Calendar Blocks, Not Chains; a Flexible Approach to Planning Your Day

There are two main reasons I see resistance to the calendar blocking idea; “I get stressed seeing all of my time blocked, when will I get anything done”, and “blocking time is too rigid”.

Let’s reframe both statements.

When will you get anything done? You get it all done during the time you have blocked by batching like-kind tasks and proactively planning. Let’s be honest, it’s the “white space” in the calendar that gets us into trouble anyway, going down rabbit holes and affecting productivity. Create your ideal client meeting calendar and block those times; your job is to fill the slots you’ve already chosen (and resort back to that Plan B Kit when a slot doesn’t get filled). Block time for phone calls, checking emails, and other client correspondence and follow up, time for marketing, prospecting, and relationship building, time for paperwork, research, and loose ends. You’ll be amazed at how much more you get done in your work day.

Be sure to build flex time in and here is where we address the myth of rigidity. Just because you have a plan, doesn’t mean you can’t alter it.

Proactively blocking your calendar helps you make sure to fit everything into a day or week that you need and, if something needs to adjust, you simply trade time slots. Like a puzzle of matching pieces that all fit in to a well stacked block game and the white space represents missing pieces that will make it come tumbling down.

Now get to work; you have planning to do.

Tick Tock… it’s About Time!