Time Striping: A Flexible Scheduling Technique

As a university instructor and freelance writer, there are always numerous projects and commitments to juggle. While the concept of Most Important Tasks (MITs) can be helpful, it doesn’t always work for ongoing projects and varied mindsets. Similarly, contexts in the Getting Things Done (GTD) sense may be limiting. Thus, a technique called time striping can offer a more flexible way to schedule tasks and track project time.

What is Time Striping?

Time striping is a variation of time blocking, which involves scheduling uninterrupted blocks of time for different projects throughout the day or week. In contrast, time striping involves creating a schedule where each hour is dedicated to a generic project. For example, “Project #1,” “Project #2,” and so on. As each project is finished, a new project is slotted into its timeslot. This creates a “stripe” of time from Monday to Friday for each project.

Benefits of Time Striping

Time striping offers a flexible approach to scheduling that can accommodate ongoing projects and sudden emergent commitments. Additionally, it allows for tracking of project time and can help ensure that each project receives the attention it needs.

Creating a Time Striping Form

To create a time striping schedule, use a form that includes hourly slots for each day of the week and a key to define ongoing projects. Include fixed commitments for the week at the top, such as appointments or meetings. Then, fill in generic projects for each hour through the week, such as “Project #1” from 9-10 am every day.

Flexibility in Time Striping

In cases where more than one hour is needed for a project, multiple slots can be added. For example, if a project needs two hours, “Project #1” can be slotted in at 9-10 am and 10-11 am. Additionally, specific commitments may require blocking off multiple hours, which creates a block instead of a stripe for that time slot.

Tracking Time

Time striping allows for easy tracking of project time across the week. As each project is completed, mark it off and fill in the next time slot with a new project. This helps ensure that each project is receiving the necessary time and attention.

Personalizing Time Striping

Each person’s time striping schedule will differ based on their specific commitments and ongoing projects. Personalize a time striping form by including specific projects and scheduling commitments based on individual needs.

Conclusion

Time striping offers a flexible scheduling technique that can accommodate ongoing projects and sudden emergent commitments. Creating a personalized time striping form can provide a clear overview of each project’s time and allow for effective project management.