Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
This is Week 21 of a Year of Living Productively
This week I tested time blocking, specifically as recommended by The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months
{affiliate link}. I scheduled a 3-hour Strategic block, a 3-hour Breakout block, and two daily Buffer blocks (click for explanation). Scroll to the bottom of last week’s post for more details.
How Time Blocking Saved My Sanity This Week
- I got my most important tasks done first. I neglected to mention last week that the 12 Week Year recommends scheduling the strategic block during the first part of the week so it’s likely to get done. I did my 3-hour stint on Monday and couldn’t have been more excited about making progress on work that I’d been neglecting so I could attend to day-to-day tasks.
- Pre-planned activities made the time go on and on. I didn’t just use time blocking to “work on homeschool planning” or “start my book.” Having used the 12 Week Year program to set three goals for the next 12 weeks and weekly benchmarks that had to be achieved for each, I knew exactly what to do with my 3-hour strategic block. I took no breaks, choosing instead to switch goals when I needed a change of pace. I’m almost a week ahead and couldn’t be more thrilled with what I’ve gotten done.
- Having guilt-free relaxation time made me more productive. Trying to mix work and play and family can be pretty frustrating. Knowing that I had a 3-hour block of time to do absolutely anything (I read and watched TV) helped motivate me to return to work. I wasn’t interrupted, but in the future I would like to make sure everyone knows that Mom is on a mini-vacation during this time.
- Motivated me to finish the rest of my work. After finishing my 3-hour time block on the big stuff, the rest seemed easy to knock out, regardless of how I approached it.
How Time Blocking Made Me Crazy This Week
- Buffer blocks don’t work in the summer. I think having buffer blocks twice during the day to field the kids’ homework questions and my husband’s requests will work great during the school year. When my husband isn’t working as much (he sells library books to schools) and the kids are jumping from one fun activity to the next, they couldn’t be less interested in whether or not I have a “Buffer Block.” I didn’t find it necessary for handling other work because I already have a routine.
Did Time Blocking Help Me Get Things Done?
A very enthusiastic YES! What I’m most pleased with is the fact that I made serious progress on goals that would otherwise have been neglected. What’s more is the fact that I had peace of mind both in knowing I’d gotten the important work done and had reserved free time, too. I will be continuing to use the time blocks as part of the 12-Week Year and will give a full review of the approach in September (as it’s impossible to test in a week).
**UPDATE**
I still love time blocking and scheduling. By taking time blocks seriously and making them a habit, I have been able to accomplish my goals.
The Productivity Approach I’ll Be Using for Week 22
Image courtesy of winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
This week I’ll be testing a morning ritual. I have a morning ritual–most people do. But I could benefit from an improved one. The change I am most interested in making this week (because I already exercise and have a time of prayer and Bible reading) is not reading email right away.
The concept. Curt Mercadante encouraged me to give up my habit of checking email first thing in the morning, attesting to the benefits on productivity.
A morning ritual can be used much like stretching for an athlete. The activity we engage in first can set the tone for the whole day and can be used to increase our productivity and improve our mood.
If you’d like to join me this week, here’s what you do. Read Curt’s article. Decide which activity will best prepare you for a productive day and plan to do it first. I will not be checking email first from now on when I roll out of bed. Exercise is my best first activity (after the necessaries ;-)).
Click here to see how my week testing a morning ritual went.
Are you on Google+? Follow me and join the Productivity community for great ideas on getting more done.
If you’ve tried Time Blocking to increase your productivity, please vote in the poll below.
Here are the links to the productivity hacks I’ve tried so far:
Week 16: David Seah’s 7:15AM Ritual
Week 17: Another Simple and Effective Method
Week 18: Daily/Weekly/Monthly To-Do List
Week 19: Ultimate Time Management System
Mel –
Inspired by these posts i.e. trying different methodologies, seeing what fits for one’s life, etc as well as your correct claim (nothing new under the sun) I’m experimenting with simpleology 5.0 (simpleology.com). It is the only system since PlanPlus where training (and tiered learning) is built into the system/tool.
I like what you’re doing here.
Thank you for the kind comments, Avrum. I suspect that you will find, like I have, that giving yourself permission to keep trying new things (instead of feeling like there’s something wrong with you if you don’t stick with one ‘perfect’ system) will be very freeing. I have so enjoyed this process.
I have a Simpleology account and have been waiting until I feel the time is right to give a true test. I’ve been a little reluctant because currently my to-do’s are tied to my emails. Simpleology requires that I manually add them and then go back into IQTell to read the actual email and support documents. But I did get a free trial of their elite program which interests me. Stay tuned to see if I give it a test and do let me know what you think of it.
Mel – day 4 (or 5) with simpleology… and I’m loving the process & training. So much so, I’m contemplating rejigging the process to work with the rhythm of Cheshon Hanefesh – the process of doing a personal accounting, setting goals, character building, etc., that is often done a month before the Jewish New Year, and continues throughout the year.
That’s great. I hear good things about it.
Mel – just saw your comment on B. Sher’s hanging out email listing. Refuse to Choose is great. But Wishcraft… is it appropriate to use “masterpiece” for self-help lit?
Refuse to Choose taps into my primary issue so much and I’ve been elated since reading it. I have only read a bit of Wishcraft, but with your encouragement, I commit to reading the rest. Thanks so much!
Avrum – Are you still moving forward with Simpleology? I have been giving it a try but have very little patience with having to watch the same training day after day. 🙂
Seraphim, that aspect drove me crazy too.
Avrum, here’s a book you might find useful:
http://www.thetoolsbook.com/
And a write-up about it:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/03/21/110321fa_fact_goodyear
Jacq – I remember reading about this a while back. For now, I’m having too much fun with simpleology!
Avrum, they have some pretty good podcasts on their site too with a few writers / creative types and it’s not in any way a time management thing, more like (hard to describe) – buddhism non-attachment, higher power / God / muse, Stoicism lite. Kind of like War of Art in a way so a little woo-woo. I really liked the deathbed exercise in the book anyway.
Have fun with Simpleology!
(((Jacq))) It’s wonderful to see you again! How are you? Are you still going on great adventures in your Winnebago? I hope your sons, Sparky and you are having a wonderful life. I’ve missed your great posts. I just love your mind.
Hey LAIG!
Yes, everything is going really well! We’re taking the Winnie out next week some time for the summer. I’m going to try and get the outline finished for this novel idea on the trip. For some reason, I’m incredibly prolific w/writing while we travel (no distractions and nothing else to do maybe?? Could also be that long-hand writing eliminates my internal “you’re pathetic” editor – LOL.)
Hope all is well with you and your GSD is keeping you busy (but not too busy)!
Hi (((Jacq)))
Sounds like you’re living enviably well! Perhaps your mind feels freer because you’re in “vacation” mode…..plus…being on the road is just plain enchanting and exciting! I’ve never done it in style like you. For me it was either a van or a motorcycle. John Steinbeck wrote “Travels with Charlie” on the road (if I remember but don’t hold me to it.)
My dog is wonderfully charming and obedient….in the house. Walking her is like walking on a landmine field. She’s aggressive and she’s been attacked by two loose pitbulls. She won but it was terrifying with me holding a 5 foot leash. (I didn’t want to get sued in case the people decided to lie and say my dog was loose also. I screamed at the top of my lungs to make sure there were witnesses. LOL! Plus, I’m sure the ego of somebody who would own a pitbull didn’t like a female German Shepherd beating their dog. I didn’t like it at all. Her viciousness is terrifying. It broke my heart when she killed a chipmunk. She’s that fast.) She’d be great for a farmer. No coyotes would have a chance to get the cattle or sheep.
I won’t jinx you by asking details about your novel. PLEASE do inform us when it’s out so that we can buy it. It’s good that you’re a financial expert so that you can knowledgeably review the contract.
It’s great hearing that so much is going well for you, Jacq!