Time Block 101: How I Use Time Blocking as a Working Mom

I’m sure you’ve heard of time blocking before, but have you ever seen it used by an everyday mom who also works full time, manages a family, and runs a creative side hustle?

When I first discovered time blocking, I was immediately hooked. I realized it wasn’t just another productivity trend, it was a way for me to intentionally organize my day, reduce the mental load, and stop feeling so scattered.

Time blocking is just a simple way to give your time a job. It’s the idea of taking your day and breaking it into blocks, each one with a purpose. Instead of keeping a never-ending to-do list and hoping you get to everything, you assign your tasks to specific times. That way, you're not just reacting to the day, you’re leading it.

And here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be rigid. It’s not about cramming every second or doing it perfectly. It’s about creating space to be intentional, focused, and (most importantly) kind to yourself. Whether I’m using it to map out my Monday at home or break up a packed workday, time blocking gives me clarity and peace, even if the plan shifts a bit.

The best part? I use it in two very different ways:

1. For managing my home and family life

2. And for staying on track with tasks, meetings, and focus blocks at work

Let me walk you through both styles and show you how easy and flexible time blocking can actually be.

How I Use Time Blocking at Home

The way I use time blocking outside of work depends on the day of the week—but I always start with Sunday.

Every Sunday, I sit down with my iPad and open up my digital planner in GoodNotes. (Although I designed this layout for digital use, it’s also printable if you prefer pen and paper)

On Sundays, I look ahead and write out everything I’ve got going on for the week:

• After-school events or anything the kids have going on

• Appointments

• My workout schedule

• Meal plans (sometimes, my hubby does all the cooking)

• Even downtime, date nights, or rest blocks

I need it all in front of me so I can work backward and plan my week in a way that feels doable, not overwhelming.

Once I’ve mapped out my week, I zoom in on Monday and start blocking out time by category. I use different highlighter colors to make it visual and fun.

Here’s how I typically categorize my time blocks:

🩵 Personal (self-care, workouts, quiet time)

💛 Work (meetings, focused work time, admin)

🩷 Family (driving, dinner, bedtime routines)

💜 Side Hustle (writing, creating, social media)

And honestly, it’s whatever you want it to be. The beauty of time blocking is that it’s not about rigidity, it’s about giving your time a purpose.

After a Monday, I just erase the whole set of time blocks and start over on Tuesday (I'm just careful not to delete the week outlook, good thing there is the undo option, I'm not always perfect at this), for me one of the layouts I like the best is this one so I always have the week outlook on the same page.

Time Blocking at Work

During my workweek, I use time blocking a little differently. I often use my work Outlook calendar and have different categories that I assign to my time blocks. Instead of laying out the whole day from morning to night, I block by:

• Meeting windows

• Focused work blocks for strategic projects

• Email or admin catch-up time

• And I always include buffer space for thinking and recharging

This helps me set realistic expectations for the day and protect the time I need to actually get things done—not just be reactive.

Want to Try It Yourself?

I created a Time Blocking Digital Planner that’s exactly what I use every week. It’s super simple—think of it more like a digital pad of paper with structure. Not too complicated. Just enough layout to help you plan without the overwhelm. Best part is that none of the pages are one and done, you can keep reusing them and changing up the layout you used based on whatever works best for you that day.

✔️ Works with GoodNotes, Notability, ZoomNotes, and more

✔️ Includes 2-day, 5-day, and weekly layouts

✔️ Printable option included

✔️ Undated and totally flexible

✔️ Clickable tabs, habit tracker, and space for your top 3 + to-dos

Click here to check it out! For my blog readers - I always have 20% off my whole shop - just use WTLBBLOG20 at check out.

Let me know what other layouts you'd like to see! I've got a whole planner package coming soon! Are you going to try time-blocking? If so, let me know!