Sept 2023

Introducing the Time-Block Planner

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Dr. Cal Newport

In June this year, I came across Cal Newport and his thoughts on ‘deep work’ and the effect of social media (see June 2023 talk of the month).  I never sign up to things, but I found myself signing up to his monthly newsletter and have found his short monthly email to be practical, useful, short and insightful.  I’ve learnt about his time blocking method which is said to double one’s productivity which appealed to the MBTI ‘J’ in me and also to my ‘work smarter not harder’ work ethic.

So here’s a short video on his Time-Block Planner. It is easy to use. Each day you fill out a time block grid with a preliminary plan that gives every minute a job. If you get knocked off this schedule, you simply update it the next time you get a chance. Next to the grid is a collection page – this is my favourite part – it’s a space to quickly capture tasks, ideas and notes to process later so that you don’t have to disrupt your current time block. And that’s all there is to it!

I think his process is better than my current ‘what’s next’ approach!  I don’t know about you, but I think it’s worth a try.