Timeblocking: A work-management strategy for happier employees

Time management may not be the first term that comes to mind when thinking of employee health and wellness. We typically picture fitness programs or incentives for doctor visits. But educating employees about time-management strategies in the workplace should be a core component of any workplace-wellness initiative. Fostering a work environment that motivates employees to keep their work at work and make time for themselves is critical.

One core strategy for creating a time-savvy workforce is timeblocking, a productivity technique used to segment time into smaller blocks reserved for specific tasks or to-dos. In other words, it transforms a calendar into a work-productivity tool. Here are three key benefits of a time-management plan and five questions to consider when you start.

When employees set aside time to work, that means they are also setting aside time for their personal life. Blocking off time maps out for the individual, and shows others, exactly when they are available for various tasks. This lets them treat their work schedule much like someone booking an appointment. It helps them say no to projects they simply have no time for.

Stress comes from not being able to start or stop work. It comes from not knowing what to do next or from feeling like a project is open-ended or never-ending, lacking benchmarks or goals.