Time Blocking for Solopreneurs

Good morning,

In this edition of The Centered Solopreneur, we’re going to be discussing a tool you can use to manage your time better.

How many times have you gone into the week with a list of tasks that you’re excited to complete? Then, come Friday, you realize you only finished two of your tasks, with no explanation as to why, or what stopped you from doing more. You then tell yourself, I’ll just push these incomplete ones to next week….again. 😩

I’ve lived this cycle of workflow, and seen many leaders, and teams do the same. It’s tiring, and only leads to playing catch up as you grow your business.

Time management is a deep topic, but my intention today, is to share a technique you can apply to all of your work.

Time Blocking.

Let’s begin.

(a few weeks ago I shared my time audit tool, here is a link if you’d like to check that out)

Today's Playlist

• What's Time Blocking?

• How to Become a Time Blocking Pro

• Some of My Personal Rules

• Why Your Business Will Thank You

What's Time Blocking?

Time blocking is when you intentionally carving out chunks of time for specific tasks, creating a visual roadmap of your week that balances client work, business growth, and (gasp!) even personal time.

How to Become a Time Blocking Pro

Here is a walkthrough on how you can use time blocking to save yourself up to 5 hours of wasted time per week:

1. Weekly Planning Session: Kick off each week with a 15-30 minute planning session (just you and your calendar).

2. List Your Tasks: Brain dump all your to-dos for the week.

3. Estimate Time Needed For Each: Be realistic, and then add some buffer (we'll get to that).

4. Prioritize: High impact tasks get first dibs on your prime time slots.

5. Block It Out: Start filling in your calendar with dedicated time blocks for each task.

6. Protect Your Time: During each block, focus solely on that task. No multitasking allowed! Put your phone on do not disturb.

Some of My Personal Rules

• Don't schedule more than 6 hours of billable work per day (aim for under 5 for optimal performance).

• Add a 15-minute buffer for every hour of estimated work time. (2-hour task? Block 2.5 hours.)

• High priority (highest impact) tasks go on the calendar first.

• Schedule personal time before work time. Your business should fit your life, not the other way around.

• Leave some blank space for the unexpected. Life happens!

• Don’t go over 80% of your available work hour capacity

Why Your Business Will Thank You

1. Improved Focus: Deep work becomes your superpower.

2. Better Time Management: No more "where did my day go?" moments.

3. Reduced Overwhelm: A clear plan cuts through the chaos.

4. Work-Life Balance: Personal time gets the respect it deserves.

5. Strategic Growth: Dedicated time for working ON your business, not just IN it.

If you’re looking to scale, time blocking is your secret weapon. It allows you to:

• Dedicate time to high-leverage activities that grow your business

• Serve clients more efficiently without burnout

• Create space for developing new offerings or marketing strategies

• Maintain work-life balance as your business expands

Remember, scaling isn't just about doing more - it's about doing what matters most.

Wrapping Up

Time blocking might feel a bit like trying to solve a Rubik's cube at first, but stick with it. It's a powerful tool that challenges you to be intentional with your time, educates you about where your hours really go, and prioritizes your need for balance.

I'd love to hear how time blocking transforms your week.

Stay centered,

Gio

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P.S. Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? If you're struggling to find time for high-impact work, if you keep pushing important tasks aside, and if you're ready to stop letting time manage you - download my free Time Audit Tool. This practical resource will help you uncover hidden time drains and create space for what truly matters in your business.

Get instant access.