I have joined a 30-day Productivity Challenge and wanted to share my journey with you and invite you to join me. Click here – https://30dayproductivity.com – if you want to join me. I think that this could be a lot of fun, especially completing it as a community.

Today’s productivity challenge is to schedule tomorrow using time blocking and the Pomodoro technique. With Martin Luther King Day providing a break from work, it’s an ideal opportunity to focus on personal projects, especially those that require deep concentration and creativity. Combining the principles of Time Blocking and the Pomodoro Technique, I’ve crafted a schedule to maximize productivity for tomorrow.

Here’s how I plan to structure my day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

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9:00 am – 10:30 am: Manuscript Work

9:00 am – 9:25 am
Manuscript Work (Pomodoro 1)

9:25 am – 9:30 am
Break 1 – Stretch or light yoga

9:30 am – 9:55 am
Manuscript Work (Pomodoro 2)

9:55 am – 10:00 am
Break 2 – Hydration break

10:00 am – 10:25 am
Manuscript Work (Pomodoro 3)

10:25 am – 10:30 am
Break 3 – Snack time

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10:30 am – 11:00 am
Longer Break: Relaxing activity (reading, music)

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11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Blog Challenge Development

11:00 am – 11:25 am
Blog Challenge Development (Pomodoro 1)

11:25 am – 11:30 am
Break 1 – Social media check

11:30 am – 11:55 am
Blog Challenge Development (Pomodoro 2)

11:55 am – 12:00 pm
Break 2 – Quick household chore

12:00 pm – 12:25 pm
Blog Challenge Development (Pomodoro 3)

12:25 pm – 12:30 pm
Break 3 – Meditative breathing

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12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch Break – Eat, relax, and recharge.

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1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Dissertation Research

1:30 pm – 1:55 pm
Dissertation Research (Pomodoro 1)

1:55 pm – 2:00 pm
Break 1 – Egoscue Run in Place

2:00 pm – 2:25 pm
Dissertation Research (Pomodoro 2)

2:25 pm – 2:30 pm
Break 2 – Daily journaling

2:30 pm – 2:55 pm
Dissertation Research (Pomodoro 3)

2:55 pm – 3:00 pm
Break 3 – Daily journaling

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3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Short Break – Light snack, dinner prep, and a brief rest.

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3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Ph.D Coursework

3:30 pm – 3:55 pm
PhD Coursework (Pomodoro 1)

3:55 pm – 4:00 pm
Break 1 – Meditative breathing

4:00 pm – 4:25 pm
PhD Coursework (Pomodoro 2)

4:25 pm – 4:30 pm
Break 2 – Clean up desk and close home office

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4:30 pm – 5:00+ pm: Workout Session

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I’m sure that looking at this schedule, it seems like it took quite a bit of time to figure out the timing and all the activities. Actually, it didn’t take any time at all because I leveraged the power of AI. I asked AI to create a schedule for me. I identified the time block, i.e., 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and what major projects I wanted to work on. Not only did AI set up the time blocking for me, it also created each of the Pomodoros and breaks. I can use this schedule to pre-program all the alarms needed for the day.

This schedule exemplifies how time blocking and the Pomodoro Technique can be merged to create a highly efficient and focused day. Each block is dedicated to a specific task, with clear goals and a structured approach to maximize output. The Pomodoro Technique ensures regular breaks to maintain energy levels and mental clarity, which is crucial when tackling intense tasks such as manuscript writing or dissertation research.

But what about if I had to work for my employer? How would that effect the schedule? The first time block focused on manuscript work would be employment work, but the longer break from 10:30 am to 11:00 am would be dedicated to one of my personal projects, such as checking my school assignments, email, or feedback from my professors.

The second time block focused on drafting posts for my blog would also be employment work, but during my lunch, I would work on writing, either my blog posts or my personal manuscript. I find writing to be relaxing and enjoyable, and it would be a nice change from the projects I am working on for my employer. Alternatively, I could use the first half hour to write and dedicate the second half hour to eating and relaxing.

And so on throughout the day until 4:30 when I can do the various workouts assigned by my personal trainer. Interspersing physical activity, like the workout session with bands and the TRX system, is not just about physical health. It’s also a strategic move to boost mental energy and creativity, especially useful after hours of cognitive work.

The key to a successful day using this method is adherence to the schedule and being mindful during each task. It’s about quality, focused work rather than just clocking hours. By the end of the day, not only will significant progress be made across various projects, but there will also be a sense of accomplishment and well-being, knowing that the day was spent productively and purposefully.

As a side note, if you noticed that I am planning on publishing a 30 Day Performance Challenge, be sure to subscribe to this site and join in the fun while we leverage the techniques of top athletes to improve our performance in every area of our lives!