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Being effective at time management takes practice.
Whether you’re taking online classes, working an eight-hour shift, or running a household, a system that helps get things done on time and organizes your schedule is a necessity.
Time blocking is a method fit for this purpose. Also known as time boxing, it is a way of managing your time in a way that you are able to prioritize important tasks and stop procrastination in its tracks.
When time blocking, you assign a specific amount of time in your schedule to a particular activity.
Breaking your daily schedule into chunks of activity lets you focus on specific tasks at a given time. This way, you can prioritize the tasks at hand and have more control over stuff that you need to attend to.
Furthermore, since the activities and tasks are varied, there is no room for boredom. Rather, each day ends with a sense of accomplishment.
Time-blocking tools, such as a time-blocking template, an app, and a planner, help you master the skill of effective time management.
What You Will Learn
The Advantages of Using a Time-Blocking Tool
The following are some of the benefits of using a time-management tool such as a template, an app, or a planner for time blocking:
In this article, we’re sharing a collection of printable templates for effective time blocking. Some designs are ideal for students’ use. There are also templates for the workplace, as well as templates to help you with time blocking while at home.
Let’s check them out.
1. Colorful Arrow Header Time Blocking Printable
via Polished Habitat
Most templates provide enough space for you to block your schedule only on a daily basis. You usually need one sheet for every day of the week.
With this template, however, your time-blocking schedule for the entire week fits onto two pages. It’s ideal for those who want to see their weekly schedules at a glance.
For the weekdays, the template has one-hour intervals, with a 5:00 am start and 12:00 am end. However, the weekends don’t have time intervals.
There is also space reserved for writing your goals for the week, while another box is meant for writing down notes.
2. Daily Timeblocking Schedule
This template lets you block your daily schedule in 15-minute intervals, from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Near the top of the page, you can identify the day of the week, as well as the date.
On the right-hand side of the page, you’ll find a to-do list and a place for writing notes.
The template designer suggests printing this template onto heavy card stock and laminating it. Use whiteboard markers for writing down your schedule. You’ll then have a reusable time-blocking sheet.
3. Today's Plan
via Making Lemonade
“Schedule your day with intention.” This tip comes from the maker of this template, which helps you find free time in your schedule, no matter how hectic the day is going.
This planner provides spaces for you to write down your schedule for the day in 30-minute and/or one-hour intervals.
There is also a space for writing up to five primary goals. Slots are also available for writing a to-do list and some notes.
This template stands out for the space allocated for meal planning (for three main meals + two snacks). Lastly, it provides a water tracker, ensuring that you stay hydrated throughout the day. (Here’s a guide for increasing your water intake for optimal hydration.)
4. Time Blocking Schedule
This simple template features one-hour time blocking intervals starting at 7:00 am and ending at 8:00 pm, Monday through Sunday.
For those who worry that time blocking seems a rigid way to schedule their day, they can try the following tips from the creator of the template.
Rather than specify the task, write down categories for your activities. It’s also unnecessary to block in every hour of the day.
Also, in order to not feel overwhelmed with what you’ve scheduled for the day, remember to include activities that involve spending time with your loved ones.
5. Landscape Time Blocking Printable
via Hey Donna
This sample template encourages you to define your “areas of focus.” These areas are dependent on the roles you play in different aspects of your life.
Some examples of these areas include your professional life, home, and family.
Using these areas as the jump-off point for your scheduling can be an effective way of organizing your life. It sharpens your focus.
As you move through the day working on your priorities, you’ll discover that you get more done.
The template above has a simple interface. It provides spaces for writing down your schedule in one-hour intervals (5:00 am start; 11:00 pm end) from Sunday to Saturday.
6. Weekly Block Schedule
via Fancy Plans
If you are not sold on the idea of hourly intervals but still want to give time blocking a try, you might want to consider using this template.
This blank template gives you more flexibility in creating your daily schedule. In the example above, each column represents a category of activities, namely:
Below the column names, you can list down the tasks to be done in these specific categories.
7. 24/7 Weekly Planner Sheet
If you are looking for a planner that accommodates your schedule beyond the usual “nine-to-five,” this template is for you.
If you work on a shifting schedule, have kids that are in sports practice until 9:00 pm, or are simply not yet in bed by that time, this might be a good option. It has 30-minute time intervals, letting you track your schedule around the clock from Monday to Sunday.
8. Appointment Book Template
via Samplewords
This template allows you to block your time for all five days of the workweek (Monday to Friday).
You can track your schedule from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Within each hour, there are slots to write your activities in 15-minute intervals.
When you print out this template, you’ll notice the extra-wide margin. It is designed in this way so it can be put into a binder, allowing you to keep all your timetables in one place.
9. Stay at Home Daily Schedule
via Abby Lawson
This template helps you make good use of your time while you are at home.
Rather than spending the whole day binge-watching your favorite shows or playing games online, you can go through the day with intention.
The template has a 5:00 am start and a 12:00 am end, and provides one-hour interval slots to help you establish a good daily routine.
You might also want to check out over 200 fun things to do when you are bored.
Final Thoughts
Time-blocking tools help you manage your time better and give structure to your day. A time-blocking template is one such tool. We hope that you were able to find a favorite template or two from the ones featured today.
If you need more resources on time management and/or time blocking, the following posts are worth checking out:
