Why Your Block Schedule Isn’t Working and How to Fix It

Before we get started, if you *LOVE* your block schedule and you’re getting more done than ever, then skip on by this article! Don’t change what works for you! However, if your block schedule just isn’t working, like mine didn’t, I’m going to show you how to fix it.

What Are Block Schedules

Really fast, if you aren’t familiar with the term, block schedules use a productivity method that breaks your day into blocks of time. These time chunks can last as long as you like, but most recommend blocks of around 2 to 3 hours. In each block, you do that “category” of task for the allotted time, then move on to the next block. You can find some great examples of this technique all over YouTube. (Note: Google will bring up a lot of information about block schedules referring to school schedules. It’s essentially the same thing, but you’ll get better SAHM/WAHM results by looking on YouTube.)

The Pros of Block Schedules

Focus

Time blocking helps you stay focused on one task at a time. You know what you need to do during a certain time block, so you aren’t tempted (theoretically) to do other things that derail your productivity.

Time Management

If you block off three hours for a task and discover it only took 1 hour since you could focus your time, you can now manage your time better.

Clear Picture of Your Week

Time blocking gives you a clear picture of where your time is going each day. This allows you to plan ahead and also schedule tasks in advance.

Why Your Block Schedule Isn’t Working

All those pros sound amazing, so why isn’t it working?! I hear you. When I first tried block scheduling, all it did was add STRESS to my life. The complete opposite of what it promised.

The turning point for me came after I read a book called A Mother’s Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul. If you haven’t read it, please add it to your reading list. It truly changed my life.

I discovered two import things after reading this book. First, I forgot about my kids. That sounds absurd, I know. I have two toddlers—at the time one toddler and a baby—how could I forget about the kids? Obviously I didn’t forget I have kids, I just didn’t factor in that they don’t care if I block off two hours to work out and eat breakfast. Even following the routines I set for them, they don’t operate on a time clock. They don’t get out of bed at the exact same time every day. They don’t want the same food I’ve painstakingly planned for them. They’re adorable little wildcards.

Second, I needed more structure without having to stick to a specific time frame. Essentially, it would stress me out if I didn’t get everything done during that special time chunk. But if I kept working past the stop time, then I’d feel rushed through the next block. I tried adjusting the time I’d given certain categories, but then I’d give up entirely because GAHH.

What to Do Instead

Some may argue that I’ve actually completely ditched the idea of a block schedule, but I think I keep enough of the principles to consider this a fix instead of a replacement.

Step 1

Start by sitting down with a spreadsheet (like this free one I made for you!). Put the time down the lefthand column, starting when you typically wake up.

Across the top, write your name first, then all your kids’ names. You can also include your husband’s name, especially if he works from home. I personally just mark down when he gets home because he leaves the house at 3:30am… long before any of us get up (hopefully).

Step 2

Now, go through and mark all the set time commitments. This primarily includes Mass, when any of the kids go to school, extra-curricular activities you take them to, weekly appointments that don’t change, etc.

If you’re using the spreadsheet I made, there are tabs along the bottom for each day of the week. You may also find it best to just have one schedule you follow for weekdays and one you follow for weekends. More about this in a moment.

Step 3

Set the schedule aside for a second and make a list of all the things you need to do in a day to feel like you’ve had a good, productive day. My list looks like this: morning and evening prayers, work on my current novel, work on this blog, editing work, my cleaning stations, work out, shower, cook dinner.

Now create a similar list for each of your kids. My littles’ lists include playing, playing, playing outside, eating snacks, a nap for the youngest, and some more playing.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a wish list! Be realistic with what makes you feel productive within your current season of life.

For example, in the book, she schedules in daily Mass, rosaries, multiple prayer times, confession, etc. If that’s what your usual is, fantastic! But again, this isn’t a wish list. If you schedule in a ton of additional stuff because you *wish* you did all those things, this will end in frustration and disappointment.

But, Stephanie, I really want to do all those things! That’s why I started a block schedule to begin with! I know, momma. I do. But save the wish list items for after you’ve mastered a simplified schedule!

Step 4

Look through your list and order the tasks into a routine. This is the real key to success here! You need to create a routine you can easily repeat, day after day. Your day should have a feeling of flow.

The categories in your old block schedule can actually help here. Presumably there was some logic to why you grouped certain things together within a time block. Now we are just zooming out to look at the flow of all of it.

Here’s my daily routine:

• Get up
• Morning prayers
• Work on my current novel
• Breakfast
• Cleaning station
• Gym
• Shower
• Work on my blog
• Editing work
• Cook dinner
• Evening prayers/Bedtime

Step 5

Put your routine on the schedule at the rough time you think it will happen. (It’s always better to give a task a bigger chunk of time than you think it will take.)

At this step you may find some conflict with your set-time obligations from step 2. That’s ok. This is where the block schedule mentality comes in. Look at your routine and see if you can find natural breaking points.

Using my routine as an example, my first natural breaking point would be breakfast. I stop working on my current novel to eat. Then start on a new task after eating. The next breaking point is after cleaning because I change clothes and I also have to get in the car. If I need to split it up in the afternoon, I can break the routine between working on my blog and editing, or delay the start of those two tasks.

Step 6

Before you get attached to the time slots you’ve selected, add in what your kids will do during each part of your routine. Once again, this is not a wish list. Remember who your kids really are.

When I finally did this, I realized I needed to get up earlier. It’s nearly impossible for me to work on my novel when the kids are awake. Sometimes I also have to push editing work back until after my husband gets home so I can focus. That’s just life. But it’s also part of the beauty of using routines within my schedule, flexibility!

Step 7

Test your routines and schedules and change them as needed. Traditional block scheduling comes in here as well. In my schedule, I go to the gym. They have childcare, but only during certain hours. So essentially I have a morning “block” that ends at noon. I need to be at the “leave the gym” step of my routine by noon. If I was consistently missing that mark, I would need to reevaluate my routine and change some things.

Step 8

Repeat this process seasonally (or so). Change is inevitable. Your schedule will grow with your kids, shift with the seasons, take massive detours you never planned for. That’s ok. Always remember your schedule is there to help you. If you start to feel like you can’t keep up with it, change the schedule, not yourself.