Time Blocking

A structured approach to workload management. It has specific periods of time blocked out for the carrying out of different activities. If large periods of time are blocked out then combining this with other techniques, such as the Pomodoro technique can be helpful.

This time management technique can be a useful short-term weekly planning aid, especially once priorities for the week have been identified, for example, using the Eisenhower Matrix.

This structured approach, in contrast, for example, to just progressing with work through the day, can help to better understand what can potentially be achieved within a day, or week, and contributes to managing expectations of self and others. The time blocks can vary depending on the needs of the individual and the required tasks, but 15-minute sub-blocks to 2-hour blocks would not be uncommon.

Time blocking is also a good approach for learning course material from a training course or qualification to ensure that an appropriate amount of time is allocated, at least in the first instance to help judge initial progress made. Depending on the effectiveness of learning that is taking place and as part of an in-course review, then additional time blocks could be added. This does assume that it is possible to readjust some of the current uses of time to focus on the learning requirements.