It’s better late than never!
Since last week, I have been implementing calendar blocking, so as to maximize the studying time I have each day. I was inspired to get my life in order and finish my master’s (Jordan Peterson, you rock!). I researched about time management techniques on YouTube, until I clicked on some block scheduling (or calendar blocking) videos.
Yeah, I know. I know. It’s common sense. I should have done this eons ago. But, hey, I’m not perfect and like most people, I’m the kind of person that needs push and inspiration to do certain tasks. So, again, better late than never. And it’s not like this is my first time implementing time management techniques.
The great thing about calendar blocking is the ability to block out times for certain themes. Instead of scheduling a multitude of tasks, for example, they will just be combined into a single category, then I block out a time for it.
Now, to the fun part.
What I did was to block out some portions of my time each day. As you can see from the photo, I implemented a morning block. The time starts when my alarm rings. It is when I do my morning prayer (meditation), have a breakfast, and do other menial things.
At 8:00 am, on Mondays to Saturdays, I go to my room and immerse myself for my thesis. I call it Master’s Thesis block. It is all about my thesis (reading, writing, researching, etc.). All in all, I allotted four and a half hours to five and a half hours each day (Mondays to Fridays) for my thesis. On Saturdays, I allotted only two hours for it.
I also have block times for class preparation, spiritual reading and general reading. Break times, which I named Enjoy!, are also included, of course.
I designed my block schedule to be uniform as much as possible. On Sundays, because of teaching work, my blocks are obviously different. Scheduling for it is primarily subject-based.
I hope that I will be faithful in following the schedule I set for myself. My block schedule is still a work in progress, as I try to experiment on the best block times and themes.
P.S. I also applied other time management techniques. The Pomodoro technique and the Eisenhower Matrix come to mind.
Empathy 