People will really play with your time if you let them, right?

It’s easy to wear yourself out everyday if you let people drain your time, especially if they don’t do anything to replenish your energy or fill you up mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Some days it can feel like everyone else comes before you, and you’re left with crumbs to feed yourself and your needs.

I’ve had “selfish seasons” but I certainly wasn’t making the most of them, but I’m thankful I’m getting better at prioritizing myself. I would encourage everyone to consider sacred time blocking as a way to practice self-care and to ensure that you are refilling your own tank as often as you need to.

Sacred time blocking is dedicated time to do something that you consider a non-negotiable towards your increasing your wellness. It is sacred, meaning it is to be truly treasured, and is of the utmost importance to keep in your rotation as often as it’s needed (or wanted).

So how do we start sacred time blocking?

It’s pretty easy to get started, but here are the key steps:

Define What's Truly Important.

Before anything else, determine which tasks are crucial for achieving your goals. These are commitments that deserve space on your calendar. The key is to understand your priorities — if they aren’t clear, you most likely end up “going with the flow” but not making meaningful progress. I’ve found that when I put items in my calendar, no matter how small they are, I’m way more likely to get them done and make progress towards my goals. And I enjoy deleting the item and clearing off my task list- it’s like small wins over and over.

Schedule and Honor Your Time Blocks.

Treat these time blocks as solemn commitments to yourself. When you add them to your calendar, it's not just planning — it's promising. Promise to honor that time as if it were an appointment with the most important person in your world — because it is. Small wins are really motivational, and it’s how to work towards the big wins. The growth that happens when you keep your commitments to yourself is priceless.

Defend Your Time Vigilantly.

Visualize each time block as a shield protecting you from distractions and interruptions. When something tries to intrude upon this sacred time, your default response should be “not now” or remind yourself that “it can wait”. This is the time you’ve reserved for something significant, and it deserves your full attention and protection.

The Power of Saying "No"

Being selfish with your scheduled blocks is not just okay — it's necessary. The more we allow ourselves to fulfill these commitments, the prouder we can be of our discipline and focus. Conversely, if we let interruptions invade, we betray our past selves and the commitments we've made.

By treating your time blocks as sacred, you reclaim control over your day and set a standard for what you allow to demand your attention. This isn't just about getting things done — it's about respecting and valuing your own time as much as you do others.

So what kind of things are you going to start sacred time blocking for?