Episode 144: How I Block Time In My Schedule and Protect My Time
Episode Summary
I’m fiercely protective of my time, both work and personal, and in this episode I walk through the exact systems that let me run a solo business without burning out. I share how I use calendar blocks, structure with flexibility, call and deep-work days, and how I manage notifications so I can stay focused and responsive without being on all the time. You’ll hear how I prioritize current clients over new ones, why I batch similar tasks, and the simple tools I rely on to keep my week calm, predictable, and flexible.
Topics I Talk About in This Episode
Why I’m intensely protective of my time as a solo operator
My core schedule: 10–4, Monday through Thursday, with Fridays clear
What “structure within flexibility” looks like in my day-to-day
Time-blocking everything in Google Calendar (color-coded and planned months ahead)
Task batching: Monday/Wednesday = backend work, Tuesday/Thursday = calls (plus “Do It In A Day” blocks)
Separating new-client and current-client availability so my existing clients always have first pick
Keeping tools simple: Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets instead of big project systems
Managing notifications and focus modes on my phone to cut distractions
Email boundaries: I’ll write messages on weekends but schedule them to send during business hours
A clinic/PT example for how to batch energy-heavy tasks like evals and follow-ups
The privilege and reality of being fully solo with a supportive partner and pets
The reminder that if something matters, you have to block time for it
Links Mentioned
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