This is Day 6 of my 30-day daily writing challenge. Today’s challenge is to write a micro story about productivity.
It was 6 a.m. Coffee on the table, I was ready to start a productive day.
But I wasn’t.
Staring at the long to-do list, everything seemed important. I froze. I didn’t know where to start.
The day had just started, yet I already felt exhausted. Even the simplest task felt overwhelming. My to-do list feels like a never-ending chore.
That was me a year ago.
Recognizing the Problem: Burnout and Overwhelm
I realized I was experiencing burnout. I was busy. I worked hard. But I had nothing to show for it.
Then I learned about time blocking.
The basic principle of time blocking is dedicating a block of time for a specific task. I was sceptical at first, but I decided to give it a go.
I am glad I did.
My Simple Time Blocking Routine
Here is what I do now:
I start the day with a 15-min planning block. I prioritize my to do list.
- I prioritize 3 tasks that required my attention today
- I remove “do it when I have time” tasks from the list.
After 15 mins, I closed my to-do list. I know exactly what I need to do. I take a 5-minute break to regroup myself and get ready for the next time block.
Deep Work: How I Stay Focused
I set my phone to Do Not Disturb mode. I put on my noise-cancellation headphone and set the Flocus timer to 45 minutes on my screen. I start working on the first task.
During this time block I am fully focused on the specific task. No distractions. No worrying about my to-do list. Just deep, focused work.
At the end of the 45-min block, I do a quick review to decide if I need to schedule another time block for the task. Before I move on to the next time block, I take a 5-minute break. And the routine continues.
Why Time Blocking Works
Time blocking for both work and rest has been a game changer for me.
- By focusing on a single task within the time block, I found myself accomplish more throughout the day.
- And the dedicated short break time between each time block prevents me from feeling burnout.
Try This for a Week
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the never ending to-do list but don’t know where to start?
- Prioritize 3 most important tasks today
- Block out 45 minute for each task.
- Make sure you take a 5-10 minutes before next time block.
Give it one week. You might be surprised how much lighter, clearer, and more productive your days feel.
