How to Win Your Day with Time Blocking

Here's a look into how to time block using Cal Newport's Time-Block Planner. Time blocking is a time management approach to essentially manage every minute of your day. Instead of managing tasks, you manage time which is a more effective approach to scheduling and organizing your day.

I've been thoroughly enjoying Cal Newport's time blocking method as it has helped my day-to-day work and life activities. It's made me a lot more intentional with my time. Rather than being "busy", I am allotting time so each task is given dedicated attention. It also allows me to get some "deep work" done which is the title of one of Cal Newport's best-selling books.

Cal Newport is also the author of Digital Minimalism, So Good, They Can't Ignore You, and many other titles.

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[AureliusTjin]

Thanks for watching! Can you believe 2022 is just days away? I hope this video helps you get a great start to a productive new year. More tips and behind-the-scenes:

[TrainFlood]

appreciate that you actually have a kid :) so many of people's vids on efficiency are not realistic for parents

[srinivasanv]

I'm a 25 yr old 1st time in my life going to schedule my time hope this works well for me... Thanks for the great video

[thinkcreative]

Great vid. I still seem to come back to using pen and paper to organize tasks. I’ve tried apps on desktop and mobile, but pen and paper seems to keep me on track best.

[davidcooper]

Thank you Aurelius, I have been struggling for years to get some structure in my day and to stick to it. This is simple to implement and execute from day 1. Cheers David

[leedeparis]

Good video. I carry around a 3 x 5 note card, and I time block on left side of card with hours down the middle. Then I track actual time on right side. I don’t work in an office all the time- I’m a landscape painter. So my time is broken up between painting, marketing, admin, and I do some construction projects. I have tried digital apps but my phone is a distraction. I turn off my phone or put it on do not disturb when I paint.
The one app I like is Now Then. It’s just for time tracking. Thanks 🙏

[nicoles.]

For me the best part really is the shutdown complete. It helps a lot

[frankinbrida]

I have used Cal Newport's method with one interesting result: people like Cal Newport and content creators can actually lock themselves away and effectively block time. The biggest, and so far unresolved challenge for me, as a trainer, (both online and in a meeting room), was to integrate the blocked "downtime" and the differently blocked "training time". Things are also cyclical. This means, in times when training is less, typically in the summer, the mind expands with more room for ideas etc. which then need to be integrated into busier times. The bottom line in this: what works well on paper needs constant tweaking in reality, and the necessary discipline to go with it. At some point, the end result will be manageable.

[boss-lyfe]

This is exactly what I need, I am all over the place. I will give it a try.

[ddoublya]

this seems like a system that might work for me. thank you for the video!

[jevrathe]

I happen to have that very same book since Q1 last year, and have not touched it since I bought it. Time to make it to good use. Thanks for much explanation on how-to time block with the book, really need it!

[themelissalaurie]

This was such a great video. Thank you!

[aveerajsharma]

Really good for people who are running out of time.

I personally don't need anything like that right now, but maybe in the future I'll need something like this.
The reason is, cause I keep on getting bored a lot of time in a day😅.
And my parents don't allow me starting up a YouTube channel, etc.😕
I know they must be worried about my studies, but even when I try to ensure them, they don't believe me.😣

And I just get bored the whole day.
Even after studying in a lot of that time.😔

[danjaworsky]

Nice video 🎉 - good to see this in practice - I def got some ideas

[robbieva]

I have been thinking about managing my time better than I see your video. I am a pen and paper type of person. Great tips Aurelius. Thank you. I plan to be more organized in 2022.

[stretchoxford]

If you ever do an updated version of this video, I think it would be helpful to include that the additional columns on the time blocking page itself are for when your day (inevitably) goes awry - you note the interruption / time delay etc. and then reschedule the remainder of your day based on this new information. As well as being a dynamic system during the day itself, ‘rolling with the punches’ it also is intended to give you more data on which to base future time blocking decisions; ie. If you always schedule 2 hours to write a regular report but it invariably takes you 3 hours, noting this down will mean in future you will schedule the appropriate amount of time. Or if a particular collaborator requires prompting in order to give you the information you need to perform your role, you can make sure you chase them ahead of the dedicated work block, to avoid unnecessary delays etc.

[AS-gqho]

This applies to other people who do not have work like the author of the channel. Limited audience.

[pogiman]

I am following this time blocking strategy.. I hope I get to stick to it this time! I want to be a disciplined individual 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[joseph-the-seventh]

Great video. I’ve read a lot poor reviews on Amazon from people claiming the planner will not stay open when laid flat on a table. But it looks like it does in your video?

[goshitaloquita]

Interesting that you do not schedule anything after work - what about things you need to do around the house, getting on top of any bills / formalities?