The foundation of our workweek is how we spend our time. Unfortunately, we focus little on how we design and spend our time. We work without a clear plan, letting the constant barrage of notifications distract us. As we participate in meetings, we have no clear strategy or purpose. However, you can design your week and control your valuable time.

Understand Your Time With a Self-Audit

Put it all on a calendar for two weeks, and pay attention to how you spend your time. Use a time audit to reflect on the data. How do you spend your time? What percentage of time do you allocate to each project? What days of the week do you focus on the most?

Use the insights and take action. Identify the small changes. What simple steps can you take to design your workweek? Also, try to identify any significant changes. Remember that making big structural changes to the week can open up time for the most important work.

Reduce Distractions to Create Time

Distractions cost. Some estimates suggest we are interrupted 56 times per day. On average, we check email 36 times per hour, and it takes 16 minutes to refocus after an incoming email. Distractions cost us time.

Turn off the email notifications and set aside a few blocks of time per day to respond. Block off at least two weekly in-depth work sessions where you turn off all notifications. Create goal-based calendar blocks. Time constraints can help you reach a predetermined goal by increasing your focus and empowering you to eliminate distractions.

Boundaries Maximize Your Time

Boundaries reduce distractions, burnout, and work stress. However, they can be difficult to create. Use your self-audit to determine the boundaries that are the most valuable. When you communicate your boundaries with others, try focusing on the benefit they make for the task at hand. Boundaries are effective when your availability is limited, or a project does not align with your priorities.

Test, Optimize, and Repeat

Start structuring one day to be focused, productive, and healthy. Make small changes across notifications, deep-work time, emails, and boundary setting. At the day’s end, reflect on everything learned. Think about what is working and what is not. Next, try for another day. Double down on 1-2 practices implemented, and select 1-2 more to test.

If you find it challenging to make changes daily, consider looking at an entire week focusing on 2-3 changes you can make weekly. At week’s end, reflect on what worked and did not, and then try the following week again.

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