Time Boxing: The Leadership Productivity Hack for When Everything Feels Like a Priority

If everything’s a priority, nothing truly gets priority. And if you’re a perfectionist, that can be paralysing.

As a senior leader, you’re likely used to juggling complexity and making high-stakes decisions. But what happens when everything feels equally urgent, and you want to do it all flawlessly?

I’ve been there. I’m Suzy Hunt, and I run FutureYou Business Coaching. I coach C-suite Leaders who feel pressured, stressed, stagnant, overwhelmed and unconfident at work. To move forward with renewed clarity and confidence. But here’s the truth: I’ve also had to coach myself. One of my biggest productivity breakthroughs came from a deceptively simple productivity method called time boxing.

When Time Blocking Isn’t Enough

Like many leaders, I used to rely on time blocking, scheduling large sections of my calendar for “strategy work” or “client projects.” But I’d often find myself running over, reshuffling tasks, or even worse, perfecting a document long past the point of value.

The result? Lots of effort. Not always a lot of progress.

Time boxing changed that for me.

It doesn’t just protect time, it gives it purpose, constraints, and a clear finish line. It became the tool that helped me stop perfecting and start completing.

What Exactly Is Time Boxing?

Time boxing means assigning a fixed time slot to a specific task with a defined outcome, and then sticking to it.

Instead of writing “Marketing work – 10am to 11am,” I write:

“Draft email campaign for new program – 10:00 to 10:40 am”

When the box ends, the task ends. Whether it’s perfect or not.

And that’s where the magic lies for leaders like me, who can get stuck in over-delivering or over-polishing.

Why Time Boxing Works When Everything Feels Urgent 

and Important

1. It Forces Clarity

When every task feels essential, boxing makes you ask: What’s the single most valuable thing I can do in the next hour? It breaks through overwhelm and builds executive focus.

2. It Interrupts Perfectionism

Time boxing puts a healthy pressure on perfectionism. You don’t have three hours to make it flawless; you have 45 minutes to make it useful. That time cap forces decisions, not delay.

I used to rewrite emails, workshop slides multiple times before hitting send. Now, if I have 30 minutes boxed, I create, polish lightly, and move on. It’s liberating.

3. It Builds Momentum

Instead of agonising over one perfect piece of work, you finish two or three “done-and-good-enough” tasks. That momentum is addictive and energising.

4. It Respects Your Time and Mental Bandwidth

You can’t do deep thinking for eight hours straight. Time boxing helps you work with your brain’s natural focus cycles and energy levels, not against them.

Time Boxing vs Time Blocking: A Quick Comparison

Feature	Time Blocking	Time Boxing
Purpose	Reserve time for a task type	Complete a defined task in a time window
Response to Pressure	Vulnerable to overload or avoidance	Forces decisive progress
Perfectionism Risk	Allows over-polishing or dragging on	Cuts scope creep with a time limit
End Result	Time may pass without closure	Task ends. Done or not at the time limit

How You Can Start Using Time Boxing Today

1. Start with One Time Box Daily

Pick a task you’ve been avoiding or overthinking. Time box it for 30 to 45 minutes. Commit to finishing at the buzzer. You can even set a timer if that helps you.

2. Be Clear and Honest

Label the box with a verb and a result. Not just “client work,” but “Review and comment on team proposal draft.”

3. Build the Muscle

You won’t nail it perfectly at first. But perfection isn’t the point; progress is. Each time box is a rep that strengthens your focus and delivery.

Final Thought: Perfection Isn’t the Goal. Progress Is.

For leaders (like me) who care deeply about doing things well, time boxing feels uncomfortable at first. But it’s the exact discipline we need.

It helps you:

• Prioritise when everything feels equally important

• Finish more high-value work

• Push through perfectionism

• Build trust with your time

“Done” is often better than “perfect.”

And time boxing gives you permission and structure to live that out.

Want to explore how Executive Coaching Consultancy can transform your leadership and time management?

Let’s talk.

I offer personalised 1:1 Executive Leadership Coaching in the UK, London, Manchester and worldwide.

Book a complimentary discovery call with Suzy by emailing Suzy.futureyou@gmail.com

No commitment, no pushy sales tactics. Let’s just start with a chat about the challenges you’re facing and the solutions I’ll provide.