What Is Time Blocking? How to Schedule Your Way to Deeper Focus

Time management takes a great deal of intentionality, especially since it’s easy to get distracted by a constant stream of new requests and tasks. Most professionals always have something in the pipeline that is asking for attention — as Slack CEO Denise Dresser put it, “We’re in a world where we’ve never had more messages, more information coming at us at one time.” If you don’t want to be reactive with your schedule, time blocking can help you protect your time while still completing the most important and demanding tasks. This article covers what time blocking is and how to implement it effectively. Time blocking is a time management method that divides your day into scheduled periods, with each block reserved for a specific task or type of work. You decide where your attention will go before the day begins, giving high-priority work a firm place on your calendar. 9–10 a.m.: Read and respond to messages. 10 a.m.–noon: Work on a high-priority project. Noon–1 p.m.: Take lunch. 1–2:30 p.m.: Attend meetings. 2:30–4:30…