Dr Amantha Imber, host of the self-improvement podcast ‘How I Work’ and the author of international bestseller ‘Time Wise’, explains how to timebox to help you hack your workday.

A person sitting at a desk holding an alarm clock so the face is visible. A laptop and diary are also sitting on the desk.

What is Timeboxing?

Timeboxing – allocating specific time blocks for tasks – is a proven productivity-enhancing technique. But here’s what most people miss: aligning these blocks with your body’s natural energy patterns can double their effectiveness. 

We all experience natural peaks and troughs in our energy over a 24-hour period. This is known as your chronotype. People with a ‘Lark’ chronotype typically hit their stride between 7am and 10am, while ‘Owls’ have maximum focus in the late afternoon or evening. And if you’re a ‘Middle Bird’, someone who wakes naturally at around 7am, your peak hours will be between 9am and noon.

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How Does Timeboxing Help?

By matching your workload to this natural disposition and scheduling your most demanding work during your peak periods, you're not just managing time – you’re optimising your brain’s natural performance curve.

Hands holding and writing on a blue sticky note labelled ‘To Do List’ with more sticky notes of various colours on a wall in the background.

How Do I Timebox?

First, identify your ‘power timeboxes’. These 90-minute to two-hour blocks should align with your peak energy hours. Reserve these for deep work requiring intense focus: strategic planning, creative projects or complex problem-solving. For Larks, this might mean tackling that challenging report at 8am. Owls might schedule their power blocks from 4pm to 6pm.

Then, schedule ‘maintenance timeboxes’ during your lower-energy periods. These blocks are perfect for routine tasks such as emails, administrative work or team check-ins. A Middle Bird might handle inbox management after lunch when their energy naturally dips, while an Owl could process routine tasks in the morning.

A person writing in a planner at a desk in a bright, naturally lit home office setting. Also on the desk are a keyboard, monitor and laptop computer.

How Will I Feel?

This approach isn't just about productivity; it’s about working smarter by respecting your body’s natural rhythm. You’ll likely find that difficult tasks feel more manageable during your power timeboxes, while routine work flows smoothly in maintenance blocks.

Remember: fighting against your chronotype is like swimming upstream. Instead, let your natural energy patterns guide your timeboxing strategy. The result? More focused work, less resistance and sustainable productivity that feels natural rather than forced.

Which Chronotype Are You?

Three panels describing the chronotypes: larks, power hours 7am to 10am, low-energy hours 11am to 2pm; middle birds, power hours 9am to 12pm, low-energy hours 12pm to 3pm; owls, power hours 4pm to 7pm, low-energy hours 1pm to 4pm.

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5 Products to Help You Timebox

An assortment of items to help with timeboxing, shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Products include things planners, desk clocks and noise-cancelling headphones.

A Weekly Hard-Copy Planner: Colour-code your power and maintenance timeboxes with hourly scheduling slots. 

Digital Desk Clock: Track your timeboxes with a clear display and timer function.

Ergonomic Office Chair: Support proper posture during focus blocks with ergonomic design.

Ergonomic Mouse: Reduce hand strain during extended power timeboxes. 

Noise-Cancelling Headphones: Create distraction-free environments during power blocks. 

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