How to Plan Your Week With Energy-Based Time Blocking

Four-panel comic showing a person sketching tasks, checking energy levels, placing blocks in a calendar with breaks, and relaxing with their organised schedule

Welcome to a calmer way of planning your week. Instead of cramming tasks into your calendar and hoping for the best, you can sketch your week like a map. This energy-based time blocking approach helps you place tasks where your natural energy flows best, with built-in breaks to prevent burnout.

Sketch Your Time Blocks on Paper

Start by grabbing a blank piece of paper or notebook. Sketch out the key blocks of time you need for the week ahead. Think of these as puzzle pieces, not rigid commitments yet. Draw rectangles for each main task or project you need to tackle. This visual step helps your brain process what's ahead without the pressure of a digital calendar staring back at you.

Check Your Energy Levels

Now comes the clever part. Look at your master calendar and consider when you naturally have the most mental energy. We all have different rhythms throughout the day and week. Ask yourself:

  • When do I feel most focused and alert?
  • When does my energy typically dip?
  • What external factors (meetings, family commitments) affect my available energy?

This awareness is your secret weapon. It transforms time blocking from a rigid system into one that works with your natural flow.

Place Blocks and Add Buffer Breaks

Here's where your sketch meets reality. Place your harder, more demanding blocks where you tend to have peak focus. Save easier tasks for when your energy naturally dips. But here's the crucial bit: build in time buffer breaks between blocks. These aren't optional—they're your reset points.

Break big things down until they feel manageable. The key is avoiding the temptation to do everything in one long, stressful marathon. Shorter blocks with breaks keep your brain engaged and prevent that overwhelming crash. Consider everything else you already have going on, so your plan matches your real life, not an imaginary empty day.

Enjoy Your Organised Plan

Once you've placed your blocks with their buffer breaks, add them to your digital schedule for the week. You now have a plan that genuinely fits you, complete with built-in reset points. Your week becomes a map you can actually follow, rather than a list that makes you feel defeated before you start.

That peaceful, organised feeling from having a realistic plan? It's genuinely achievable when you work with your energy, not against it.

Many neurodivergent individuals find this approach particularly helpful for managing focus and preventing overwhelm. If you're looking for additional support to maintain your energy and concentration throughout your time blocks, Brainzyme offers scientifically proven plant-powered focus supplements designed to work with your brain's natural chemistry.

Discover how Brainzyme can support your energy-based planning at www.brainzyme.com