Fall is the perfect season to reassess what’s working (and not working) with our entrepreneurial rhythms. Whether that’s overhauling productivity habits or setting better boundaries around work hours, now’s the time to find a better equilibrium!
As a work-from-home mom to a very busy preschooler, I’ve written before about how time blocking my schedule has been my saving grace for balancing motherhood and business ownership. I always find it fascinating to learn about other working mothers’ schedules, so today’s blog provides a little behind-the-scenes peek into the Schutte household!
Why Do I Use Time Blocking?
I have to shout out Melissa Swink of Melissa Swink & Co., who first introduced me to time blocking as a time management blueprint. I’ve found that this is the most sanity-saving method for keeping clear lines around work and life, especially when so much of my work is done from home. Most importantly, time blocking has allowed me to be more intentional with how I spend my precious time and energy.
How does it work? This strategy basically involves allocating specific time slots (“blocks”) to all my activities throughout the day.
Important Note: Some people allocate specific tasks to each hour of their days. In the past, I’ve gotten that granular, but most of the time, my blocks are more flexible. Instead, I’ve chosen to assign two to four priorities to each day of the week, to help keep my work time laser-focused.
Let me show you what this looks like in practice. I’ve created my fall 2025 time blocks and laid them out below!
My Exact Template for a Fall Time Block Schedule
My daughter attends 3K for three hours a day, three mornings a week, at my church, where I also work part-time. You’ll see that reflected in my time blocks below.
Mondays
On Mondays, I have three work priorities: Church responsibilities, blog writing for various clients, and Emily Writes administrative work. I also do not schedule any client meetings on Mondays.
5:00 a.m.
Wake up + get ready
5:30-7:00 a.m.
Work
7:00-8:00 a.m.
Breakfast + get daughter ready for 3K
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Daughter at 3K
Church staff meeting + church work
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Lunch + play outside
1:30-3:00 p.m.
Work while daughter naps
(No client meetings on Mondays)
Evening
Reset house + prep dinner
Daughter’s gymnastics class
Tuesdays
On Tuesdays, I have two work priorities: Email newsletters for various clients and scheduling social media content.
5:00 a.m.
Wake up + get ready
5:30-7:00 a.m.
Work
7:00-8:00 a.m.
Breakfast + get daughter ready
Morning
Household errands and appointments
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Lunch + play outside
1:30-3:00 p.m.
Work while daughter naps
Potential for one Zoom meeting
Evening
Reset house + prep dinner
Wednesdays
On Wednesdays, I have two work priorities: Church responsibilities OR client meetings (rotate every other week) and taking care of projects for a large-retainer client.
5:00 a.m.
Wake up + get ready
5:30-7:00 a.m.
Work
7:00-8:00 a.m.
Breakfast + get daughter ready for 3K
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Daughter at 3K
Rotate – Week 1: Home for client Zoom meetings
Rotate – Week 2: Work at church
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Lunch + play outside
1:30-3:00 p.m.
Work while daughter naps
Potential for one Zoom meeting
Evening
Reset house + prep dinner
Daughter’s dance class
Thursdays
On Thursdays, I have two work priorities: Projects for my agency clients and social media caption writing.
5:00 a.m.
Wake up + get ready
5:30-7:00 a.m.
Work
7:00-8:00 a.m.
Breakfast + get daughter ready
Morning
Go on a mommy-daughter adventure!
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Lunch + play outside
1:30-3:00 p.m.
Work while daughter naps
Potential for one Zoom meeting
Evening
Reset house + prep dinner
Fridays
On Fridays, I have three work priorities: One-off projects, Emily Writes administrative work, and closing out the week / planning for the following week.
5:00 a.m.
Wake up + get ready
5:30-7:00 a.m.
Work
7:00-8:00 a.m.
Breakfast + get daughter ready for 3K
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Daughter at 3K
Work at home
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Lunch + play outside
1:30-3:00 p.m.
Work while daughter naps
(No client meetings on Friday afternoons)
Evening
Reset house + prep dinner
Do I Work in the Evenings and on Weekends?
The short answer is yes – I do work outside of these time blocks! I wish I could say that I always accomplish 100% of my responsibilities for my part-time church job and my full-time business in the strict 24 hours I’ve outlined above. But some days I sleep in a bit… some days preschool is closed or my daughter is home sick… and some weeks I have a lot of projects and deadlines.
And as a writer, I’m often more creative in the evenings or on the weekends. I’m relaxed, the house is quiet, and my husband and I have a re-run of The Office in the background. It’s just the perfect atmosphere for knocking out a project or two.
It took me several years of feeling guilty about working “off hours” before I finally JUST GOT OVER IT and embraced the fact that no one’s life is perfectly time-blocked. We create our own schedules as entrepreneurs, after all. (As long as those “off hours” don’t lead to burnout or interfere with family time, of course!)
Time Blocking in Practice: How it Helps Set and Maintain Boundaries
The beauty of time blocking lies in its flexibility within a framework. I’ve found this method to be a highly effective approach for reclaiming control over my work/life balance. Creating intentional boundaries and clear priorities for each day helps me focus on business goals and protect my personal well-being.
Most importantly, time blocking empowers me to be deliberate about my daily choices. Instead of feeling scattered across multiple responsibilities, I’ve gained more clarity about where my energy is going on a day-to-day basis.
I can also communicate my boundaries to others with more confidence! For example:
- A client wants to schedule a meeting on a Friday afternoon? That doesn’t work for me, but I have a few other options (Tuesday/Thursday afternoons or Wednesday/Friday mornings) that I can easily offer. Of course, exceptions can be made if there are extenuating circumstances, but for the most part, having a variety of options works 99% of the time!
- I need to schedule a vet appointment for one of my cats? I could take the next available appointment on a Friday, but as long as it’s not an emergency, let’s schedule it for a Tuesday morning when I have time set aside for household errands and appointments.
- A client is asking for a quick turnaround on a project? Let’s have a quick conversation and see if we can make a deadline that works for both of us, since I have other work priorities on this particular day.
My Team Makes All the Difference
When I launched Emily Writes in 2019, I viewed myself as a staunch solopreneur, determined to make it on my own at all costs. But it only took me a year to realize that if I wanted to be successful, I needed to find some qualified people to back me up!
Today, the Emily Writes team includes three wildly talented freelance writers and a highly organized Executive Assistant. Rounding out the Emily Writes team is the lone guy – my husband – who manages my QuickBooks. (How lucky am I to have married a finance guy!?)
I’m proud to have this talented team to support my clients’ content needs and the behind-the-scenes operations of my company. I also love the fact that I get to partner with so many work-from-home moms who are balancing work and home life, just like me!
Your Turn: Ready to Try Out Time Blocking for Productivity?
Time blocking translates into more focused work time, more intentional family time, and a more sustainable working rhythm. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your business journey, implementing time-blocking strategies can be the game-changer that helps you thrive!