Time Blindness Strategy: Time Auditing
Time auditing is one strategy that you can use to help manage challenges related to time blindness. With time auditing, you can get a better idea of how you are actually spending your time and identify “black holes” that seem to drain your time.
How to Audit Your Time
- Pick a time frame: You can start small by tracking a few hours of your day at a time.
- Track your time in chunks: Every 30 to 60 minutes, write down what you’ve been doing. Be honest and nonjudgmental; write down what you actually did and not what you think you should have been doing. Consider using our weekly schedule as a template for logging your time. Here is an example of how you might log your time:
- 2 – 2:45 pm – scrolled on TikTok and made a cup of coffee
- 2:45 – 3:30 pm – tried to start writing my paper, switched between tabs, ended up responding to emails, finally opened the document
- 3:30 – 4 pm – felt more focused and expanded on my essay outline to write a paragraph.
- Reflect: After tracking your time, reflect on the data you gathered.
- Where did my time go? Are there unexpected time drains? Are transitions taking longer than I thought?
- How long are tasks actually taking? Did a task I thought would take 15 minutes actually take 45 minutes? What kinds of tasks am I underestimating time for? Are there any tasks that I am overestimating time for?
- When do I have the most energy or focus? Is there a time of day when I tend to be more productive and actually do the tasks I intend to? Are there patterns to when/how I get distracted?
- Am I giving myself enough breaks? Are my breaks accidental or intentional (e.g., am I choosing to scroll on my phone instead of working on tasks because my brain is tired or am I building in breaks between activities)? Do I need more buffer time when switching between tasks?
- Use the Data: With the information you have gathered, you can start to build a more realistic schedule for yourself. See below for examples of how to address common challenges that you might observe when you audit your time.
Example Challenges and Possible Strategies
Example Challenge 1: I find myself being sucked into the “black hole” of TikTok and scrolling for hours.
Possible Strategies:
- Install web blockers or phone-based apps to limit access to distracting websites/apps
- Leave your phone in another room when trying to do focused work
- Set an app timer, screen time limit, or alarm to notify you when you have been on the app for a certain period of time
Example Challenge 2: I always think that sending an email will take 15 minutes, but it ends up taking so much longer.
Possible Strategies:
- Try overestimating how long a task will take and if there is extra time, you can take a break or begin working on another task
- If you want to limit the amount of time you spend on certain tasks, set a timer (e.g., for 15 minutes) and move forward with what you have
Example Challenge 3: I get really sleepy after my afternoon class, so I end up having a window from 4 – 6 pm where I should be working…but I don’t.
Possible Strategies:
- Try matching your tasks to your energy/focus levels
- If you know that you struggle to do focused or mentally intensive work during 4 – 6 pm, work with your brain and not against it
- Try scheduling low energy or less mentally intensive work during this period of time. This could look like going for a walk or to the gym, calling friends/family, or previewing lecture materials
- During times of day when you feel more focused or energized, schedule more mentally intensive tasks (e.g., working on a problem set, writing a paper)
Example Challenge 4: I sit down and tell myself to work, but I end up getting tired or distracted every 15 minutes or so. Then I scroll on my phone and before I know it, 30 minutes have passed. I take so many breaks without even intending to.
Possible Strategies:
- Try intentionally incorporating more breaks when scheduling your day
- Aim for break activities that are restful and/or energizing (e.g., taking a walk, stretching, doodling)
- Take longer breaks when you are transitioning out of more energy-intensive tasks. For example, you might schedule a longer break after completing your classes for the day
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Time Blindness Strategy: Time Auditing
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