Time Blocking: The Game-Changer for Interior Design Businesses

Hello there! I’m Pamela Durkin, a professional interior designer, and recently I was fortunate enough to be a guest on the well-regarded podcast “A Well-Designed Business”. Hosted by the outstanding LuAnn Nigara, this platform provides meaningful discussions on strategies and practical steps to help you grow your interior design business.

Embrace Time Blocking

During my conversation with LuAnn, I put emphasis on the idea of time blocking. It’s a strategy that’s all about setting aside specific times in your day, solely dedicated to specific tasks. It helps to keep you focused and significantly improves productivity.

The key? It all boils down to setting up your daily non-negotiables. These are your high currency tasks that need your utmost attention. Once you’ve identified these tasks, dedicate specific time slots for them.

For example, I always start my day with a morning block, where I do routine tasks like checking email. I only allocate 30 minutes twice a day for this – because we all know how much of a time sinkhole email can be!

Make Your Calendar Work for You

A good calendar system is your ally in this process. It aids in establishing routines and determining which tasks are genuinely money generators. For instance, I arrange client meetings strictly for Tuesdays and Thursdays and use Fridays for accounting work. This ensures I don’t get sidetracked and my attention isn’t scattered between different tasks.

Remember, overbooking yourself can lead to decreased productivity and profitability. If you look at a four to six-week calendar that is fully packed with no wiggle room, but you’re not making money, you need to rethink your strategy and prioritize better.

Implement Transition Time

This might sound simple, but it’s a game-changer: make sure you put in transition time between tasks. There should be little buffers that your brain can use to readjust and shift from one mode to another.

Also, don’t forget to include time for strategic thinking. Making space for dreaming and plotting is critical for driving your business along the path that you envision.

Transparency Leads to Luxury Service

Communication is the currency of luxury service. Instead of overcommitting and under-delivering, be upfront with your clients about your timelines. If you have an inquiry from an ideal client but can’t attend to them for a few months, be truthful. This upfront honesty will not only give your clients an impression of professionalism but also pave the way for a better working relationship.

“Time blocking” may sound like another item on your ever-growing todo-list. But believe me, hand on heart, the discipline pays off. It brings an intentionality to your day, making sure that every moment has a purpose in moving your business forward. Let’s not forget this powerful quote I shared with LuAnn, “It is hard to fail, and it is hard to be successful. So why don’t you choose hard to be successful?” Let’s choose to be successful, together.

Thank you for joining me today and thank you to LuAnn Nigara for inviting me on her fantastic podcast. Listen to the full episode here. Tune into my podcast on iTunes here or on my website and keep up with my other blog posts. Stay productive, and keep designing beautiful spaces!