Elon Musk’s Secret to getting so much done

Do you ever wonder how Elon Musk manages to accomplish so much in a day? As the head of multiple companies, he still finds time for hobbies, family, and himself - all while working 11-14 hours a day! The key to his success? Time blocking!

Time blocking is a powerful and effective time-management strategy used by many successful business people. And it's simple too! It involves breaking down your activities into preset blocks of time, allowing you to organize your tasks and prioritize your action items.

Personally, I've been using time blocking since 2016 and it has completely transformed my life. I've gone from feeling scattered and overwhelmed to organized, focused, and accomplished. Like I remember standing in my living room not knowing what to tackle next. That never happens now. I have a secret for that, too, that I’ll share in this podcast.

how i use time blocking

Here's a breakdown of how I use time blocking:

1. I make a list of Big, Little, and Next tasks for the week.

2. The Big tasks include at least one action item for my 90-day goal and other important tasks for the week. I tackle the 90-day goal task first because I’ve found that other things will crowd out my goal if I’m not careful.

3. Little tasks are smaller items that would be great to accomplish if I have time. This is the icing on the cake. You feel so GOOD when you are able to get one or two of these done!

4. Next tasks are any upcoming tasks that need to be done, but aren't yet a priority. I write them down because they feel like flies buzzing all around in my head if I don’t.

5. I schedule my Big tasks into my planner, based on the appointments and to-do's I already have scheduled in my phone. I only put goal-focused things in my planner because it’s designed to help me live the life I want. To-do’s and appointments are perfect for phone calendars.

6. I then time block my work in my phone calendar, focusing on one task at a time without any distractions or I set a timer. I then put my phone to the side. I don’t answer emails. I focus on my work uninterrupted for at least 20 minutes.

time optimist or time pessimist?

It's important to be realistic about how long each task will take.. There are some who are time optimists who think that everything will take less time than it will and some who are time pessimists who think it will take longer than it will. Make sure you schedule time for breaks throughout the day. This will help boost productivity and keep you fresh and energized for the next task.

I also suggest time-blocking at least 20-25 minutes of focused work because the brain can get “in the zone.” In the past, I wouldn’t start a project unless I felt I had enough time to complete it. Then I realized the power of short burs of work and how much I was getting done. I later learned it’s an actual thing—the Pomodoro method.

time block recreation

I've found that blocking out time for recreation and rest is key to keeping myself happy and productive. It didn't come naturally to me, since I love working so much that it often felt like recreation in itself. But trust me, downtime is crucial! Now, every Sunday my hubby and I have a totally unproductive and lazy day together, and I take Mondays off for rest. I sleep in, spend some time studying the Bible (one of my passions), and listen to some great teachings and trainings. It's a sweet reset that keeps me energized for the rest of the week!

will it get you closer?

Remember, it's important to review and adjust your schedule regularly to avoid over-scheduling and unnecessary stress. I always ask myself, “Will this task, event, opportunity get me closer to my 90-day goals or take me from it?” That’s why my time blocking actually starts with deciding what I want to accomplish in the next quarter and arranging my schedule based on that priority and everything else comes after. 

So why not give time blocking a try? With a little bit of discipline and planning, you'll find yourself becoming more productive than ever before!