Hey, Life with Justin Stephens community! Justin here, with a journal entry on something that's transformed my days—time blocking as a "time budget." As we document this journey through personal finance, success, business, sales, and marketing, today's reflection is about how managing time like money has made me way more productive. If you don't use it, it will just disappear. Let's dive in, from my experiences to future plans.

The Concept: Your Calendar as a Time Budget

Your calendar is your time budget, and if you don't use it, it will just disappear. Time blocking is the art of scheduling your day with yourself—deciding when you're doing what. I've been time blocking for 3 weeks now, and I am feeling way more productive after starting to time block. I have also noticed that when I don't have something specific planned for that time, I flounder. It's like having money without a spending plan—you waste it.

I first started to understand time blocking probably 10 years ago when I was still working with Sandler Training full time. I used it effectively for managing my time back then, but the habit slipped and then I stopped completely. Now I am doing it again, except this time it is with my entire life. I am blocking time for sleep, and when I am going to be working on what. This gives me something to look forward to and a basic schedule to keep.

Sharing for Accountability: Keeping the Team in the Loop

I share a screenshot of that schedule with my board every week so they know where I am prioritizing my time. Life is a team sport, and if you don't communicate with your team, you are missing out! Let them know what you are working on and keep them in the loop. This transparency has helped me stay committed and get feedback.

This Week's Time Block: Focusing on the Blog and Show

This week I am time blocking to take my blog more seriously. I am going to be working on sales behaviors on Monday, then on Friday I have scheduled to prepare a Life with Justin Stephens show that I am going to record on Saturday. I am still figuring out the format I want to do with the show, but my ultimate desire is to be a student while someone else is teaching me. I'll be putting people in the front row of my life and the interviews with first person view video. I really want to have amazing people like my parents cohost it with me from time to time. So this next Saturday, you will witness the first ever Life with Justin Stephens show where I am going to be sharing my feelings on recent things happening in our world and business in general as well as behind the scenes to how we are creating America's Holding Company. I hope someday you take time to listen in and learn with us!

Reflections: From Slipped Habits to Renewed Purpose

Looking back, slipping from time blocking cost me productivity, but restarting has reignited my drive. It's a reminder that habits evolve with life—now encompassing work, hustles, and dreams.

Why This Matters for Your Journey

Time blocking isn't just scheduling—it's budgeting your most valuable asset for success. In finance, it's allocating resources; in business, focusing on sales; in life, pursuing dreams without floundering.

At Life with Justin Stephens, we share raw Journal Entries like this, alongside Point of View stories, Life Strategy tips, Resources, and Great Causes to inspire your path in finance, business, sales, marketing, and beyond.

Call to Action: Subscribe at justindcstephens.com for daily motivation. Share your time blocking tip, and comment: What's one thing you're scheduling this week?

P.S. Tomorrow, a Point of View post from a time management pro. Stay tuned!

To your success,
Justin Stephens