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Organize Your Time: The Power of Time Blocking

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with www.PrinterBees.com BRE# 01392374

Do you ever feel like you have too much to do and not enough time?

If not, leave a comment with your secrets! 

Most people do, myself included. However, there are some powerful time management tools that can help, including one of my personal favorites – time blocking!

If you have a tendency to get distracted every time… SQUIRREL!

..Sorry! But if you’re as easily distracted as I am, you’ll love this technique.

Schedule “Meetings”

The key to time blocking is simple – create blocks of time on your calendar for specific projects and then protect them and use them. 

For me, the simplest idea has been telling myself I have a “meeting” during that time. That way I won’t get pulled away by phone calls, personal thoughts, or well-meaning friends.

After all, if I had a meeting with you, I wouldn’t let anyone interrupt it. I can do the same with meetings I schedule with myself!

What to Do?

Even if you have blocked off time, you need to know exactly what you’re doing. It can’t be too general, like “work on marketing.” Instead, write down “order seasonal postcards,” or another specific task.

If things are too general, you’ll get distracted trying to figure out exactly what you’re DOING with your marketing.

Here are some other time blocking ideas:

  • 8:30am – 11am: Call FSBOs, Expired Listings, and Circle of Influence to generate leads
  • 11am – 12pm and 3pm – 4pm: Reply to emails and return calls
  • 1pm – 2pm: Follow up on leads and try to schedule appointments
  • 2pm – 3pm: Apply address labels and mail farming postcards

You can also block out time for classes you’re taking, personal enrichment, and training.

Don’t forget to block out time for family, meals, and other things as well if you need to. Or, simply make a strong cutoff time when business ends.

Time Blocking Makes You More Effective

There are a thousand things you need to keep up with if you want to succeed in real estate. One of the most important is your marketing, and yet it gets pushed to the back often if you don’t plan ahead.

Instead of forgetting about your real estate marketing until you’re dead slow and scrambling, use time blocking to create consistent time for it. You’ll thank yourself!

 

Have you ever used time blocking? How does it work for you? Share in the comments!

 

This post originally shared on PrinterBees' Real Estate Marketing Magazine.

Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Nadine,  I am a time blogger and try to stick to my list all the time but have to change sometime for clients.   I will reblog this sometime for you.

 

Aug 19, 2019 08:13 AM
Nadine Larder

Wonderful, thanks! 


Timeblocking is never perfect, but it's a great start to make sure you get the important things done. :-)

Aug 20, 2019 10:18 PM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Everything I do is put on my schedule.  I have been time blocking consistently for the past few years.  I could not be successful without it.  I love crossing off time for ME too ... as that is important to my spiritual health along with some rest, relaxation and recreation. 

Aug 20, 2019 06:26 PM
Nadine Larder

Absolutely, ME time is vital! You can't serve anyone if you're empty yourself.

Aug 20, 2019 10:18 PM
Ron Aguilar
Gateway Mortgage Group - Saint George, UT
Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor since 1995

We as Lenders and Agents have been talking about time management since the days of a Franklin Day Planner. For the past 24 years I have noticed the one usual cause for failure in day planning. Getting your personal life in order. 

Aug 21, 2019 06:58 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Time blocking is an invaluable tool to assure you that every important thing has a place in your schedule...couldn't live without it !

Sep 08, 2019 03:44 AM