In the time management class I led recently, I learned that time blocking is a case where a picture is worth a thousand words. First- the words.

Time blocking concepts:

1. You get more done in significantly less time by focusing. Multi-tasking is inefficient; it takes 50% more time to do something when you are multi-tasking.
2. Grouping like tasks together saves time. Moving from one like task to another is more efficient than switching gears.
3. You’re more likely to do something if it’s on your calendar. Schedule and protect time with yourself on your calendar for everything you want to be sure to do.
4. Creating a schedule that is more or less consistent each week makes it easier for you and everyone else to know when you are available or not.
5. If you’re interrupted and your priorities are challenged, it’s easier to recover and get back on track if you schedule your time and move things deliberately to account for the time you lost.
6. “Power hours” reserved and fiercely protected for billable work will have a huge impact on your productivity and results.
7. Include personal goals on your calendar, most often going to the gym, and a lot of lawyers seem to be soccer coaches, as well! Block the time.
8. Match your most productive time with your tough tasks. Are you best in the morning? Need to be behind closed doors by 4pm?

To execute, start by thinking through the different types of roles you play and things you do- then reserve blocks of time for them. The blocks remain consistent week to week; the tasks you do in the block will change. So, I might have a consistent block for marketing, but in that block I might be working on a brochure, creating a presentation, calling people to followup, etc., based on what my marketing plans are for the particular week. You might also have blocks that occur monthly, like a “review bills” block.

I’ve attached a sample calendar to show you how the blocks might be laid out. NOT a recommendation, just an example. Yours would be different. For instance, if you can’t focus for more than an hour, you would limit blocks to 60 minutes. Depending on how full your practice is, you might have more or less marketing time blocked. You might add volunteer or pro bono blocks, or you might block time to have lunch with your spouse once a week.

Here’s the example, be sure to look at the WEEK view, you can toggle via the tabs in the top right area of the calendar: sample time block calendar

The recommendation I WILL make is that you start by blocking the following activities and sticking to the blocks: 

1. Power hour(s) - focused client work, usually billable
2. Phone/email
3. Solosezzing/ social networking

Time blocking is hard to grasp in one sitting, but spend a few minutes, give it a try- and start managing your time better right now!