Time Blocking Techniques for Moms

As moms, we always have so much to do, it can feel that time is running faster from us.

This relentless juggling of roles and priorities also means that our minds rarely have clear spaces. 

Multi-tasking is useful for smaller tasks, but for intensive work like writing an important email or conceptualizing an idea, we need to apply ourselves fully. 

Time-blocking can be an effective approach for challenging tasks that need uninterrupted focus.

What is time blocking? 

As this article explains, “time blocking is a simple time management strategy where you schedule focused work periods for specific tasks.” 

How is it different from scheduling something on my calendar?

Time-blocking is time that is specifically scheduled for a single task or set of tasks, and nothing else.

It is a self-made commitment towards not only the time, but to also complete the deliverables set for that time. 

Blocking time to do just one thing when we have hundreds of to-dos can feel counter-intuitive, but it’s actually the most effective way to maximize productivity in short amounts of time. 

This is especially useful when you have work commitments and the kids are at home sick, or if you’re working through school breaks and vacations.  

 

5 tips to make time-blocking work for moms 

1. Identify the most productive part of the day to schedule some uninterrupted time 

One way is to schedule your top priority task(s) before the kids wake up, for example, or during their TV time. 

During those 20 or 30 minutes, remove all possible distractions, and focus only on that work and nothing else. 

Turn your phone to airplane mode, switch off the internet if you can, and shut yourself in a quiet room. 

 

2. Adjust the work at hand with the time you have

Balance how much time you have with how much time the work will take. 

There will always be things to do. Prioritizing brutally will give you the time and the mindspace to complete your work to your satisfaction. 

You can always plan another time-block later in the day, maybe when the kids are asleep or out playing, to complete your other work. 

 

3. Balance high intensity tasks with less demanding tasks in a day

All of us find it difficult to focus deeply on anything for long periods of time. 

If you’re new to time blocking, or working on something for a long time without a break tires you out, start with smaller amounts of time, and scale up slowly. 

If you would like to implement time–blocking throughout your work day, you can create a routine for it in the MAMMA-MIYA app, and start the timer when you’re ready. 

 

4. Reschedule your other work 

The power of time-blocking lies in focussing on one thing for a fixed period of time. 

Doing anything else, even something quick as responding to emails or messages breaks this focus and defeats the purpose of the time-block. 

To make the most of the technique, move any other work that you have to later, or finish it before. 

5. Let others know that you won’t be available at that time 

In his book ‘Deep Work’, Cal Newport talks about the different ways people use time-blocking, and also highlights the advantages of clearly communicating your unavailability at this time to others. He writes: 

“… people will usually respect your right to become inaccessible if these periods are well defined and well advertised, and outside these stretches, you’re once again easy to find.” 

This applies to working while kids are at home, too. 

Working moms who have successfully gone through several summer vacations told us that when they told their kids they would be busy at work during the day, they also promised to spend time together later. 

Then they made sure to be fully present with their kids after work hours. 

With time and consistent communication, the kids understood that mom was busy till a particular time, and adjusted their expectations. 

 

Time-blocking has many benefits 

With practice, time-blocking can boost your daily productivity, help you identify and focus on your priority tasks, and also create space for breaks. 

If you’re struggling to implement time-blocking, it’s okay. 

Putting all your tasks, events and routines of your day into the MAMMA-MIYA app is the first step. Every time you add a to-do, allocate the time that you think it will take. It might take more time or less, and you can recalibrate that the next time. 

For now, you will know how much you’re doing in a section of a day (morning, afternoon, evening and night) and how much time each task takes. 

Read here about how to get started with MAMMA-MIYA.