The Calendar Blocking Strategy That Doubled My Productivity

The Problem: Death by a Thousand Meetings

My calendar used to be a disaster. Meetings scattered throughout the day, tiny gaps that were too short for deep work, and a constant feeling of being busy but not productive.

Sound familiar?

The Solution: Intentional Calendar Blocking

Calendar blocking isn't new, but most people do it wrong. Here's the strategy that actually works:

Step 1: Identify Your Peak Hours

When do you do your best work? For most people, it's morning. For night owls, it might be late afternoon. Identify your 3–4 peak productivity hours.

Track your energy and focus for a week, or simply reflect on when you naturally feel sharpest. Those hours are your most valuable asset.

Step 2: Block Those Hours First

Before you allow any meetings, block your peak hours as "Focus Time" or "Deep Work." These blocks are non-negotiable.

In your scheduling software, simply don't offer these times as available for booking. Treat them like client meetings with yourself: they can't be moved or casually cancelled.

Use this time for:

• Strategy and planning
• Writing, coding, or design work
• High-leverage tasks that move your business forward

Step 3: Create Meeting Batches

Instead of letting meetings scatter throughout your week, designate specific times for calls. For example:

• Discovery calls: Tuesday & Thursday, 2–5pm
• Client check-ins: Monday & Wednesday, 1–3pm
• Internal meetings: Friday morning only

The exact times don't matter as much as the principle: keep meetings contained in predictable blocks so the rest of your week is open for deep work.

This reduces context switching and makes your days feel calmer and more intentional.

Step 4: Add Buffer Time

Never schedule meetings back-to-back. Add 15-minute buffers between calls for: