Weekly Planning: Time Blocking Method
Creating a weekly calendar can help you stay intentional about how you’re spending your time – and reduce decision fatigue about what to prioritize in the moment.
A few tips to consider before you begin creating a weekly calendar:
- Be realistic about how much you can accomplish each week, and be sure to overestimate how long things will take you.
- Think of your calendar as a flexible decision-making tool. If something comes up that gets in the way, it’s within your control to move things around!
- Leave yourself buffer time! Aim for at least 15 hours of entirely “blank” space, in case you need to shift any tasks as the week goes on.
- Pay attention to what time of day you’re most productive and consider scheduling your tasks accordingly (e.g., plan to do your harder tasks when you have more energy and your easier tasks when you tend to be more tired).
Check out the following step-by-step example of how to implement the calendaring method of time blocking. You can try out this process yourself using our weekly schedule template or your preferred physical/digital format.
A step-by-step time blocking example:
Step 1: Schedule your non-negotiables (i.e., what you need for your personal well-being)
Step 2: Schedule your classes and other regular weekly commitments
Step 3: Schedule any other set appointments/meetings for the week
Step 4: On a separate piece of paper, document, or to-do list, identify all the important to-do items or tasks you have to do for the week.
Example: To-Do Week of the 1st
- Spanish homework due Friday + work on flashcards (~30 min per day)
- CS PSet due Monday night (~9 hours)
- Attend CS tutoring session
- Meet with Jo
- Spend 1 hour reviewing notes
- Stats PSet due Tuesday night (~6 hours)
- Also spend 1 hour reviewing textbook and notes
- Psych readings (~2 hours) + brainstorm outline for Psych project (~2 hours)
- Start outline brainstorm at Sunday CTL study hall
- Starbucks job application (2 hours)
- Work on resume
Step 5: Schedule in the specific tasks/work you plan to accomplish for the week (bonus points if you identify where you will work and/or who you will work with)
Step 6: Finally, consider breaking down each to-do item into even smaller tasks
…Now you’re ready to start time blocking!
For additional support, check out this handout on organizing your calendar, follow along with this CTL video, or schedule an appointment with an Academic Coach!
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Weekly Planning: Time Blocking Method
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License. You may reproduce it only for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: Center for Teaching and Learning, Stanford University.