Time-blocking for anxiety management

Cheaper than Lexapro, with fewer side effects, and suitable for long-term use!

True to its name, time-blocking is a time-management method where you break down your day into chunks or “blocks” of time.

This is what time blocking looks like. Pro tip: color-code similar tasks and events.

Why time-block?

Used effectively, time-blocking illuminates what needs done, when it will get done, and how long it will take to do. This can be an enormous relief if you constantly are asking yourself questions like

• “How the hell am I going to get all this done?”
• “Can I fit 30 minutes of exercise into my routine this week without missing a deadline?”
• “Why can’t I seem to balance everything? Is there something wrong with me?”
• “Should I sleep tonight or get this overdue project done?”
• “How many all-nighters can I pull before I die?”

Why not time block?

If you have a lot of free time, you probably don’t need to time-block. Carry on and try not to make everyone around you jealous.

Similarly, if you enjoy the rush of adrenaline and cold sweat that comes from losing that one post-it you jotted a deadline on last week, or setting your alarm for 4am to squeeze in two more hours on a project before delivering later in the morning, this may not be for you. Carry on with your chaos.

If you enjoy feeling this way, steer clear of time-blocking.

How does time-blocking work?

Time-blocking works by harmonizing your to-do list(s) and your calendar(s) with the actual number of hours available in a day (just 24, remember?).

Once you’ve adopted time-blocking into your personal and professional life, you will always know

1. What you need to do (just one thing at a time!)

2. When you need to do it (to meet deadlines!)

Isn’t that a relief?

How you’ll feel when you know what needs done and when to do it.

Get started

Gather up all your

• To-do lists — don’t forget random post-its and the faded permanent marker note on the back of your hand
• Calendars, scheduling tools, and planners — work, personal, family, social, all of it
• Routine errands — list out the tasks and errands you do every week (laundry, grocery store run, etc.)
• Fitness routine — where do you exercise, on which days of the week, and for how long?

2. Choose one calendaring platform

For time-blocking to be effective, your to-do list and calendar need to become organized and centralized. So, choose a calendaring/planning/scheduling platform that fits your needs. I use Google Calendar because it’s convenient (I’m pretty much constantly in my Gmail and Google Drive accounts), and I like the interface, usability, and color options. Color is important.

If you prefer to keep your work and personal calendars separate, implement a system whereby your work calendar automatically updates your personal calendar, or vice versa. The point is that before you go to bed at night, you can take a glance at one calendar and clearly see where your time is going for the next day.

Consider different platforms. Consider how your calendar of choice looks on your desktop, tablet, and phone. This article reviews 13 calendaring apps for both Apple and Android.

3. Build your blocks

Now, it’s just a matter of doing it.

Start with cleaning up and consolidating what you already have on your calendars and to-do lists. For anything on your calendar(s) already, verify that the time allocated is realistic. Make sure you block in time between meetings and events for preparation, commuting, and parking. Maybe color-code your events.

For any to-do items, create specific (and realistic) times for them to get done. Each task gets its own block. Even if it’s a 10-minute block, if you allocate specific time to a specific task, you actually stand a chance of completing it, thereby setting yourself up for success.

4. Change your habits

From now on, when you suddenly remember a new thing you need to do, do not scribble it on a sticky note! Instead, open your calendar and block it in. When someone asks if you want to grab lunch next Wednesday, do not jot it on your hand or tell Siri to remind you about it later, block it on your calendar there and then. This kind of timely consistency is what makes time-blocking a reliable system, and why you’ll free less stressed in the long run.

Not today, Satan.

The rules

Time-blocking only works if you’re willing to play by a few rules (don’t worry, you can still eat gluten).

1. Accountability

• You have to hold yourself accountable. Accountable for blocking a realistic amount of time to get the task completed. Accountable for staying focused on the task at hand during its allocated time. Accountable for transitioning from one block to another, even on nice days when you just want to go outside and play (hint: block in your recess; you deserve it!).
• If your schedule involves another person/people, you kind of have to protect, uphold, and adhere to the specified meeting time. If one of you is late, the rest of the discussion may need to happen over the phone or at another meeting. It’s just the way it is.

2. Consistency

• Once you’ve decided to implement a time-blocking system, it’s important to stick to it. A couple days reverting to your old ways will only set you back and create more work for you in the long run. Look at it as a gift from the burden of a to-do list and hundreds of little, disorganized pieces of paper. Now, you simply go straight to the calendar and time-block it into your schedule.

3. Say no

Being over-committed is a choice.

Soon, you’ll see with 100% certainty that there is definitely not enough time in the day, the week, the month, or the year. The silver lining, however, is that you don’t have to guess or hope or pray that there will be time for that one extra commitment or obligation.

The best part of time-blocking is the built-in prioritization that takes place. If there isn’t room to get something done this week, you’ll have to make room for it next week, or you’ll have to shift something from this week. It’s a simple, clear, and minimally-stressful way to go through life.

Are you ready?

Time-blocking is empowering. It requires you to honestly assess your commitments, priorities, personal needs, and the choices you make. With time-blocking, being over-committed is no longer a status symbol — it’s a reflection of your own choices. With proper execution, you will experience less stress, more stability, and improved balance in your daily life. Happy time-blocking!