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Productivity

5 free time blocking templates: Daily, weekly & monthly schedules


Key takeaways:

  • Time blocking templates help improve productivity by making it easier to allocate your time.
  • You can avoid multitasking and accomplish focused work by assigning each block of time to a specific task.
  • Templates help show you how to block off time for different tasks, with multiple templates depending on how you prefer to work.


Running your own company is both rewarding and challenging. According to QuickBooks research, 76% of small business owners say they’re stressed, and time is a common denominator for many of them. 

The good news is, there's a proven method of time management that can make a big impact. It's called time blocking, and it involves dividing your day into dedicated chunks of scheduledtime for specific tasks. 

Organizing your calendar with time blocking helps reduce multitasking, limit distractions, enable efficient workload distribution, and ensure high-priority tasks don’t fall through the cracks. 

This guide will explain how time blocking works and provide some time blocking templates to help you get started.

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Time blocking templates

Managing your time when running a business is important, and time blocking templates can help you do it effectively. Time blocking templates are pre-designed schedules that help you organize your day by assigning specific time slots to tasks, projects, or breaks.

There's no end to the ways a daily time blocking template can help you manage your time. For example, using payroll schedule templates can make your life easier. A payroll template, like the ones below, is a convenient way to record and calculate employee payroll, including taxes. 

1. 15-minute daily time blocking template

How to use it

This printable daily time blocking template is broken into 15-minute time periods. Determine the month and day, then list the tasks you plan to complete in 15-minute time blocks.

Who is it for?

If your daily schedule involves a significant amount of small, quick tasks, this free time blocking template may prove useful and keep your daily projects on track.

2. 30-minute daily time blocking template

How to use it

This template is broken into 30-minute time periods. Determine the month and day, then list the tasks you plan to complete within these half-hour time blocks.

Who is it for?

If a 15-minute interval time blocking template is too detailed and you need longer work periods, the 30-minute daily time blocking template may help.

3. 5-day weekly time blocking template

How to use it

Within this weekly time blocking template, write the week date range, then add tasks to each hour interval for each work day.

Who is it for?

A 5-day weekly template is beneficial for those who work a traditional 5-day work week and want to prioritize their tasks by hour and day.

4. 7-day weekly time blocking template

How to use it

Within this template, write the week date range, then add tasks to each hour interval for each day.

Who is it for?

A 7-day weekly template is beneficial for those who regularly work on weekends and need to block time across all seven days of the week.

5. Monthly time blocking template

How to use it

Monthly time blocking templates break down into 30- or 31-day views. Define the month of work, then add overarching tasks you’ll complete each day.

Who is it for?

If you need a high-level view of work that spans a month or more, monthly time-blocking templates may help. This template helps provide insight into the amount of work you need to complete over a month, showing what has been completed and what work remains to be finished.

What is time blocking?

Time blocking is a productivity technique that involves dividing your day into dedicated blocks of time. It can be very helpful when running a business.

It’s not just about creating a to-do list or employee time schedule; it’s about deciding when each task will be done. During each time block, you'll do a specific type of work instead of reacting to tasks as they come. 

How does time blocking work? 

Time blocking works because it helps you stop multitasking, which is a huge productivity killer. It forces you to work on specific tasks during small or larger increments. It also helps you see all the tasks you need done during a specific time frame. 

Prioritization is also important as you can use time blocking to define your high-priority responsibilities and ensure they aren’t lost in a long to-do list. AI for time management has also been helping business owners reclaim many hours of lost productivity each week.

Intentionally distributing your time blocks also helps prevent overcommitment to some tasks while neglecting others. For teams, time blocking improves collaboration by making everyone’s availability clear while reducing interruptions. 

Time blocking vs. Pomodoro technique? 

Time blocking is similar to the Pomodoro technique, which is another time management strategy. However, there are some important differences.

The Pomodoro Technique breaks work into fixed intervals (typically 25 minutes) followed by short breaks, regardless of task type. Time blocking, on the other hand, emphasizes assigning particular tasks to specific times, allowing for deeper focus and more strategic planning throughout the day.

How to implement time blocking: A step-by-step guide

Getting started with time blocking is simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you start managing your schedule with time blocking

  1. Identify all your tasks: Start by listing everything you need to accomplish, including any daily responsibilities, meetings, personal commitments, and long-term goals.
  2. Estimate the time you need for each task. Be honest about how long things actually take, and give yourself some wiggle room to avoid trying to do too much.
  3. Categorize and group tasks together: Organize similar tasks into categories, such as “emails” or "focused work." Grouping similar tasks helps you stay in the same mindset and complete work more efficiently
  4. Create your time blocks: Using a time blocking template, assign specific tasks or categories to designated blocks of time throughout your day. Focus on doing high-value work or work that requires a lot of focus during the hours when you're most productive. 
  5. Incorporate flex time and breaks: Leave room between blocks for interruptions or in case you go over on your time. Make sure to schedule short breaks and meals too, so you don't get burned out.
  6. Review and adjust: At the end of the day, look back at what worked so you can make adjustments for next time.

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Tips for efficient time blocking

There are two key ways to be efficient at time blocking: Understanding how your chosen method works and organizing tasks by importance.

Understanding the method

Time blocking is a method of managing your time that involves planning your day out by assigning specific tasks or activities to different time slots throughout your day. Instead of working reactively and responding to tasks and interruptions as they come up, you'll structure your day intentionally around your priorities.

The basic premise of time blocking is simple: assign blocks of time to specific tasks, projects, or categories of work. For example, you could block off:

  • 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. for deep work like data analysis
  • 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for email
  • 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for meetings

This helps you protect focused time, set boundaries, and make conscious choices about your hours. Time blocking improves focus and efficiency by reducing the temptation to multitask and minimizing distractions. Since you aren't constantly shifting gears, you can make meaningful progress on your work.

Organize tasks by importance 

If you're ready to try time blocking, you can start by figuring out your most important tasks. Then, set aside specific, uninterrupted time on your calendar for each one so that you can focus on one thing at a time.

  • Start by writing down everything you need to do during your day.
  • Next, review your list and rank tasks by their importance. Place the most critical or time-sensitive items at the top.
  • For each task, estimate how much time it will actually take. Be honest and build in a buffer for unexpected delays.
  • In your time management template, assign each task a specific time slot. Plan to complete the most important tasks during your peak productivity hours.

note icon

Efficiency is one of the key tasks that affects productivity, along with measuring output, effectively using resources, and working towards clear organizational goals.




Blocking time on paper

You can start time blocking using a paper planner, notebook, or printed time blocking template. When you're ready for a more streamlined experience, you can try out digital tools. These options allow you to map out your day without having to stare at a screen all day.

To stay organized, you can try color-coding your schedule. Use different colored pens or highlighters for different tasks, such as one color for work, another for personal activities, and a third for breaks. 

Whatever format you choose, make sure your physical schedule is neat, up to date, and always within reach. Consistency is key to making time blocking a lasting and effective habit.

Simplify your time tracking

Time blocking is a simple way to control your schedule and increase productivity. By intentionally planning your day and assigning specific tasks to specific time slots, you can improve your focus and prioritize what matters most while avoiding multitasking, which kills your productivity.

To make time blocking even more effective, pair it with accurate time tracking tools showing how your team spends time. 

QuickBooks Time offers smart features that help you monitor tasks, manage projects, and keep your team on schedule. Explore how our time tracking software can help you build a more productive, better-organized routine today.


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