Time blocking template and day planner
Time blocking means giving each task a slot in the day before the day starts. This template is a one-page plan in Markdown, with every block a task you can tick off.
The time-blocking day plan
Copy it into your daily note, or download the file. Change the times to fit your day.
The download is in English.
# Time-blocking day plan: {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}}
Give every task a block before the day starts. When a block runs over,
move the rest instead of squeezing them in.
## Must do today
- [ ]
## Blocks
- [ ] 07:30-08:00 Plan the day and check the calendar
- [ ] 08:00-10:00 Deep work: the most important task
- [ ] 10:00-10:30 Break and messages
- [ ] 10:30-12:00 Deep work: second task
- [ ] 12:00-13:00 Lunch
- [ ] 13:00-14:00 Meetings and calls
- [ ] 14:00-15:30 Admin and small tasks
- [ ] 15:30-16:00 Buffer for what ran over
- [ ] 16:00-16:30 Review the day and set up tomorrow
## Buffer rules
- Keep one 30-minute buffer per half day.
- A block is a promise to focus, not a prediction.
- If a task has no block by Wednesday, it is not a priority.
## Review
- Blocks kept:
- Blocks that ran over:
- Adjust next time:What time blocking is
Instead of a to-do list with no times, you give every task a block of the day. Deep work gets long blocks, small tasks are batched together, and a buffer absorbs whatever runs over.
It works because it forces trade-offs early. If the day has eight working hours, you can only schedule eight hours, so something has to wait.
Use it in TaskForge
- Copy the template into today's note, or set it as your daily note template so TaskForge fills in the date.
- Edit the block times. Each block is a task line, so you tick it off when it is done.
- To place a block on the calendar, give the task a scheduled date and time. TaskForge also lets you add a duration to a scheduled task, with quick presets or by typing something like "meeting at 10am for 90min".
- At the end of the day, move unfinished blocks to tomorrow.
Use it in Obsidian
- Save the file as time-blocking.md in your templates folder.
- Insert it with the core Templates plugin, or use it as your Daily notes template. Both replace {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} with today's date.
- Add a scheduled date (⏳) to a block and the Tasks plugin lists it in its queries.
Time blocking tips
- Block the hardest task first, while your energy is highest.
- Keep one buffer block per half day.
- Batch small tasks into one block instead of scattering them.
- Plan tomorrow's blocks at the end of today.
Questions about time blocking
What is time blocking?
A planning method where you assign each task a block of time in your day, instead of keeping an open-ended to-do list. The day's hours set a limit on what you can commit to.
How long should a block be?
Most people use 30 minutes to 2 hours: short enough to hold focus, long enough to get into the work. Adjust after a week of use, and keep a buffer for what runs over.
Does the template work without TaskForge or Obsidian?
Yes. It is a plain Markdown file. Apps that do not read tasks still show each block as a checkbox.
Plan the day where your tasks already live
TaskForge shows your tasks next to your device calendar on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android. Free to download.
