Every day seems to fill itself. People, emails, meetings, decisions. By the end, we wonder where the time went, and what, if anything, we accomplished.
It’s not that we lack work; it’s that we lack protection for the work that matters.
Time blocking is a simple practice. But simple doesn’t mean easy. We’ve all tried it, only to watch it fail under the weight of interruptions. The key is not just marking time on a calendar. The key is defending it.
When you block time, make it a sanctuary. Turn off notifications. Close the door. Put your phone far away. Choose focus over accessibility. These aren’t radical acts. They’re necessary ones.
And before each block, pause. Step outside. Stretch. Grab a drink. Let your mind reset, so when you return, you arrive fully. Not still carrying the last task with you.
Start small. Don’t plan hour-long sessions if you’re new to it. Try fifteen focused minutes. Finish one small thing. Build confidence in the practice before stretching it wider.
And if you’re wired visually, let your calendar remind you not just of what you’re doing, but why. A simple image, a word, a symbol. Let it point you toward the outcome, not just the activity.
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Protecting time is really protecting attention. And attention, given freely to what matters, transforms not just productivity, but the very sense of purpose in your day.