To-do lists can often be overwhelming and stressful. So much so that they can lead to paralysis and procrastination on important tasks. Tasks being written in a list has other limitations. In between, there are easier and harder tasks, and often one chooses to complete the smaller ones faster while neglecting the important but less urgent ones. Last but not least, this list is out of context with the time one has to work on them.
As a better solution comes “timeboxing”. The word is borrowed from the vocabulary of project managers, means blocking time to work on a task.
Everything in the calendar
All commitments, personal and work, should be on the calendar of the person who wants to test whether “timeboxing” will work for her/him. This way, one could visually allocate tasks according to his/her time. Time blocking is also a form of making a commitment to a task.
Sense of control
“Timeboxing” enables one to allocate one’s time in a way that one determines relative to what one has to do. This creates a sense of control and freedom of choice. Purposefully allocating time to a topic means blocking out other distractions, improved concentration and therefore greater progress on the task, bringing a sense of achievement.
Last but not least, “timeboxing” also gives discipline. One should allocate time realistically and if intermittently working for two hours on something, then with blocked time one can complete the task in one hour.
Improved communication and accountability
When one works in a company where others can see their colleagues’ calendar, or at least the times when there is blocked or free time, it makes communication easier.
Putting everything on the calendar also improves accountability. You can see exactly what was done and when, which brings out the busier moments and the topics that were in focus at any given time.
Sometimes, of course, schedule changes happen. Then it’s apparent what’s on the calendar at the expense of something else, and if it’s still important, it will find another allotted time to accomplish it.
