Sail through your day feeling accomplished and confident with Time Blocking

ByTD Louise

Do you ever feel lost in your own life? Like it’s going on around you, but you are not living it, it’s just happening? Like you are on autopilot but still not getting enough done or having time to yourself to refresh and recharge?

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Don’t lose yourself in your life

I have a lot going on in my life. I have an 8-5, 5-day-a-week job running a business with my husband, I oversee my mother’s care in an assisted living facility, I share the regular household chores with my husband in our home, and I write a blog. For the longest time, I felt like I was always running behind and never had time for myself. No matter how much I accomplished, there was always so much more to do. I would set ambitious daily goals, break them into tasks, and still end the day feeling like I would never get caught up. On top of that I was always having to change the specific goals as my day developed and my priorities changed. The more I tried to control my schedule, the more I felt like I was failing.

Then, I discovered time blocking—a different approach to time management. Instead of listing specific tasks, I started focusing on how I spent my time and trusted that consistent effort would lead to progress. The difference was incredible. To set up my days, I use a planner from Amazon that covers everything!

What is Time Blocking?

Time blocking is just like it sounds – setting aside chunks of time for specific types of work rather than individual tasks. Instead of scheduling time to “Write, edit and publish a blog post,” I block off two hours for content creation, which allows me to write, brainstorm, or edit without the pressure of a deadline. By doing this I prioritize progress over a specific outcome and flexibility over rigid goals.

How Time Blocking Transformed My Productivity

1. I End My Days Feeling Accomplished, Not Behind
Before time blocking, I often felt like I had so much more to do—even after a full day of work. It seemed like I would never be caught up. I would feel overwhelmed and behind rather than proud of what I had achieved. Now, I measure my success by how well I use my time, not by whether I finish a specific task. I know I’ve dedicated focused time to my work, and that will lead to progress.

2. I Get More Done with Less Stress
When I focused on completing specific tasks, I often felt paralyzed by perfectionism. I would spend too much time planning and, if I didn’t think I had enough time to do something “right,” I would put it off, leading to unnecessary procrastination. But when I block out time, I commit to showing up and working—not necessarily finishing. Ironically, I now complete more in less time because I stop overthinking and just do the work.

3. I Can Adapt Without Guilt
One of the biggest frustrations with traditional to-do lists is that life rarely goes according to plan. A task that was supposed to take 30 minutes suddenly takes an hour, or an unexpected obligation throws my whole schedule off. With time blocking, I don’t feel like my whole day is “ruined” if something takes longer than expected. I simply adjust my next block or push something to the next day without feeling like I failed.

4. I Have More Balance in My Life
Before time blocking, I would let work spill into every available moment, pushing things like exercise, hobbies, and relaxation to the side. Now, I schedule time for self-care, family, and rest just like I do for work. Because I am able see those things as essential parts of my day (not just afterthoughts), I actually make time for them.

How to Use Time Blocking in Your Day

1. Identify Your Priorities
Start by figuring out what matters to you. What tasks and activities need time in your schedule? For me, my categories include:

  • Deep work (writing, content creation, brainstorming)
  • Meetings & communication (emails, calls, admin work)
  • Personal growth (reading, learning, skill-building)
  • Self-care (exercise, meditation, downtime)
  • Family & relationships (quality time, socializing)

2. Set Time Blocks
I’ve found that different tasks require different times of the day. For example, I’m most creative in the morning, so I block that time for writing. Afternoons are better for admin work, and evenings are reserved for personal time. Find what works for you and assign blocks accordingly.

3. Stick to the Block, Not the Task
If I’m in a two-hour writing block, my only goal is to write. It doesn’t matter if I finish a post or just brainstorm ideas—I trust that showing up consistently will lead to long-term results. This takes the pressure off and keeps me focused.

4. Limit Distractions
I treat my time blocks like appointments. When I’m in a work block, I don’t make any calls, close unnecessary tabs, and let people know I’m unavailable. The more I respect my time blocks, the more productive I am.

5. Review & Adjust as Needed
At the end of the week, I check in with myself. Did I use my time well? Do I need to adjust my blocks? Time blocking isn’t about rigid scheduling—it’s about finding a rhythm that works for you.

Time blocking has completely changed the way I work and live. I no longer feel like I’m drowning in an endless to-do list. Instead, I focus on using my time well—and that small shift has made all the difference. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, constantly behind, or just burnt out from rigid goal-setting, I highly recommend giving time blocking a try.

You might be surprised by how much less stressed, more productive, and more balanced you feel when you stop obsessing over tasks and start focusing on time well spent.