Time Blocking

This time management method involves proactively dividing your day into blocks of time where you have a specific task or a group of tasks scheduled. Usually these blocks span across the entire day as you aim to maximize every hour.

 

Due to its growing popularity, there are an ample number of calendar softwares that streamline this process available for free. These softwares also include mobile features so that you can access your schedule and revise it at any point conveniently.

I really do believe time blocking is essential for anyone juggling multiple responsibilities such as school, a job, relationships, hobbies, training, and a social life (which I know is most of you).

 

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You can use either monthly, weekly, or daily revisions for time blocking, however, I believe the most effective method is to use all three in the following manner: 1. Create a general monthly outline of recurring tasks, i.e. classes.

2. Schedule weekly tasks if you have commitments that extend across multiple days.

3. Revise daily as needed if new tasks are introduced or you need more time for a particular task.

We know that work expands to fill the time allocated for its completion, according to Parkinson's Law. Therefore, without any deadlines or constraints, your productivity is likely to suffer.

 

Time blocking creates urgency as you understand you must finish the work in the time allotted in order to move on to subsequent tasks. You would be surprised how much work you can get done in a single deep work session, especially using all the evidence-based learning methods we just talked about.

 

Another benefit to time blocking is that it reduces decision fatigue. We as human beings make thousands of decisions each day, and it's in those moments of contemplation that we waste cognitive energy. If we hesitate for long enough, our bodies will persuade our minds to make decisions that keep us comfortable. That is why we tend to skip workouts and procrastinate on tasks.

By proactively scheduling your days, you can optimize your time and eliminate the internal struggle between your mind and body. When you have a detailed hourly plan, it helps you transition smoothly from one task to another without second-guessing. These reasons make time blocking an excellent method for procrastinators to adopt.

 

A common misconception is that time blocking is only good for workaholics. This could not be further from the truth. Consider how often you spend time with friends or take a day off to relax and recharge, only to wake up the next day feeling none of the intended benefits.

This happens because our minds tend to wander to unfinished tasks or obligations, preventing us from being fully present in the moment. This behavior brings about feelings of anxiety and guilt that waste your cognitive energy, not recharge it.

 

Therefore, when you pre-plan your schedule, include time for rest and play. In doing so, you allow yourself to be fully present during every part of your life. You can dedicate your attention to work when it's work time, indulge in rest when it's time to relax, and fully embrace play when it's playtime. This is the recipe to longevity.

Another piece of advice I'll offer you is to get in the habit of timing yourself while doing any task. It is very common to underestimate how long you'll need when preplanning which can be detrimental to the subsequent blocks. This can negatively impact your morale 43

as you start to question your productivity when in reality you just didn't allocate a realistic amount of time to complete a task.

 

To address this, start a timer before each activity and keep a record. This practice helps you become more mindful of the duration required for each block in the future, ensuring more accurate planning and increased productivity.

 

 

5 Minute Rule

This method is one of the best remedies to procrastination that I've ever come across.

When we procrastinate, rarely is it because the task is overwhelming in and of itself.

Instead, it's often a result of our natural tendency to overthink and fixate on the details when introduced to a new task. If we do this for long enough, we artificially create complexity which induces feelings of anxiety and fear.

 

Therefore, we are inclined to push that task off for a later time, but we never actually forget about it. Rather it sits there subconsciously gnawing away at our sanity, and then we begin to have feelings of guilt. This creates an unhealthy and repetitive pattern because usually we are introduced to a new task before even getting started on the prior one.

 

The 5 minute rule reduces the initial friction when getting started because you commit to only 5 minutes of working on a task before deciding whether to continue. I have found 8 out of 10 times that I will complete the entire task, because l've entered a flow state and began dismantling some of the artificial complexities.

Even if you choose to not continue, that is okay. Take some time to do something else and try itnplementing the 5 minute rule again later. It is likely that you will eventually be able to continue working past the first 5 minute bout.

 

For the first few years of university, I brought along with me a sand timer everywhere I went. I would take it out when I needed to focus because it didn't require me to use my computer or phone which were filled with distractions. It was really a game changer as it served two purposes.

The first, more important, one being that it would allow me to apply the 5 minute rule, but it also became a great place to focus my attention when my brain would begin to wander. Instead of looking at my surroundings where I could easily be distracted further, I would just stare at the timer and see the sand grains dwindle. Once that became boring—

which happened usually quickly—I turned to the next best option which was returning back to work.

 

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321 Method

The 321 method is an extremely simple yet highly effective technique for combating procrastination. It has you count down from 3 whenever you lack the desire to begin a task.

As you are focused on the counting, you momentarily free yourself from the internal struggle between your mind and body (similar to the concept of time blocking). When you reach 1, you immediately act on the task at hand, eliminating any room for second-guessing and making it easier to overcome the initial resistance.

The more common approach to this method is counting up from 1 to 3, but I often found myself extending the countdown. If I extended it for too long, I would find myself right back in the midst of the internal struggle, continuing to procrastinate. By reversing the order and removing any additional numbers to count down to, I have found it to work better for me!

 

1 typically use this method in the mornings when my alarm clock goes off. Instead of snoozing, I simply roll over, count down from three, and get up. This practice can serve as a powerful subconscious tool when turned into a habit.