Productivity Tips I Loved from Mel Robbins (and How I Adapt Them for Education)
The Mel Robbins Podcast from September 3, 2025, titled “How to Get Things Done, Stay Focused, and Be More Productive,” had so many great takeaways about productivity and focus.
This topic is totally my jam, so it was interesting to hear what Dr. Cal Newport, professor and author, had to say. Some of his suggestions were things I already do—just never labeled or thought to share as strategies.
The Power of Time Blocking
One of the biggest points Dr. Newport discussed was time blocking—intentionally scheduling chunks of your day for deep, focused work.
He mentioned how the business world has become increasingly meeting-heavy, which makes it difficult to find real time to work. Time blocking helps reclaim that space.
I already try to block my calendar for project work, but in education, the rhythm is different. We teach from bell to bell, and before and after school often fill up with students who pop in to chat. Many of them don’t have someone at home who will listen—and of course, we’re not going to turn them away.
So I started thinking: What does time blocking look like for teachers?
How I Adapt Time Blocking for Teaching
Here’s what works for me and might help others:
1. Start with your daily priorities.
Most days, my list includes:
- Lesson plans
- Material prep
- Reviewing formatives or grading for the next day
Longer-term projects like unit planning or summative grading require bigger chunks of time, but let’s focus on the daily work first.
2. Map your available windows.
I don’t have much time in the morning—I work out early, which is a nonnegotiable for me. Once I get to school, I settle in, check email, and get ready for first hour. That’s not my best time for deep work.
3. Protect your prep period.
During my prep, I often close my door and pick one task from my list that I can complete if I’m uninterrupted. Then I lock in.
4. Use after-school time intentionally.
After school can be unpredictable—sometimes I have meetings, sometimes conversations pop up. But I try to leave by 5:00 p.m., so I plan around that. I know the first 30 minutes after dismissal are usually a wash, but the next hour is prime time for focused work on larger tasks.
5. Plan for the weekend (without overdoing it).
Bigger projects sometimes spill into Saturday morning or Sunday evening, but I plan them intentionally. I carve out a set block of time and stick to it—so it doesn’t take over my whole weekend.
And when I do leave work after 5, I make a point not to check email in the evening. That boundary helps me step away and recharge.
Final Thought
If time blocking isn’t something you’ve tried before, I definitely recommend listening to this episode. Dr. Newport shares practical, thoughtful ideas that can work in any field—even education, where time is always in short supply.
Question for You
How do you protect focused time in your day—and what boundaries help you recharge outside of work?
HZ Reflections 