Why Time Blocking is So Hard (And Why It’s Worth It)

Saying I’ve struggled with time management would be a massive understatement. I have a habit of getting random moments of inspiration, followed by days of intense, focused work, followed by a hazy few days where I have no idea what to focus on.

Being a solo consultant has its perks — flexible schedule, freedom, no boss — but it also has its downsides. Primarily, there are many different ways you can burn out.

Running a consulting business is a high-risk, high-reward job. You not only have to work hard, but on the right things.

Which brings us to time blocking.

As much as I like to use GANTT charts, timelines and kanban boards to map out projects, both for clients and for my own business, a time-blocked schedule does one key thing:

Time blocking protects against your time being taken over by low-leverage tasks.

Time blocking is one of those productivity techniques that sounds simple in theory but can be challenging to put into practice. It’s a method that involves scheduling specific blocks of time for different tasks throughout your day. While the idea is straightforward, the reality of sticking to it is way harder.

Despite these challenges, it’s a transformative tool to manage your time, energy, and…