Here we’ll talk about how to time block when your day is unpredictable. I am a big fan of blocking time to complete goals each hour of the day (I call it “goal blocking”) but the fact is, sometimes it is difficult to know exactly what your day will look like. That makes time blocking—or goal blocking—difficult as well.

Before we cover that, for most people, most of the day is predictable. Even for me—someone who runs a business, who has four kids (including a baby that is sometimes up overnight), and as a result, will have things pop up that I did not foresee (having to pick up a child from school for example). Still, even with those variables, I can time block most of my day and do so very successfully.

So when is a day “unpredictable?”

There are always days that are simply unpredictable, and it is worth having a strategy to time block in these instances.  

I’ll give you an example. The other day I had to go to court for jury duty. If you have been selected for jury duty in the past, you may know that sometimes you get called. Sometimes you don’t. Even if you have to go to court, it does not mean that you are going to necessarily be picked for a jury. You may leave in the morning, the afternoon, or not until the evening. If you are selected, you will likely have the privilege and misfortune of having to go back the next day! (And maybe the day after that!)

So how do you time block when you don’t know if you’ll be occupied for one hour or eight?

You may feel a similar sense of uncertainty about your day if you have a medical procedure or if you are helping someone out (e.g. helping them move or driving them to an appointment). If you are like me, this can be a source of anxiety! So having good strategies on time blocking when your day is unpredictable is helpful.

Here are my tips on how to time block when your day is unpredictable:

1. First, keep whatever routines you can.

In particular, I find it very important to keep the morning routine of journaling, exercising, and getting ready. Even with an unpredictable day, having the routine I am able to keep is helpful.

I also find it helpful to keep other routines. For example, when I had jury duty, I could still pack a healthy lunch and keep my evening routine with my children.

2. Second, clear whatever tasks you had planned.

The next thing to do is get rid of any tasks you had planned for the unpredictable part of your day. If you have ten things to get done and end up with no time to do them, you are going to feel needlessly stressed and anxious.

So the goal is to delete anything that can be deleted and reallocate the rest. For example, if you do not absolutely need to be at a meeting, let it go on without you! If there are tasks that do need to get done, reschedule them to other parts of the week.

Once your schedule is cleared, it will be easier to clear your mind as well.

3. Third, have a “wish list”, in order of priority, for any time you may have off.

The next tip for time blocking when your day is unpredictable is to keep a “wish list” of tasks you want to get done. These may even be things that had been allocated to your schedule for that day. For example, maybe you want to contact certain clients, or write a report, or even do something around the house. I find it helpful to make a list with everything I can think of, and then when I am done I prioritize from “most important” (must get done!) to “least important.” If I find myself with extra time, I will start at the top of the list and go down.

You can also have a “5-Minute List” with short tasks that do not require a lot of mental energy. (This could include things like refilling prescriptions, answering emails, completing online orders, etc.)

The nice thing about doing this is if you end up with extra time on your hands, you will spend it productively. Having a list can also help you work with a greater sense of urgency (you want to cross things off that list!). And lastly, if you do not have time to get to your list, at least you know how to prioritize whatever time you do have available later in the day or week.  

4. Fourth, learn to appreciate the novelty of the moment.

When I was called for jury duty, you will not be surprised to hear that most of the people there were miserable. We all had better things to do and for the most part, were sitting around with scowls on our faces.

But this is where learning to appreciate the novelty of the moment comes into play.  If you have cleared your schedule (but still prioritized your time!) you will not be bored while you are waiting and you will not be stressed if you are busy with other tasks (like jury duty).

Even though I had absolutely no desire to be called for jury duty, I really appreciated listening to music on my long commute, meeting others at the courthouse, and I even loved being a juror when I was selected. I am actually thrilled to have had the opportunity!  

So instead of thinking, “my day is ruined!” think “my plans have shifted!”. It is a small way of thinking about your day that reduces stress.

5. Get help if you can.

When you are out of your routine with less time to yourself (or your work), you may be more easily annoyed if you have to come home and do laundry, make dinner, get all of the kids in bed, and do countless other tasks. Carrying the invisible burden is not easy!

I recommend proactively seeking outside help those days. Can the nanny keep the kids longer? Or can your spouse do drop off or pick up? Can you order dinner? Or get assistance with the laundry? Can someone at work take over a meeting you don’t absolutely need to be at? The more help you can get, the more peace of mind you will feel.

6. Spend five minutes at night planning for the next day.  

Part of the stress that comes with an unpredictable day is feeling out of control. So, at the end of the day, take five minutes to plan your next day. (Goal block it if possible!). This will give you a sense of control and meaning as you move into the next day. It will also reduce your stress levels as you will regain a sense of normalcy.

Instead of seeing unpredictable days as wasted days, see them as opportunities to flex a different kind of muscle: adaptability. With routines that ground you, a clear plan for shifting tasks, and the right mindset, you’ll end the day knowing you stayed focused on what mattered most—even if the schedule didn’t go as planned.