A Day in the Life: From Morning Intention to Evening Wind-Down
Let’s walk through a day with “Alex,” a project manager using the Intentional Blocking system. This isn’t about a perfect day; it’s about a realistic, productive one.
7:30 AM: Morning Intention. Before checking email, Alex spends 10 minutes reviewing their 1-3-5 list for the day. Their #1 task is to finalize the budget for a major project. They have three medium tasks and five small administrative items. Alex looks at their calendar and confirms their most important block is already scheduled: a two-hour, deep work session from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM labeled “Finalize Project Phoenix Budget.”
9:00 AM: Deep Work Block. Alex closes their email tab, puts their phone on silent, and starts on the budget. Because the task is clearly defined, there’s no procrastination. They dive right in.
10:15 AM: The Interruption. Alex’s boss messages with an “urgent” request to review a presentation deck. In a rigid system, this would cause stress. Using this method, Alex has a plan. They timebox the interruption: “I’ll give this 15 minutes.” They quickly provide feedback on the deck and then turn their attention back to the budget. They lost 15 minutes, but the block isn’t ruined.
11:00 AM: Block Transition. The block ends. The budget isn’t 100% done, but it’s 80% there. Alex uses their scheduled 15-minute buffer to get some water and mentally prepare for their next block: a 60-minute meeting.
12:15 PM: A Meeting Runs Long. The meeting was supposed to end at 1:00 PM, but it runs over by 20 minutes, eating into their planned block for a medium task. Instead of getting frustrated, Alex adapts. They look at their 1-3-5 list. The original medium task needs a full hour. They don’t have that. But they can knock out three of their five small tasks in the remaining 30 minutes before lunch. They swap the blocks, making a conscious choice to maintain momentum.
4:30 PM: The Shutdown Ritual. At the end of the day, Alex takes 10 minutes to review their 1-3-5 list. The #1 task is nearly done. They completed two of three medium tasks and all five small ones. The remaining medium task gets moved to tomorrow’s potential list. Alex feels a sense of accomplishment. The day wasn’t perfect, but it was intentional. They controlled their focus and adapted to challenges. This process of building effective habits is central to long-term success.
