You’ve built awareness and learned to protect your focus. Now it’s time to structure your day with the tools you already use, like Basecamp and Outlook, so you can work with clarity instead of chaos.

Today is about "time boxing".

Time Boxing is a simple method that helps you direct your time with intention. Instead of reacting to every request and notification, you give your top priorities the space they deserve.

Time Boxing is the practice of allocating fixed blocks of time to your most important tasks – and protecting that slot like a meeting with yourself. It gives structure and intentionality to your day so you can focus on what matters.

Why this works: Harvard Business Review found that timeboxing improves both team and individual productivity while making you feel more in control. Another analysis of 100 productivity strategies ranked timeboxing as the most effective method, noting it boosts focus, cuts procrastination, enables realistic planning, and delivers a sense of accomplishment. (source: HBR; Salt Creative)

Time boxing originated in agile project techniques and was popularized in personal use by the Pomodoro method – solid proof that even simple structure can make a big difference. By blocking your time, you limit decision fatigue, minimize interruptions, and consistently align effort with impact.

Now that you understand why time boxing matters, let’s get practical. This step is about how to put the concept into action using the tools you already rely on at work. With Basecamp and Outlook, you can create a simple system to manage your day with greater intention.

Start with a brain dump. Capture all tasks, ideas, and priorities cluttering your head. In Basecamp, use the “My Stuff” section to collect and sort these items into focus areas.

Then turn to your calendar. In Outlook, block specific times for these activities. Your schedule becomes your strategy – not just a passive list of meetings and reactive tasks.

Here’s how a day might look:

The key is clarity. Instead of hoping for pockets of time to get work done, you’re creating intentional space for the things that matter – and reducing the chance of tasks sprawling across the day.

Here is an example:

This structure supports your prioritization and boundary setting efforts by making them visible. You can now see when your best energy goes where, and if your calendar reflects your values.

Tip: Your time boxes will appear in the Readiness app. Take note of how your emotional responses shift throughout the day.

Time boxing is simple to start, but takes real practice to maintain. Today, use this prompt template to design your day with intention.