Do you ever feel overwhelmed with what’s on your dailytask list?

Maybe the problem isn’t the number of tasks you have, but how you manage them.

If you’re looking for a new time management technique, try time blocking.

3D rendering of a stack of multicolored blocks, each labelled with different tasks to illustrate the concept of time blocking.

Lucas Agr/Shutterstock.com

What Is Time Blocking?

Time blocking, also referred to as calendar blocking, is a method of time management.

You designate time on your calendar for each task on your list, including breaks.

Time Blocking in Outlook Calendar

During that time frame, you work on that task and that task only, eliminating distractions.

Then, create or adjust your next day’s calendar blocks for the uncompleted items.

Benefits of Time Blocking

This may sound like a stringent way of managing your duties.

Task Batching in Google Calendar

However, time blocking has advantages that you should consider.

There are variations of time blocking that you might find suit you better.

While similar in concept, they allow you to adjust for the key in of work you do.

Time Boxing in Google Calendar

You divide tasks into portions, subtasks, and set limits on how long you’ll spend on each.

For instance, instead of blocking three hours to write an article, break it down.

With this approach, you designate certain days of the work week for specific duties or responsibilities.

Day Theming in Google Calendar

For example, say you’re aproject manager.

you could dedicate Mondays to Project A, Tuesdays to Project B, and so on.

Create Alerts or Reminders

Most calendar applications offer helpful reminders for events.

Apple Calendar alert on Mac

As an example, if you use Apple Calendar, you might set up two alerts.

Use one for a few minutes before a task is scheduled to begin.

This gives you time to start wrapping up the current task.

Alerts for an Apple Calendar event

Then, set a secondalert for the timeof the event.

This ensures you’ll know when you gotta start the next task.

tap the plus sign to the right and choose At Time of Event to set the second reminder.

Set up time blocking in 5-Day view in Google Calendar

If you use a custom view, such as 5 Days, you might pick that instead.

You’ll then clearly see your time blocks for today.

Day View in Google Calendar

Category setup window in Outlook Calendar

Categorize drop-down list in Outlook