How to time block (my #1 productivity tip)

Over the last few years of constant experimentation and refinement to my own productivity system, there is one technique I’ve continued to use and recommend since day 1; “time blocking”. Read more about the benefits of time blocking in this blog post: https://paulm.in/2VIPkst

This technique is simple, effective and I feel is one of the key reasons why I get so much done.
While time blocking may not be for everyone, if you haven’t tried it before, I highly recommend you give it a go for a week or two (it might just change how you work, forever).

Why time blocking?
1. Time blocking forces you to think about time required for work.
2. Convert intention to action. Now you have a plan!
3. Prevent procrastination.
4. Record of how you spent your time.

Steps:
1. When to time block - End of week, but really, all the time...
2. It helps to have a list of tasks somewhere e.g. Asana.
3. Add tasks to calendar. Block anything that takes more than 15 minutes. Quick stuff can fit in during free time. Block more time than you think you need to avoid falling short.
4. It's okay to schedule a few things back to back.
5. But leave time for breaks and transition time.
6. Certain tasks may need multiple blocks if they need lots of time.
7. Leave some blank space.
8. Add recurring appointments.
9. Keep your calendar up to date. Leave it open. To succeed, you need to refer to it regularly throughout the day (it feels like a chore at first, but helps a LOT).
10. Update your blocks to record what you did and re-plan on the fly in real-time.