A quick Google search on how to better manage your time will advise you to start by creating a detailed plan. While there’s nothing wrong with a good plan, there is one thing that successful CEOs and business owners have in common: They take time to dream.
And that’s when innovation, creativity, and magic happens.
Time blocking is one way you can be sure to set aside time to dream.
What is time blocking?
“To work effectively you need uninterrupted blocks of time in which you can complete meaningful work… I’ve found that a minimum of 90 minutes is ideal for a single block.” – Steve Pavlina
Simply put, time blocking is dividing your day into blocks of time. How you spend those blocks of time is up to you. While we’re not recommending you block out every second of your day, chunking out blocks of time for your priorities helps even the busiest of business owners.
How can you spend more time thinking big?
Limit your to-do list. If you spend your whole day tackling a long prescribed list, you’ll get caught running through the motions. Your time gets spent working in the business and not on the business.
Value your time. As a business owner, does it make sense for you to do all the marketing, accounting or administrative tasks? Consider delegating or automating some of the menial tasks to free up your time.
Take breaks. Whether a 15 minute coffee break or a week long vacation, give your brain the rest it needs. Get out of your daily routine to shake things up and explore new ideas for your business.
Slow down to speed up. Are you running a million miles a minute putting out fires? Are you constantly jumping from task to task? Then it’s time to slow down.
Using time blocking to prioritize and allow for creative thinking in your business…
Wondering how to get started with time blocking? Start by making a list of your priorities. What are the items you must get done each day? Remember to include personal items like time for yourself, time with your children, and other activities outside of your business.
Chunk similar events. Switching between dramatically different activities throws us off course. When blocking time, schedule similar events back to back. That way your brain won’t be jumping from your kid’s soccer practice to updating your social media.
Do your least favorite task at the start of your day. When you’re dreading that one project or activity, it feels awful to have it hanging over your head all day. And if you don’t get it done first thing, you’ll end up feeling guilty for not doing it or even postponing it another day, leaving it looming over your week.
Create space for creative tasks and brainstorming. When blocking your time, don’t block only those task driven items, block time to think big and brainstorm. Consider when you feel most creative and designate time accordingly. Because you can get carried away, it’s okay to stop when your time is up. If you’re on a roll, then by all means, continue. But don’t let your creativity prevent you from finishing other priorities.
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.” ― Lao Tzu
