Productivity tip: Time blocking

Gina Trapani in her Fast Company column Work Smart suggests blocking out time as a way to tackle big tasks. Video below.

I often do this when my work plate approaches full and I need blocks of time to focus. I think developers need those time blocks in ways that aren’t always clear to managers and account staff. As Trapani explains:

Being available to your boss and co-workers is part of your job. But the most creative and important work you do requires total focus and attention for an extended period of time. Your brain needs at least 15 minutes of uninterrupted time to dive in, concentrate on one thing, and get into the zone where you’re truly focused and doing your best work. Time blocking is a technique that sets the stage for that to happen.

The biggest productivity suck, in my opinion, is a day with more than one meeting. On those days, I block out my morning (if the meeting is scheduled for the afternoon) or my afternoon (if the meeting is in the morning) to give myself four hours of time when I am just not available. I add it to my calendar, and specifically request that my coworkers not schedule meetings during that time. So far, it’s working.

[Via Lifehacker]