Time Blocking 101

A Lawyer Dad's Guide to Getting More Done (Without Losing Your Mind)

As a Lawyer Dad, I’m well-acquainted with the struggle of balancing work, family, and everything in between. But full disclosure—I haven’t implemented a formal time blocking strategy yet and I spend too much of my time reacting, rather than tackling projects I’ve pre-planned.

During the first-ever Dad, Esq. lunch and learn this week, I learned that I’m not alone.

I’ve read about time blocking, I see the benefits, and I’m ready to give it a shot. If you’re in the same boat, let’s figure this out together. If you’re further along, I’d appreciate your thoughts on what has worked well for you, and maybe more importantly what did not work (and why)!

In this post, I break down time blocking, explore different approaches, and provide practical steps to get started—without overcomplicating it. Let’s dive in and start making time work for us.

---

What Is Time Blocking?

Time blocking is a simple but powerful productivity technique where you schedule specific blocks of time for different tasks—work (including specific work tasks), family, personal time, even breaks. Instead of reacting to your day, you plan ahead and focus on what truly matters. I don’t know about you, but that sounds great to me.

Why Lawyer Dads Need Time Blocking

• Prevents work from bleeding into family time (or vice versa).

• Reduces decision fatigue—you always know what’s next.

• Creates focus by eliminating distractions.

• Helps prioritize the important over the urgent.

Again, this sounds great in theory, right? But what’s the best way to do it?

---

4 Time Blocking Strategies to Try

1. The Classic Time Blocking Method

This is the foundational time blocking strategy and probably the best place to start for newbies like me. It involves assigning specific time slots to different types of work, meetings, and personal tasks. Instead of keeping a vague (and in my case, never-ending) to-do list, your calendar dictates what you work on and when.

How It Works:

• Block out your entire day in advance, allocating time for deep work, meetings, emails, and personal time.

• Keep each block realistic—don’t overload a single time slot with too much work.

• Be mindful of transitions between tasks, leaving buffer time if needed.

• Consider color-coding your calendar to distinguish between billable and non-billable tasks (if you’re in private practice), or between work, family, and personal time.

Example Schedule (I’m a morning person - adjust as needed):

• 5:00 - 5:30 AM → Quiet/Reading Time

• 5:30 - 6:30 AM → Exercise/Workout

• 6:30 - 8:30 AM → Get Ready For Work/School + Drive Kids to School

• 8:30 - 10:00 AM → Deep Work (complete the most critical task for the day)

• 10:00 - 10:15 AM → Coffee Break + Check In with Team

• 10:15 - 11:00 AM → Emails + Follow-ups

• 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM → Deep Work (complete the second most critical task for the day)

• 12:30 - 1:30 PM → Lunch & Family Check-in

• 1:30 - 3:30 PM → Client & Strategy Calls/Meetings

• 3:30 - 3:45PM → Coffee and Nonogram Break (yes, I’m a math nerd and I drink too much coffee)

• 3:45 - 5:15 PM → Deep Work (complete third most critical task for the day)

• 5:15 - 6:00 PM → Emails + Follow-ups

• 6:00 - 8:30 PM → Dinner, family time, + bedtime

• 8:30 - 10:00 PM → Time with partner and/or personal/self-development time

Best for:

Lawyer Dads looking for structure, consistency, and clear boundaries between work and home life.

---

2. Task Batching

If you often feel like you’re switching between tasks too frequently, task batching might be your answer. Instead of jumping between emails, meetings, and deep work, you group similar tasks together to minimize context switching.

How It Works:

• Identify repetitive tasks that eat up your time (emails, client calls, case reviews).

• Set aside specific blocks of time to handle those tasks in bulk.

• Stick to those times and avoid tackling those tasks outside of their designated blocks.

Example:

• Instead of checking emails all day, reserve 10:15 - 11:00 AM and 5:15 - 6:00 PM for email responses.

• Instead of having calls scattered throughout the day, schedule all client calls back-to-back from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM (of course, this depends on the client’s availability, but you can use a scheduling app like Microsoft Bookings or Calendly to better manage your calendar).

• Instead of preparing for each case individually, batch case strategy into a Friday morning deep work session.

Best for:

Lawyers who get easily distracted by small, recurring tasks throughout the day.

---

3. The Pomodoro Technique

Sometimes long time blocks feel daunting, making it hard to stay focused. That’s where the Pomodoro Technique comes in. It’s a structured way to maintain high levels of concentration while preventing burnout.

How It Works:

• Set a timer for 25 minutes and work with full focus on a single task.

• Take a 5-minute break when the timer goes off.

• Repeat this cycle four times, then take a longer 20-30 minute break.

• Adjust the timing if needed—some people prefer 45-minute work sessions followed by 10-minute breaks.

Why It Works:

• Helps fight procrastination by making big tasks feel more manageable.

• Encourages deep focus while allowing for regular mental resets.

• Provides built-in breaks, reducing mental fatigue.

Best for:

Lawyers who struggle with distractions or need a structured way to push through complex tasks.

---

4. Theme Days (or Half-Days)

Instead of structuring each day the same way, theme days dedicate entire days (or large portions of a day) to specific types of work. This allows you to stay in the right mindset for certain tasks without constant shifts in focus.

How It Works:

• Assign themes to certain days of the week (or mornings/afternoons).

• Example:

  • Monday: Litigation Strategy & Legal Writing

  • Tuesday: Client Meetings & Calls

  • Wednesday: Business Development & Networking

  • Thursday: Advice & Counsel & Policy Review

  • Friday: Admin & Weekly Planning

• Alternatively, use morning vs. afternoon themes:

  • Mornings = Deep Work (drafting, research)

  • Afternoons = Meetings, Calls, Emails

Why It Works:

• Reduces decision fatigue—you know exactly what to focus on each day (or portion of the day).

• Prevents multitasking and constant context switching.

• Helps create better mental flow by keeping similar tasks together.

Best for:

Lawyers managing multiple cases or responsibilities, needing deep work time without interruptions.

Which strategy works best for you, or do you use a different strategy?

---

How to Start Time Blocking (Without Overcomplicating It)

If you’re new to time blocking (like me), don’t overthink it. Here’s a simple way to start:

1. Pick One Strategy: Choose one method that fits your current workflow and experiment with it for a week.

2. Start Small: Implement just one or two blocks per day—don’t try to schedule every minute right away.

3. Use a Calendar: Google Calendar, Outlook, or even a notebook works. Color-code your blocks for better organization.

4. Set Boundaries: Protect your time blocks by turning off notifications and letting colleagues or family know when you're unavailable.

5. Stay Flexible: Life happens—kids get sick, clients need last-minute calls. Adjust and refine as you go.

6. Review Weekly: Spend 10 minutes every Sunday planning your upcoming time blocks.

---

Your Turn: What Works for You?

Since I’m just starting to experiment with time blocking, I’d love to hear from other Lawyer Dads. Have you used any of these strategies? Which ones worked (or didn’t)?

Drop a comment and share your experiences—I’m looking for real-world insights!

Let’s figure this out together.

---

Are you a Lawyer Dad looking for a community of like-minded professionals who understand the challenges you face in balancing a demanding law practice while raising kids? If so, I’d love for you to join our growing community. There’s no cost to join or participate, so jump in today!