Batching Isn’t Boring — It’s a Productivity Power Move
Multitasking is out. Batching is in.
If your day feels like a game of whack-a-mole — answering emails, jumping into meetings, trying to write while fielding notifications — you’re not working efficiently. You’re bleeding focus.
Batching is the antidote: the practice of grouping similar tasks together and doing them in a focused, uninterrupted block.
It might not sound flashy. But it’s one of the most effective ways to save time, reduce mental fatigue, and get more done — without feeling like you’re sprinting all day.
Why Task Switching Is So Expensive
Every time you switch between tasks, your brain burns energy recalibrating. This is called attention residue, and it’s one of the biggest hidden time-wasters in your day.
Imagine writing a report, jumping to a Slack message, checking your calendar, then returning to writing. That “return” isn’t seamless. It takes mental effort — and that effort stacks up fast.
Batching reduces the number of switches. Less switching = more momentum.
What Batching Looks Like in Real Life
Batching isn’t about being rigid. It’s about being strategic.
Common batching examples:
Answering all emails in two daily windows
Scheduling all meetings on 2 specific days
Writing all your content in one afternoon
Doing all administrative work in a single block
You’re not becoming a robot. You’re giving your brain room to go deep — and stay there.
Step 1: Audit Your Day for Scattered Work
Start by spotting the chaos. Where are you switching unnecessarily?
Look for:
Repeated small tasks scattered across the day
Interruptions baked into your normal schedule
Meetings that break up large work blocks
Write down your typical workday and highlight every time you change modes. That’s your batching opportunity.
Step 2: Create Task Buckets
Group your work by similarity:
Creative Tasks: Writing, brainstorming, designing
Admin Tasks: Scheduling, data entry, inbox cleanup
Communication Tasks: Email, Slack, calls
Planning Tasks: Reviewing projects, goal setting, calendar design
You can also batch by energy type — what requires deep focus vs. what you can do while sipping coffee.
Step 3: Design Your Ideal Week with Batching in Mind
Use your calendar to pre-block time for each batch. This prevents reactive scheduling and protects your priorities.
Example layout:
Monday AM: Deep work (creative batch)
Monday PM: Admin batch
Tuesday: Meeting day
Wednesday: Focus + catch-up
Thursday: Communication & outreach
Friday: Planning + wrap-up
It doesn’t need to be perfect — just consistent enough to reduce chaos.
Step 4: Protect Your Batches
Batching only works if it’s respected. That means:
Turning off notifications during deep work
Letting your team know your communication windows
Saying no to mid-block distractions
If someone tries to interrupt? “I’m in a focus block right now — can we circle back at [your next batch time]?”
Boundaries make batching possible.
Step 5: Evaluate and Adjust
After a week or two, reflect:
Did batching help me feel more focused?
Where did I still get pulled off track?
Do my batches need to be longer? Shorter?
Batching isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction. Adjust as needed to fit your real energy and workflow.
Bonus: Micro-Batching for the Overwhelmed
Don’t have two-hour blocks? Try micro-batching:
20 minutes of admin before lunch
30 minutes of comms at the end of the day
15-minute calendar review before signing off
Even small batches create rhythm. And rhythm beats randomness every time.
Batching Is a Leadership Skill
This isn’t just about productivity — it’s about protecting your role as a strategic thinker.
Leaders who batch:
Think more clearly
Make better decisions
Set the tone for how their teams work
Your time isn’t just for doing. It’s for directing.
And batching is how you make room to do both.
Your Time Deserves Structure
Busyness is easy. Focus is a choice.
Batching gives your brain a map — a repeatable rhythm that replaces chaos with clarity.
It’s not boring. It’s bold. It’s you deciding your day instead of reacting to it.
And once you feel the momentum batching creates?
You won’t want to work any other way.
