Why Being Intentional with My Time Has Reduced My Stress
Have you ever looked around and felt like there just wasn't enough time in the day? A few years ago, that's exactly how I felt. I struggled to keep up with work, the house always seemed messy, I wasn't making progress on my business, and I wasn't taking time to see friends or enjoy hobbies. I constantly felt like I was behind, and no matter how much I accomplished, there was always something else demanding my attention.
Someone I trusted suggested I start using a planner—not just to keep appointments, but to intentionally plan my days. At first, I wasn't convinced it would make much of a difference. Over the years, I tried several different planners, but nothing really stuck. Then I found a daily planner that let me map out my day by the hour—from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. That simple change helped me become more intentional with my time instead of simply reacting to whatever came next.
What Is Time Blocking?
Time blocking is a planning method where you divide your day into dedicated blocks of time for specific activities. Instead of keeping one long to-do list and wondering when you'll get to everything, you decide ahead of time when you'll work on certain tasks.
It might look something like this:
Morning workout
Work meetings
Lunch
Household chores
Business work
Family time
Reading before bed
Rather than constantly asking yourself, "What should I do next?" you've already made that decision. That reduces distractions, limits decision fatigue, and helps you stay focused on what's most important.
Why It Works for Me
Life is busy. I have a full-time job, my financial coaching and mobile notary business, a husband, a teenage son, a home to maintain, and somehow I'm also supposed to remember appointments, grocery shopping, laundry, and making dinner. Without a plan, it would be easy to feel overwhelmed.
Every Sunday, I start with what I call a brain dump. I write down everything that's on my mind—appointments, work projects, errands, business ideas, household tasks, and anything else I don't want to forget. Once it's all on paper, I intentionally decide where each task belongs instead of hoping I'll find time for it. I also intentionally schedule personal time. That might be reading a book, going to the gym, enjoying dinner with my husband, or simply sitting on the couch watching a few YouTube videos. Those moments matter just as much as checking things off a list.
I'm no longer guessing or hoping I'll have time for the things that matter most. I've intentionally made space for them. Time blocking helps me be more present because I'm not constantly worrying about what I've forgotten.
It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect
Some weeks I use my planner every single day. Other weeks, I fill it out on Sunday and barely look at it again. Life happens. Meetings get added. Plans change. Unexpected things come up. That doesn't mean the planner failed. Even during those weeks, taking the time to think through my priorities helps me stay focused on what truly matters.
Progress is always better than perfection.
How to Get Started
If you've never tried time blocking before, don't overcomplicate it. Start by setting aside a few minutes once a week for a brain dump. Write down everything that's on your mind—big or small.
Next, schedule the things that already have a set time, like work meetings, appointments, or school events. For me, that starts with my full-time job because it's my primary source of income and deserves my full attention during work hours.
Then I intentionally block time for the things that help me stay healthy and balanced—meals, reading, exercising, or simply taking a break.
Finally, I work through my brain dump and decide where the remaining tasks fit. Some need to be completed this week, while others can wait. Not everything has to be done today.
Don't forget to leave some open space in your schedule. Those buffer times are important. They allow room for unexpected interruptions, a little extra time with your family, or even sitting down with a good book or your favorite TV show.
If you don't follow your schedule perfectly, that's okay. Move unfinished tasks to another day, add them back to your brain dump, or decide they weren't as important as you originally thought. Your planner should reduce stress—not create more of it.
Final Thoughts
Time blocking hasn't made my life perfect. It hasn't eliminated busy weeks or unexpected interruptions. What it has done is give me a way to be more intentional with my time, feel more organized, and reduce the stress of wondering what I've forgotten. For me, it's not about squeezing more into every day. It's about making sure the things that matter most actually have a place in my schedule.
Being intentional doesn't mean every minute has to be planned. It means making conscious choices about how you spend your time instead of letting your time decide for you. If you've been feeling like you're constantly reacting instead of planning, maybe give time blocking a try for one week. You don't need the perfect planner or a color-coded schedule. You just need a place to start.