TikTok swears by time blocking for a productive day. What is it and does it work?
so much to do but so little time, and even the simplest tasks, like going for a walk, can’t fit into your busy schedule. Users on TikTok claim they’ve found a solution: time blocking.
Though the concept is nothing new, it’s recently gone viral with the hashtag #timeblocking garnering over 3.1 million views on the video-sharing platform. Time blocking involves using a calendar to divide your day into blocks of time. It precedes the emergence of digital calendars and apps, according to experts who have used the method for decades, but it recently became popularized by young social media influencers.
“Instead of using a to-do list, tasks are assigned a block of time in your calendar. It’s also typical to color code task types or groupings of tasks (ex: administration, family, recreation, etc.),” says Tim Pychyl, a psychologist and author of “Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.”
Mental health experts weigh in.
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What exactly is time blocking and how does it work?
With time blocking, you dedicate chunks of time to complete tasks throughout the day. For instance, you can allocate one hour of your morning to drinking coffee and taking a social media break, and three hours to a specific work-related task you need to get done.
The purpose of this method is to visualize pre-planned tasks on your calendar to make them seem more manageable and less daunting, says Jason Drake, lead clinician at Katy Teen Family Counseling.
“A lot of us get stressed or overwhelmed, because we know what we have to do, but don’t know how we’re going to do it,” he says. “Time blocking helps, because it forces you to reflect on your priorities and determine when to work on those projects.”
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However, experts warn against planning every minute of your day, because it can be overwhelming and unrealistic, especially when the unexpected happens.
“Don’t map out every second of your day, because it doesn’t allow any personal freedom,” cautions Joseph Ferrari, a social psychologist from DePaul University and author of “Still procrastinating? The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done.”
Instead, he suggests overestimating the length of your tasks to avoid falling behind.
“Scheduling longer periods of time for each task is good, because if you complete something in 90 minutes instead of 120, it’s relieving,” he says. “But scheduling one project after another immediately and without breaks will make anyone anxious.”
It can also be helpful to add “buffer days or periods” in your calendar.
“For instance, you can plan Friday morning 9 a.m. to noon as your ‘catch-up’ window, just in case you didn’t get to everything you wanted to,” Drake adds.
Time blocking can help reduce stress and anxiety
A long list of tasks is bound to cause anyone stress, but experts say time blocking can alleviate those negative emotions.
Unlike to-do lists, which are “haphazard and lack any sense of priorities,” time blocking allows people to regain a sense of control. You know what you need to do and exactly when to do it — all while making room for leisurely activities and self-care.
That feeling you can’t name? It’s called emotional exhaustion.
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Almost everyone procrastinates from time to time. But it can pose serious mental health consequences, including “stress, anxiety, burnout and low self-worth.”
“If you procrastinate, your workload builds and builds, and responsibilities become larger and more overwhelming. So that naturally increases your stress levels — your cortisol levels— which isn’t good for the brain or your memory,” Drake says.
However, experts caution that time management strategies like time blocking aren’t a simple fix to procrastination. Contrary to popular belief, procrastination isn’t a time management problem: “It’s an emotion-regulation problem,” Pychyl says. And research shows that procrastination also stems from weak self control in the presence of negative emotions and lack of work discipline.
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Tips for effective time blocking
Experts have provided advice for how you can time block your day to be more productive.
- Color coordinate: Pychyl says color coding your calendar gives you the ability to prioritize and rank your tasks.
- Don’t fill up your daily schedule: Every day is different, so it’s important to create a flexible schedule for the week that accounts for any unexpected appointments or cancellations.
- Schedule both big and little tasks for the day: Don’t attempt to complete all the time-consuming and hefty projects in one day. Instead, Ferrari advises users to alternate between big and little tasks throughout the day. “Accomplishing smaller tasks throughout the day can give you the confidence to do the big ones,” he says.
- Time block your breaks too: Time blocking isn’t just for scheduling must-do tasks. Experts say it’s helpful to make time for social media breaks, outdoor walks a recreation time.