What is “time blocking”? Learn All About This Effective TikTok Trend – NBC Los Angeles


Are you looking for a more efficient way to be productive? Then you might want to try “time blocking”.

This latest TikTok trend is ideal for those who want to get more out of their day and stick to a productive schedule. If you do it right, you can stop procrastinating on important projects and let things fall through the cracks. ‘Time blocking’ is the perfect way to start 2022 if you want to stick to your goals.

What is “time blocking”?

TODAY correspondent Morgan Radford explains that “time blocking” is “a way to break your day into chunks, devoting specific and limited time to each task.” By focusing deeply and exclusively on progressing these tasks. And the key? You develop this plan the day before. “

Does “time blocking” really work?

Georgetown Associate Professor Cal Newport said the “blocking of time” can be “almost miraculous” for anyone who wants to be more productive in their day.

“Young people are realizing: ‘I have a lot to do. We don’t know how to do it. “” he told Radford. “What I hear over and over from people who switch to ‘time block’ planning is that they are doing twice as much in the same working time.”

Small business owner Dana Walton, who is also a single mother to her 3-year-old son, said TODAY that the “time block” has helped her “eliminate all the distractions” in her life. everyday.

Additionally, Britney Brown, a mother of five, told Radford that establishing a “time block” schedule has helped her a lot with her ADHD.

ADHD is the abbreviation for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which according to The John Hopkins School of Medicine website, is “a behavioral disorder, usually first diagnosed in childhood, characterized by inattention, impulsivity and, in some cases, hyperactivity”.

“It takes away that amount of panic that happens when you’re not exactly sure what you’re supposed to be doing,” Brown said of his “time blocking” schedule. “It helps a lot that.”

How should you make your “time block” schedule?

Walton makes sure she plans her day from when she wakes up at 6 a.m. until she falls asleep around 11:30 p.m.

“It’s literally: waking up, having breakfast, brushing your teeth, making breakfast for your child, dropping off, picking up, all the meetings I have for work, all the non-negotiable items of the day and the times I need that – it’s literally all blocked, ”she said.

Remember to allow as much time as necessary to complete a task. Newport says it’s the # 1 mistake people make when they start “blocking time.” He also suggests grouping all your small tasks like scheduling appointments or calling your doctor’s office so you can get them done quickly and give yourself more time throughout the day.

What about your breaks?

While “time blocking” is great for sticking to your schedule, you should also make sure you allow time for breaks. Newport says this practice is “crucial” for your mental health.

When you first start “blocking out time,” Newport said you shouldn’t expect to feel like you’re off to a good start. People usually tell him that ‘it’s exhausting at first’, but once they get into the habit of doing it, they ‘can’t believe the amount of work’ they do.

How is “time blocking” different from a to-do list?

“A to-do list is at the heart of what I call the reactive method,” Newport explained. “You react to what lies ahead and say, ‘What do I want to do next? “Time blocking” can be much more proactive. You say, “OK, I’m actually going to watch the day ahead. What is the best allocation of what I could do in relation to the time available? And then once you have that plan, you can just put your head down and execute. “

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