Building Habits with Timeblocking

Building habits is challenging. Here is how the magic of timeblocking can help you carve out time and build consistency.

Does this sound familiar: you make a new year's resolution to get in shape. And during the first week or two of January, you get out for a run every day. But, before you know it, February rolls around, and your running shoes are gathering dust.

Building a new habit is all about consistency. But, how can you carve out time and hold yourself accountable for your new routine? Timeblocking can help!

What is timeblocking?

We’ve covered timeblocking quite extensively here at Taskable if you’d like to go into more detail.

The general overview is dividing your calendar into blocks of time to specific tasks or groups of tasks. Timeblocking works because it holds you accountable, helps you avoid multi-tasking, and time limits your tasks.

How to start building habits with timeblocking

Building habits with timeblocking is pretty straightforward: start adding the practice you want to build into your calendar. So whether it’s reading or exercising, start blocking out time each day for that habit you want to develop. The more consistently you do it initially, the quicker it becomes a habit.

One of the first habits you'll actually need to build is a timeblocking habit. The best part is this habit will not only help you create new patterns; it will help you be more productive and focused in everything else you do.

Why timeblocking helps build habits

It’s easy to skip the new habits you want to build in favor of other familiar tasks. But, like with everything else, timeblocking holds you accountable to the new routine, as well as blocking that time from being taken up by something else.

Additionally, timeblocking helps you get more done in less time. Productivity expert Cal Newport estimates we can get 50% more done when timeblocking and having better structure.

So, with that extra efficiency, it becomes easier to justify taking more time in your day to build personal habits, like reading more or exercising as examples.

A 40 hour time-blocked work week, I estimate, produces the same amount of output as a 60+ hour work week pursued without structure. — Cal Newport, author of Deep Work

Building habits and timeblocking with Taskable

Taskable makes timeblocking simple. Our integrations bring all your tasks into a single view. The scheduling features make planning out your day or week quick and easy. And the built-in calendar means you can timeblock with drag and drop, rather than having multiple tabs open.

The first step in building a new habit would be to start timeblocking. I have a task each evening to timeblock out my next day. I like doing it the evening before, so there are no surprises when I begin work the next day and can hit the ground running.

Check out my new productivity system

Next, create a task for the habit you want to build and set it to repeat daily. Now, every time you check it off, Taskable will schedule it for the next day.

Then, stick to it. We think timeblocking will have such a significant impact on improving your day, that this will be the easy part.