What’s Time Blocking?
Even thought many people use time boxing and time blocking interchangeably, these two words are similar but don’t mean the same.
Time boxing: the productivity method of assigning a fixed period of time to a taskt to be done from start to end. This is based on the parkinson’s law which says that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.
Time blocking: is a time managament technique where you:
- Write down your tasks
- Sort them by priority
- Assign blocks of time of your day to these tasks
- Stick to your schedule
So we can tell we also do time boxing when we use time blocking.
Paper vs Digital
You can do the whole process in either paper or an app, utimately you should decide on what works better for your brain. Nevertheless, here there are a few relevant points to take into consideration:
Advantages
| 📃 Paper | 📱 Digital (App) |
|---|---|
| Lower cognitive load → fewer distractions | Reminders & alarms (great for time blindness) |
| Better task initiation (easier to start) | Automation & repetition |
| Stronger memory & focus (handwriting + embodiment) | Easy tracking & history |
Disadvantages
| 📃 Paper | 📱 Digital (App) |
|---|---|
| No automatic reminders | Increases context switching |
| Easy to lose or forget | High distraction potential |
| Harder to reuse or scale systems | Encourages multitasking |
Why it works?
Reduces cognitive load: According to Cognitive Load Theory, working memory is limited. Writing tasks down externalizes information, freeing cognitive resources that are often overtaxed in ADHD.
Compensates for time blindness: ADHD is associated with impaired time perception. Visual time blocking converts abstract time into concrete units, improving temporal awareness and follow-through.
Supports executive function: ADHD primarily affects executive functions such as planning, prioritization, and task initiation. Structured layouts act as external scaffolding for these functions.
Lowers task initiation friction: Breaking the day into small, defined blocks reduces the psychological barrier to starting, a known difficulty in ADHD.
Reduces decision fatigue: Making decisions once (during planning) decreases repeated decision-making throughout the day, preserving mental energy.
Regulates emotional load: Separating priorities from a brain dump reduces perceived overwhelm, which improves emotional regulation and stress tolerance.
Conclusion
As a ADHD person I’ve spent much time looking for ways to increase my productivity. This is the method that worked for me the most. It is not magic, you won’t become Elon Musk by using it for a few days, but this simple system provides you an initial structure for your day, and will help you to stick to it as much as possible.
For me the digital format works better, that’s why time ago I created Tidify, an iOS app created to provide a simple app to time block your day in the easiest way possible.