I used to feel like I was drowning in a sea of tiny, unfinished tasks.
My day was a constant flurry of distractions. I would answer an email, then switch to writing a paragraph, then get pulled into a text message, then try to pay a bill online. By the end of the day, I felt exhausted but had very little to show for it. It was the same feeling of being stuck that I had when I was battling my old habits of binge eating and laziness. I was busy but not productive. I was moving but not going anywhere.
Everything changed when I discovered a simple idea that helped me reclaim my focus and my time: task batching. It sounds fancy but it’s incredibly simple. It’s one of the core strategies that helped me build a new life, lose over 110 pounds, and create a routine that actually works.
What Is Task Batching Anyway?
Think of it like meal prepping for your to-do list. You wouldn’t cook one single chicken breast every night for dinner. That would be a huge waste of time and energy. Instead, you cook a big batch of chicken on Sunday to use for meals all week.
Task batching applies that same logic to your work and your life.
It’s the practice of grouping similar tasks together and doing them all in one dedicated time block. Instead of constantly switching gears your brain stays in one "mode" which saves a massive amount of mental energy. This is how you get into that state of deep work where you feel focused and get things done fast.
Why It’s a Game Changer
When you jump between different types of tasks your brain has to reorient itself every single time. This is called context switching and it drains your focus and energy. You lose momentum.
By batching tasks you stay in the zone. You create a rhythm. This not only makes you more efficient but it also protects your peace. It carves out focused time in your day and frees up more space for the things that truly matter like family, prayer, and rest.
For me, creating this space was essential. It gave me the quiet moments I needed to strengthen my relationship with God and find a deeper sense of purpose beyond just a to-do list.
25 Simple Task Batching Strategies
Ready to try it? Here are 25 practical ways you can start batching your tasks. Remember, don’t try to do all of these at once. Just pick a few that resonate with you.
- Handle All Emails. Dedicate one or two specific times a day to read and reply to all your emails. Turn off notifications outside of these blocks.
- Make All Phone Calls. Group all your necessary calls into a single session.
- Pay All Bills. Set aside one time block each week or month to handle all your finances and pay bills.
- Run All Errands. Combine your trips to the post office, grocery store, and bank into one outing.
- Plan Your Week. Sit down on Sunday and plan your major goals and schedule for the upcoming week.
- Meal Prep for the Week. Cook your lunches, chop your veggies, or prep your proteins all at once.
- Do All the Laundry. Wash, dry, and fold all your laundry in one dedicated chunk of time.
- Tackle Household Cleaning. Instead of cleaning a little bit every day, dedicate a block of time to cleaning. You can batch by room (do the whole bathroom) or by task (dust every surface in the house).
- Reply to Texts and DMs. You don’t need to reply instantly. Set aside a few times a day to catch up on all messages at once.
- Brainstorm Ideas. Need ideas for work or a personal project? Set a timer for 30 minutes and do nothing but brainstorm.
- Write Your Content. If you write reports, articles, or social media posts, do it in a batch. Write all your posts for the week in one sitting.
- Film or Record Content. If you create videos or podcasts, schedule a block to film multiple episodes at once.
- Edit Photos or Videos. Group all your editing work together so you stay in that detail-oriented mindset.
- Schedule All Appointments. Book your doctor, dentist, and other appointments in one go.
- Do Your Research. When working on a project, dedicate a block of time solely to research before you start writing or creating.
- Read for Learning. Batch your reading. Set aside time to get through industry articles, book chapters, or reports.
- Organize Digital Files. Have a messy desktop or download folder? Schedule an hour to sort, name, and file everything.
- Process Your Mail. Instead of opening mail every day, let it pile up in a designated spot and go through it all once or twice a week.
- Pack Lunches. Make all the sandwiches or pack all the containers for the week on Sunday night.
- Plan Your Workouts. Take 15 minutes to schedule all your workouts for the week so you know exactly what you’re doing each day.
- Review Your Goals. Set a recurring time each week or month to review your progress on your personal and professional goals.
- Manage Your Social Media. Schedule all your posts for the week or month using a scheduling tool.
- Do Your Daily Reading and Prayer. Create a dedicated, peaceful time block for your spiritual practice without interruptions.
- Update Your Budget. Spend 20 minutes every Friday reviewing your spending and updating your budget.
- Learn a New Skill. Dedicate a consistent block of time each day or week to practicing a skill, like a new language or a software program.
How to Start Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Looking at a list of 25 strategies can feel like a lot. I get it. The point isn’t to add more to your plate. It’s to organize what’s already there.
Start small. Seriously.
Pick just one area that causes you the most stress. For me, it was email. My inbox used to run my day. The constant notifications gave me a feeling of false urgency.
My first step was to batch my emails into two blocks: one at 11 a.m. and one at 4 p.m. The rest of the day, I closed the tab. The first few days felt weird. But then, something amazing happened. I felt free. The mental space that opened up was incredible. I could finally focus on my work for 2–4 hours at a time, making more progress than I used to in an entire day.
That one small change created a ripple effect. It showed me that I was in control of my schedule, not the other way around.
So, what’s your first step? You don’t need a complex system. You just need to choose one thing.
What is one batch of tasks you can group together this week to give yourself a little more breathing room?
