Blueprint >> Block Time

Disclaimer: This document is in raw form as I process and distill 4 years-worth of my personal development notes. Expect some typos and cryptic language for now. I will be updating frequently and polishing up.

Prescription: Work in block time.
Related Concepts: Work Ethic, Multitasking, 80/20 Rule, Wake Up Early, Flow

What is Block Time?

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Why is it Important?

If you don't work in block time you will be frustrated and unproductive. Block time allows you to enter flow state.

Block Time Videos

[coming soon...]

Block Time: Key Points

Work in uninterrupted 1-2 hour blocks of time with 15-30 minute breaks in between. 1 This important for productivity. You need to give your mind time to focus on the task at hand without any other distractions. If you aren't feeling productive right now, it's probably because of this.

Flow state simultaneously makes you happy and generates your best work. But you can't get into flow state if you are multitasking. Counter-intuitively, multitasking makes you LESS productive. Multitasking also makes you feels stressed and overwhelmed. Eliminate as much multitasking as you can.

Taking a break every 1-2 hours is counter-intuitive because you tend to think that more time = more productivity, but this is not the case. When you are intensely focused, as you will be during a 1 hour work block, you will tire from mental fatigue. When you're in flow, you get mental fatigue. When you're multitasking, you get stressed. So give yourself those breaks. Force them if you have to.

Schedule your block time every day, so no one can interrupt you. Turn off your cell phone, disconnect from the internet, lock your office, wake up early — do whatever you need to do to get your block time.

Productivity is not about putting in more time. That is a very limiting model. If you're working intensely, you probably won't be working a full 8-hour day. You can't focus for that long. If you're proud of your 8-hour day, think about how much of it you're really spending on focused work, and how much of it is spent on chit-chat, useless meetings, email, etc. 3x 2-hour blocks of solid, focused work, is probably more than your brain can handle right now. Get to that baseline of productivity. If you're really ambitious, add a fourth block after you've mastered 3x.

Identify the highest-value activities in your work and fill your block time with them. What do you do that actually generates value for you company or business? Do more of that and minimize everything else.

References

1. Mind Control, Eben Pagan