The time spreadsheet - Part 3 - What we learned

This article is the third part of a series, read the first one here: Part 1 - How we use it

Introduction

For the past few months, I've been conducting an experiment with my time. I created what I call a "time spreadsheet" - a system where I plan and track every 30-minute block of my week. This is the third piece sharing what I've learned from this experiment, and the insights have been both profound and practical.

Intention + Time = Results

One of the most fundamental principles I've discovered is surprisingly simple: Intention + Time = Results.

While this might seem obvious, implementing it systematically revealed its true power. At the beginning of each month, I set clear intentions for what I want to accomplish. I then break these goals down into weekly objectives, daily tasks, and finally, 30-minute blocks of focused work.

This approach transforms abstract goals into concrete actions. My work becomes "simply" sticking to the plan. Of course, that's where the real challenge begins - dealing with my feelings and managing life's unpredictabilities. Some days go better than others, but the structure makes any goal as achievable as possible. I feel I've found the key to bringing even my most ambitious ideas to life.

Dreams Without Time Stay Dreams

The flip side of this insight has been equally revealing. Some projects never made it into my finite 336 pomodoros per week. Week after week, I'd remember them, but something more important always took precedence.

This forced me to reflect on why. Some projects weren't as important to me as I'd thought. Others revealed emotional blocks that required extra effort and focus to overcome. Seeing the reality of what I spent time on (and what I didn't) brought clarity to my priorities.

One Week Is a Finite Amount of Time

I joke with my brother that new days in the week will appear - an 8th day is certain, a 9th on the way. But reality remains stubborn: a week has only 7 days, and we can fit only so many working hours into them.

Experiencing the concrete limit of available pomodoros made deciding what to commit to much easier. I began saying "no" much more often. When I knew a project wouldn't make it into my weekly spreadsheet, declining became the only honest response. This experiment taught me to be more truthful with myself and, by extension, with others about my commitments.

Sleep: The Ultimate Time Investment

Each week, the hours spent sleeping equal or exceed any other project on my list. This realization has been one of the hardest for me to accept. During intense project periods, I struggle to dedicate 8-9 hours to sleep, finding it easy to reallocate those hours to other work.

Whether this approach serves me well remains uncertain. I've noticed that during more relaxed periods, I now try to prioritize 8 hours of sleep daily, recognizing its fundamental importance to everything else.

"In Practice, Consistency Is About Being Adaptable"

When planning days with 30-minute precision, I quickly discovered how much remains uncontrollable - whether from external events or internal limitations. This necessity breeds adaptability.

What can I do when plans need to change but goals remain fixed? Sometimes it means reading instead of writing, visualizing instead of developing, sketching instead of finishing, or working for 1 hour instead of 3. The longer I try to stick to my plans, the more alternatives I discover. When I focus on making every 30 minutes meaningful, I see how small efforts compound into significant growth.

Unexpected Side Effects

Many subtle changes have emerged during this experiment—my knowledge and relationship to and with time is developing. One interesting side effect: thinking about time in 30-minute blocks has rewired my brain to evaluate tasks and plan actions in these units.

This creates amusing internal struggles when real life doesn't conform to neat intervals. If something takes 15 minutes, what should I do with the remaining time? If I start at 15:10, does that still count as a full block? The framework became a blueprint of my internal concept of time, and I find it very amusing to witness my mind's attempt to connect the dots. These struggles often result in 5/10/15-minute breaks, and that is a beautiful outcome. In a day full of activities, I get those unexpected gifts of mini rest moments, and I am very grateful for that.

Looking Forward

The experiment continues and I am entering another stage: developing alternative plans for different ways my days might unfold. Because as Enya says in one of her famous songs: "Who can say where the road goes? Where the day flows? Only time."

To be continued...