#time blocking

[gratefulgirlies]

growth diaries

first half-week of class🎀

Thursday

morning classes (8am-1pm)

lit hw 📚(3-7pm)

walked my dog (7-7.30pm)

read 30 pages

slept 7.5hrs

Friday

morning classes (8am-1pm)

gym 🏋️‍♀️(upper body and running)

lit hw 📚(3-7pm)

watched a movie for school (9-11pm)

slept 7.5hrs

Saturday

morning classes (8am-1pm)

gym 🏋️‍♀️(lifting, leg day)

went to the hairdresser’s😍 (4pm-6pm)

walked my dog

family dinner

in bed by 12pm 💤

trying to fit as much as possible in my schedule while staying on top of things🫡

[studentbyday]

*looks to heavens in defeat* *a thousand books rain down from the sky, burying me alive under their weight*

i tried time blocking last week. it seemed to work, but on some days i just did the bare minimum. so i vowed that this week i would be better. and do everything i had planned to do bc there IS technically time to do it all, mind over matter and all that. but like... that's just really not working at all.

help.

[hobonichilife]

Trying to teach myself how to time block.

[pinktape03]

changed colors (on google calendar)♡ hex codes e0aac4, 191919, aa9a9c, f4a6d2, b07091, ca9db5 if u want to recreate !!!!

[aureliestudies]

30.07.2024

day 2 of time-blocking 😸

today has been a really productive day and i got sooo many things done today. also my friend just casually mentioned receiving a commendation letter and i just found out i received one too 💕

[creatingnikki]

notes to self: january 2023

don’t share everything you think, don’t be absolutely filterless. I know, I know okay. you want to connect with people in the most authentic way and be your most honest self but god. that is so stupid. filters and layers are so crucial for everything. just like skin! you have skin! so that your organs and muscles and bones aren’t directly exposed to this world. let that really sink in. you need to have filters and you don’t need to be so very bare with anybody and especially not when you have just met them.

just say no to buying urges. make an excel sheet titled “wish list” and every time you come across something you want to buy - a book, a jacket, kitchen items, etc. - add them to the list with their cost and source. then when you meet your monthly budget goals and have money left over after all your expenses and savings, you can use that money to buy something from your wish list. 

time blocking may not work for creative tasks but will for other things. okay so for writing time blocking is useless because you cannot schedule when you feel like writing but for more technical tasks like editing you can definitely use the time blocking technique of time management.  

when someone is holding something with fire and asks you to open your mouth, you don’t. simple, really. doing fire shots when having vodka only seems like a doable thing when you are drunk and there is an over enthusiastic friend who wants everyone more drunk. 

splitting is normal. assessing people, especially those new in your life, based on their actions is normal and sensible. so if they do one good thing and that registers as a yay and then they do a bad thing and that registers as a nay, it doesn’t mean you have BPD and you keep splitting between putting someone on a pedestal and then later devaluing them based on isolated actions. it simply means you are objectively assessing - you are in the decision-making phase and you have to make an informed decision. it’s only natural.

eat in bowls and plates and not directly out of the pan. living like a proper adult, right? I know that’s just more dishes to wash for you but you deserve to sit at the table and eat from proper crockery like a good damn human.

spend more time with people you laugh with. people who don’t bring drama and people with whom not every conversation is this heavy, emotionally-charged conversation. making them laugh and them making you laugh and things being light and fun with serious conversations when something really calls for that. 

don’t be ashamed to take. don’t be ashamed to take up space. don’t be overly grateful when someone does some little nice gesture. I don’t know why you feel the need to over compensate and what exactly are you overcorrecting for, but let’s be more mindful of this. 

[productiveandfree]

6 Tips to Boost Productivity for Business Leaders

Business leaders and successful entrepreneurs are renowned for their ability to achieve more in less time. They often seem naturally good at being productive and accomplishing their goals.

Besides discipline, what other measures can you take to boost productivity?

Some people hold themselves responsible by reading blogs and books for inspirational productivity quotes. Others log their work on productivity apps.

Regardless of your preferred motivation method, you will occasionally need productivity tips to move forward.

Let's explore some of the best tips to boost productivity for business leaders to help you on your entrepreneurial journey.

Read on.

The Importance of Productivity for Business Leaders

First, let's understand what productivity is and why it matters.

Being productive increases output and minimizes the time needed to complete a task. It involves striking a balance between the two to enhance performance.

Productivity is vital whether you're a beginner or an experienced entrepreneur.

Here's why it matters.

●     Inspirational Leadership: As a business leader, maintaining high productivity sets a positive example for your team. It fosters a culture of high performance, which encourages your employees to adopt similar behaviors. Ultimately, this boosts your business' overall performance whether you’re managing a team or planning a corporate event.

●     Informed Decision-Making: A productive leader can make informed decisions quickly. This keeps the business agile and reduces risks while exploiting opportunities.

●     Efficient Goal Achievement: Your productivity will ensure the organization moves forward with purpose and direction. This will lead to sustained growth and long-lasting success.

Top 6 Tips to Boost Productivity for Business Leaders

Here are some productivity tips to help you accomplish things faster. If you’re looking for productivity tips for employees, then read this blog post by Attrock.

1. Prioritize & Delegate Tasks

Use a planner or a checklist, then prioritize your tasks based on urgency and importance.

This will help you focus on the most critical tasks and curb time wastage. You can aim for three priority tasks daily and not do anything else until you complete them.

This is especially beneficial for those who want to manage their time efficiently and increase productivity as a freelancer.

Being a productive leader also means recognizing when to delegate tasks and not do everything yourself.

Delegating tasks to people who are best suited for them helps boost productivity and tap into the specialized skills of your team members. It also frees your time and lets you concentrate on strategic initiatives and overall business growth.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, created a "two-pizza team" rule to ensure the appropriate delegation of tasks. The idea was to make small, autonomous teams that you could feed with two pizzas. The approach enabled the company to innovate rapidly and maintain high productivity across multiple projects.

Here's a video of Bezos explaining how the strategy impacted productivity and efficiency.

2. Leverage Technology & Automation

A productive business owner understands the value of leveraging technology. Using the right tools can help you optimize processes without sacrificing quality standards.

For example, you may use an ecommerce analytics software solution rather than manually following and analyzing the market. That means you can track your products' price and availability and monitor your competitors' promotional activities.

You may also need to learn to use a digital business card to improve your professional engagements and networking efficiency.

3. Encourage Transparent Communication

Effective communication is crucial for boosting productivity. So, ensure you create a work environment where transparent communication thrives.

A policy of openness and routine check-ins promotes the culture of sharing ideas and concerns. This helps prevent unforeseen circumstances by addressing issues before they escalate into significant concerns.

Besides helping address issues promptly, open communication fosters innovation and collaboration. It also saves time, minimizes misunderstandings, and keeps projects on track.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, applies this strategy. He transformed the company's culture by encouraging transparent communication and a growth mindset.

In the following interview, Nadella speaks of encouraging employees to share feedback and ideas openly. This cultural shift resulted in enhanced innovation and collaboration.

Here's the interview.

4. Time Blocking

Time blocking is an effective productivity tactic embraced by many successful business leaders. It involves assigning specific blocks of time for different activities or tasks throughout your day.

You can reduce distractions and optimize your productivity by scheduling dedicated time slots for meetings, managing email, focusing on work, and engaging in personal activities. This technique helps prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently, ensuring that essential tasks receive the most attention.

Elon Musk applies this technique to manage his hectic schedule. He usually allocates five-minute slots to various tasks throughout the day. This strategy has significantly enhanced his productivity by enabling him to concentrate on one task at a time without interruptions.

Here's a video of Musk sharing how he applies time blocking to manage his time effectively.

5. Healthy Habits & Self-Care

Maintaining healthy habits and practicing self-care are crucial for sustaining high productivity levels. This includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices.

These habits boost physical and mental health, improving focus, energy, and resilience. For example, you can include a morning workout, a nutritious breakfast, and meditation in your morning routine to start your day right.

The founder of the Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington, emphasizes the significance of sleep and self-care. She once collapsed from exhaustion, after which she changed her lifestyle and started prioritizing sleep. Besides improving her well-being, this shift boosted her creativity and productivity.

Here's a short talk of Arianna sharing the power of a good night's sleep. She highlights how this can enhance productivity, happiness, and more thoughtful decision-making.

6. Reflect & Evaluate

Regular self-reflection and evaluation help assess progress and identify areas for improvement. So set aside some time to review completed tasks, analyze outcomes, and adjust your approach. Reflect on successes and failures to learn and grow.

Bill Gates understands the value of this approach as he takes "Think Weeks" twice a year. He retreats to a quiet place where he reads and reflects on his life and work. This practice has been beneficial in generating new ideas, contributing significantly to his productivity and success.

Here's a short animated video about this strategy.

Key Takeaway

Productivity is essential for business leaders to make informed decisions, achieve organizational goals, and inspire their teams.

Adopt these productivity tactics and incorporate them into your life. You'll also need to learn to develop the right habits to unleash your potential as a productive entrepreneur.

Good luck!

Reena Aggarwal

Reena is Director of Operations and Sales at Attrock, a result-driven digital marketing company. With 10+ years of sales and operations experience in the field of e-commerce and digital marketing, she is quite an industry expert. She is a people person and considers the human resources as the most valuable asset of a company. In her free time, you would find her spending quality time with her brilliant, almost teenage daughter and watching her grow in this digital, fast-paced era.

LinkedIn, Twitter, Gravatar Email ID

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[giving-in-is-pointless]

ATENTION ADHD LOVELIES!!!

I found this video on how to time block. Go watch it.

[study-coffee-chicago]

Hi, I have a question pertaining life and being perpetually busy. How do you personally manage your time? Cause I work 2 jobs and am going to school. I've made jokes with people that I don't have time to breathe but today just the idea of having to go pay rent in person tomorrow remind me how it cuts into my limited studying time between both jobs and I almost had a breakdown on the floor at work.

I know you have a job and are in grad school, so I thought I'd see how you manage your time?

Thanks!

I am so sorry! I’ve definitely had a couple of these moments already this semester, so I know how it feels. Sending hugs and good vibes! ❤️

One thing I do to manage my time is to time block and write down my goals in my planner. I’ll usually block out my time the night before (pic below) and then I’ll write out my goals for the day in the morning.

Time blocking is really helpful because it allows to me to see what time I’m going to do things in relation to other things that are scheduled. I’m also in a unique position where I work from home make my own hours (bad pay, but flexible, so I deal with it), so based on my classes and whether or not I have an exam, I may work more or I may work less per week.

Specifically for the time blocking, I just draw a little rectangle with one hour corresponding to one line. From there, I’ll color it in based on what I have to do (separate color for studying, work, sleep, class, etc.)

And, using things like lunch breaks to study flash cards is really helpful. Another thing that is super helpful is to prep my food for the week (so, I might cook up a bunch chicken to put in the freezer and use that for stir fry. When I make the stir fry, I’ll make enough for a couple days so that I don’t have to scramble to figure out what I’m packing for lunch at school or what I’m going to eat for dinner.)

I hope this helps! Pic of time blocking that I did in my bujo below.

[artist-diaries]

100 Days of Productivity

Day 3 / 100?

Time Blocking

Today I am starting a new time blocking endeavor. The last time I tried this, I planned out every minute of my day and ultimately failed.

I'm someone who dislikes routine, but if I am going to run my Etsy shop I am gonna need to establish one and set aside time to work.

I had a good long think about how my weeks usually go- what times I am productive and what time I like to spend on personal endeavors.

It's definitely...an interesting schedule. I have large gaps of free time in the middle of the day- but right now I've scheduled about..19 hrs for work or studying a week. Which is enough I think to stay on top of things.

[scotisfr]

Again, I've changed the colors of my GCalendar. It's more readable for me what's important and what is less so. I'm happy about this planning that I can keep !

[gratefulgirlies]

July 26th- romanticising my life

my best friend’s birthday

woke up early (7.30ish)

morning walk + dog

studied for a couple hours

picked up the certificate of my exam

went to the gym! (glutes today)

3hrs of studying in the afternoon

had dinner and got ready to go out

now I’m probably watching some tv and going to bed, this day was sm fun and I needed to relax and get back on my feet;)

see you tmrw gratefulgirlies💕

[riddikulusaquarius]

Oct 3 thru Oct 7 spread. I've been trying time blocking to see if helps me with my follow through.

[hobonichilife]

Join me as I justify buying myself the Hobonichi Notebook.

Spoilers:it’s mental distress :)

[further-from-maths]

12 Oct 2023, 12:45

Today, I want to tick off my first October goal and finish the first draft of my CompSci IA.

The premise of my IA is to make a platformer game in Godot, but this is proving to be pretty difficult. I made a major mistake in setting everything up several weeks ago, so I'm needing to make lots of corrections as I go.

I'm off school today because I'm recovering from illness, meaning I have some maths work I need to get done tonight, too. I'm going to start with that to get me into the groove of working, and then I'll turn my attention towards completing my coding project. Once the project is done, documentation and evaluation should (hopefully) be pretty quick.

I use the app TickTick for time blocking, timers, and to-do lists, so I've set up my day in there. I'm not great at sticking to my time blocks, but at least I'll have reminders pestering me to stay on task. I try to give myself more than enough time to complete everything, and I take breaks when I'm ahead of schedule.

There'll be an update tonight with how I do.

214 days until.