Timeboxing, time blocking, and time theming are some of the time management methods available.
I wrote about time theming here but today, I want to dive into breaking down the difference between time blocking and time boxing.
Time Blocking
You time block when you want to be intentional about creating time for a specific task or meeting.
For example, every Tuesday at 1 pm, I have a 1:1 meeting time blocked on my calendar with my supervisor for project updates. We schedule this recurring time block to avoid scheduling anything else during this hour.
You can also use time blocks to build habits. Scheduling a time block is a form of implementation intention, a concept written by James Clear which is key to building habits.
An implementation intention consists of deciding when you want to do something, where you will be doing it, and what you will do.
Example: I will write for an hour every day from 8am - 9am at my work station.
Time Boxing
You time box when you set an allocated time for a task or activity. Once the time is up, you stop working on it.
I do time boxing when working on long projects that I cannot complete in one sitting.
Time boxing is also great for tasks that can suck you into a rabbit hole once you start.
For example, researching travel plans. Because the task is fun, you can potentially spend hours on it.
I will time box for one hour to conduct the research, and by the end of the hour, I stop. It’s a way to be more mindful of your time.
Time blocking and time boxing are different ways to approach our time management.
It's important to remember there is no order of superior or effectiveness between them. You just need to decide which works best for your end goal.