in Deep Work (2016) and published The Time-Block Planner in 2020.
Frequently asked questions
- What is time blocking?
- Time blocking is planning your day by giving every hour a job in advance: you put blocks for specific tasks on your calendar instead of working from a to-do list.
- Where does time blocking come from?
- The method is closely associated with Cal Newport, who wrote about it in Deep Work (2016) and published The Time-Block Planner in 2020.
- How do I start with time blocking?
- Before work, list today's tasks and look at your fixed meetings. Give your hardest task the first open block of 60 to 90 minutes. Batch small tasks like email into one or two short blocks.
- Which tools help with time blocking?
- Tools in our directory that help include Google Calendar, Reclaim.ai, Amie, Motion. Each has its own page with pricing, pros and cons.