How to Transform Your Daily Routine Using Time Blocking

Between job hunting, building AI automations, and managing our new puppy, I've discovered a time management trick that’s changing the game. Curious? So, I had a revelation. You know those moments when you’re juggling a million things and feel like you’re barely holding it together? Yeah, that’s been me. But here’s the kicker – I found a way to manage my time without losing my mind. Intrigued? Let me spill the beans. 🗓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 Ever heard of time blocking? It’s like scheduling your day into neat little chunks dedicated to specific tasks. Think of it as creating a series of appointments with yourself. I started by blocking out time for my biggest priorities – work projects, gym, even that elusive “me time.” And guess what? It’s been a game-changer. Here’s how it works: ▶ Identify Your Tasks: List out what you need to get done. ▶ Block Your Time: Assign each task a specific time slot. Be realistic about how long things take. ▶ Stick to It: Treat these blocks like actual appointments. No skipping! 🍅 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 Now, let’s talk Pomodoro. It’s a time management method that breaks work into intervals, usually 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. After four “Pomodoros,” take a longer break, say 15-30 minutes. Here’s the scoop: ✅ Set a Timer: Work for 25 minutes. No distractions. ✅ Take a Break: Give yourself 5 minutes to stretch, grab a coffee, or check Instagram. ✅ Repeat: After four sessions, reward yourself with a longer break. 🧙♂️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗹𝗲 Balancing these techniques is key. Here’s what I learned: ✅ Mix It Up: Use time blocking for overarching structure and Pomodoro for intense focus periods. ✅ Be Flexible: Sometimes things come up. Adjust your blocks but don’t abandon them. ✅ Self-Care: Remember to block time for breaks and relaxation. Your brain needs it. Real-Life Example Just the other day, I had a packed schedule. Meetings, emails, and a looming deadline with a new client. I started with time blocking, scheduling each task throughout my day. Then, during each block, I used Pomodoro to stay laser-focused. Even with our new puppy demanding attention and my AI automation projects needing tweaks, by 5 PM, I was done with my to-do list and had time to unwind. Who knew time management could feel so liberating? Your Turn Give it a try. Start small. Maybe block out your morning or use Pomodoro for your next big task. See what works best for you and tweak it as needed. The key is finding a rhythm that keeps you productive and sane. So, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember: a little time blocking, a dash of Pomodoro, and a sprinkle of self-care can work wonders. Have a great week and happy time managing! P.S. What time management hacks do you swear by? Hit reply and let me know! Let’s share the love and the sanity. 😊

Want my 15-minute rule for calendar management? I used this rule as a CPA to help manage my calendar like a pro during tax season. Here's how it transforms productivity: ➡️ Block Everything in 15-Minute Increments Your calendar isn't just for meetings. Block EVERYTHING - focus time, breaks, email checking. This creates a realistic view of your actual capacity. ➡️ Color-Code by Energy Level Green: High-focus tasks requiring creativity and problem-solving Yellow: Medium-focus tasks like client meetings Red: Low-energy tasks like administrative work Schedule according to your natural energy peaks. ➡️ Create Buffer Zones Always add 15-minute buffers between meetings. This prevents the domino effect of one delay destroying your entire day. ➡️ Protect Your "Power Blocks" Identify when you're most productive and defend those time blocks ruthlessly. For you, it might be as an example 10am-12pm. Nothing but high-value work happens then. ➡️ The "One Task, One Block" Rule Multi-tasking is a myth. Assign ONE clear deliverable to each time block. The specificity creates accountability. ➡️ Weekly Reality Check Every Sunday, review your upcoming week and ask: "Is this realistic?" Be honest about what you can actually accomplish. ➡️ Non-Negotiable Self-Care Schedule self-care blocks with the same importance as client meetings. Your brain needs rest to perform at its peak. What's your biggest calendar management challenge? — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Dr. Jackie Meyer, CPA for more. Want to transform your tax practice into a high-profit, lower-stress business? Join 18,000+ tax professionals in my newsletter at https://lnkd.in/guJeM_VH

How to Get More Done in Less Time. (Your guide to working smarter, not harder) As a busy dad of 4 building a brand & business, I had to get creative with how I managed my time. I've read dozens of productivity books, listened to the podcasts, and followed the gurus. But it wasn't until I found what worked for me, that I was able to accomplish more with what seems to be less effort. Here's my 5-Step Framework: 1. Prioritize and Plan with Intention - What will move the needle forward today? - Choose 3 high-impact tasks and write them down. - Set deadlines and time limits for each. - Build your day around these priorities—everything else is noise. 2. Time Block Like a Pro - When will you do your best work? - Dedicate focused blocks of time for deep work. - Schedule everything: calls, emails, breaks—even downtime. - Stick to your blocks like they’re non-negotiable meetings. 3. Automate and Systematize - What tasks can you stop doing manually? - Use tech tools to handle repetitive work (e.g., auto-replies, scheduling). - Create templates, SOPs, or workflows for tasks you repeat often. - Free up mental energy for what matters. 4. Batch Similar Tasks - How can you reduce context-switching? - Group related tasks (e.g., emails, brainstorming, admin) and tackle them in one go. - Focus on one "mode" at a time: create, respond, or strategize. - End the habit of jumping between tasks—it kills momentum. 5. Delegate or Outsource - What can someone else do for you? - Identify low-leverage tasks that don’t need your expertise. - Train someone, then trust them to own it. - Stay focused on the high-value work only you can do. Ready to lock this in? Which one are you starting with today? ♻️ Share to help your network be more efficient. ➕ Follow Nico for daily productivity & branding insights.

Personally, I suck at efficiency (doing things quickly). Here’s my coping mechanism and process for maximizing efficacy (doing the right things): 1) Wake up at least 1 hour before you have to be at a computer screen. E-mail is the mind killer. 2) Make a cup of tea (I like pu-erh) and sit down with a pen/pencil and paper. 3) Write down the 3-5 things—and no more—that are making you most anxious or uncomfortable. They’re often things that have been punted from one day’s to-do list to the next, to the next, to the next, and so on. Most important usually = most uncomfortable, with some chance of rejection or conflict. 4) For each item, ask yourself: – “If this were the only thing I accomplished today, would I be satisfied with my day?” – “Will moving this forward make all the other to-do’s unimportant or easier to knock off later?” 5) Look only at the items you’ve answered “yes” to for at least one of these questions. 6) Block out at least 2-3 hours to focus on ONE of them for today. Let the rest of the urgent but less important stuff slide. It will still be there tomorrow. 7) TO BE CLEAR: Block out at least 2-3 HOURS to focus on ONE of them for today. This is ONE BLOCK OF TIME. Cobbling together 10 minutes here and there to add up to 120 minutes does not work. 8) If you get distracted or start procrastinating, don’t freak out and downward spiral; just gently come back to your ONE to-do. Congratulations! That’s it. This is the only way I can create big outcomes despite my never-ending impulse to procrastinate, nap, and otherwise fritter away my days with bullshit. If I have 10 important things to do in a day, it’s 100% certain nothing important will get done that day. On the other hand, I can usually handle 1 must-do item and block out my lesser behaviors for 2-3 hours a day.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 Microsoft 𝐀𝐳𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 NVIDIA 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 90 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲 Time is the most limited resource we all share. Balancing Azure prep and robotics work felt impossible at first. But with just 90 minutes a day, everything changed. Here’s how time-blocking unlocked progress, clarity, and results: 1. 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬: ↳ Write tasks so small they take 15 minutes or less. ↳ Focus on starting, not finishing. ↳ Momentum beats perfection every time. 2. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐩𝐮𝐭: ↳ Spend 30 minutes daily mastering new Azure concepts. ↳ Dedicate 45 minutes to coding SLAM3 algorithms. ↳ Leave 15 minutes for reviewing past lessons. 3. 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: ↳ Block distractions no notifications during focus time. ↳ Use "Do Not Disturb" modes liberally. ↳ Make time sacred, even for small tasks. 4. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲: ↳ Use a simple checklist or whiteboard. ↳ Celebrate completed tasks, even minor ones. ↳ Spot patterns to optimize future workflows. 5. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞: ↳ Rest for 5 minutes after intense sessions. ↳ Reflect on what worked and what didn’t. ↳ Avoid burnout by respecting limits. 6. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬: ↳ Debugging Python for SLAM3? Celebrate the first successful run. ↳ Point cloud integration? Recognize incremental improvements. ↳ Each win compounds confidence and motivation. 7. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲: ↳ Intel Corporation RealSense cameras streamline data collection for SLAM3. ↳ Productivity apps keep tasks organized and accessible. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. What’s one thing you can time-block today? Curious about my system or results? Let’s connect in the comments. ♻️ Repost to your LinkedIn followers and follow Timothy Goebel for more actionable insights on AI and innovation. #AIInnovation #TimeBlockingSuccess #RoboticsLeadership #AzureExperts #FutureOfWork

Are you winging it today? I've found there's a direct correlation between the quality of my planning and the effectiveness of the day that follows. Most great weeks are preceded by planning it out over the weekend. Almost every productive day was planned out the night before. A few things I've learned over the years: Time blocking is your friend. Setting priorities is vital. Use the 80/20 principle. And the rule of three. Write it by hand. First, I write out my locked in calls, meetings, etc. Then, I time block around those scheduled things. I also utilize time blocking in my calendar to give myself some space; without it, the calls will stack up. I need big blocks of time in my day to do focused work; to put on Do Not Disturb and get after it. These usually come in 90 minute blocks. There is simply not enough caffeine in North America for back to back web calls on back to back days. The 80/20 principle guides decision making on where to spend time. The rule of three further guides this. I want to spend my time on the 20% of things that create the 80% of results and value. While knowing that I can't accomplish more than three important tasks in a day. These tasks need to take me closer to my quarterly goals, which are also governed by the rule of three. I can do three awesome things in 90 days, but I can't do 90 awesome things in three days. What tools or guidelines do you use to help you plan and be productive? #productivity #planning #getafterit

Time management isn’t your problem. The way you manage time is. Most people treat productivity like a one-size-fits-all hack. “Just wake up at 5 AM.” “Just do Pomodoro.” “Just block your time.” I’ve tried them all. They didn’t *all* work. Here’s how I learned to stop copying productivity trends and start designing my own system Step 1: I stopped treating everything as urgent. The Eisenhower Matrix changed how I make decisions. ↳ Urgent ≠ Important. Most things can wait. Some things shouldn't even be done. Step 2: I started eating the frog before 10 AM. If it’s hard or high-value, I do it first. Otherwise, I end up “checking one more email” for 3 hours. Step 3: I use Pomodoro when my brain just won’t sit still. It helps me start. It’s not about the 25 minutes — it’s about momentum. Step 4: I capture everything in a Getting Things Done list. No more, “Oh shoot, I forgot to follow up.” ↳ If it takes <2 mins, I just do it. Otherwise, I schedule it. Step 5: I apply the Pickle Jar Theory on heavy days. Creative work first, admin later. I only have room for so many pickles in my jar — and emails aren't always one of them. Step 6: I time block like my life depends on it. Because it does. ↳ Family, clients, content, coaching — they all get a seat on my calendar, or they don’t get seen. This is how I manage multiple coaching programs, 1:1 clients, a full-time role, and still sleep 7 hours a night. Not because I’m superhuman. But because I stopped believing productivity myths and started building systems that fit me. The truth? You don’t need more motivation. You need a method that fits your brain, not someone else’s brand. Follow me Rudy Malle I simplify complex careers, systems, and strategies for clinical researchers and ambitious professionals. #timemanagement #productivity #careerdevelopment #personalgrowth #leadership