Four things I learnt from time-blocking
I haven’t always had the most positive relationship with time management like many of us. When it came to deep focus or consistent work routines, I leaned heavily into being a bit of a creative free spirit.
But learning about time blocking has completely shifted how I approach my work. It’s given me structure without suffocation, and clarity without losing creativity. It’s made me more intentional, more consistent, and ultimately, more at peace with how I spend my time.
1. Flexible and Evolving
Time blocking often gets a bad reputation for being restrictive. But the truth is, it works best when it’s flexible and evolving. I change my time blocks all the time for new clients or new ideas or things I realise I can optimise.
It’s not about building the perfect schedule. It’s about creating a framework that gives your priorities the time they deserve, while still leaving room for the unexpected.
2. Discipline and Inconsistent Action
The magic of time blocking isn’t in the coloured boxes on your calendar, it’s in the discipline of noticing when you don’t follow through.
When you skip a block or let something urgent derail you, time blocking shines a light on the gap between intention and action. That gap is valuable. It reveals patterns of inconsistency, procrastination, or distraction. And once you can see it, you can change it.
3. Urgent vs. Not Urgent
Time blocking forces you to make space not only for what’s urgent today, but for the important things that shape your future.
I think of these as the “future” tasks (such a creative name). The tasks you schedule weeks or months ahead, because they matter even if no one is chasing you for them.
4. Working On the Business, Not Just In It
Perhaps the most important lesson of all: time blocking helps you carve out intentional space to work on your business, not just in it.
It’s easy to get consumed by the day-to-day tasks, but scheduling dedicated time for strategy, vision, and growth ensures you’re building something sustainable, not just doing busy work.
How time-blocking has helped me personally
By using some pretty hard-core time-blocking (which my family had to adjust to because I was in the loungeroom) I was able to complete my Ad. Dip. in Digital Marketing while I worked two jobs. This was a “future task” but it also really helped me feel empowered in the every day and gave me great confidence in the usefulness of this technique.
I had a firm block every day after work and a full day once a month to submit assignments and it was a load I only realised I could carry by structuring it as a non-negotiable time-block.
I use a changeable Canva Desktop on my computer to refer to quickly and Notion for managing granular tasks. Protecting, building and adjusting my time-blocks is very centering for my work life. Let me know if you want a template to start with, I can share my Canva one with you.
xo nat@goyouco.au
