I once spent so many hours on my Game Boy that I couldnโt help but dream about Tetris blocks fitting themselves perfectly together.
Down they came as I tried to fit them all together as efficiently as I could.
When I managed to do so, it created space for me. I could breathe easily, think clearly and plan ahead.
When I didnโt, things sped up, and the pressure built.
Little did I know then that the game would become the perfect model for managing my time.
The Tetris blocks are the demands on our time.
Things you need to get done for various people, and when completed early and managed effectively, the gaps are minimised. The reward is a different kind of spaceโheadspace.
This is the essence of what I call calendar programming:
- Directing tasks like those falling Tetris blocks,
- Ensuring no gaps and no needless stress accumulates.
- Booking out “do not disturb” time.
- Focusing on the big rock.
All these strategies are about spending less time worrying whether the blocks will pile up and you run out of time.
Game Over.
The lesson Iโve learnt is to take control, pre-empt what’s coming, and give yourself the headspace to tackle more without losing your mind in the process (so you can play more Tetris!).
