Feeling like your calendar’s running your life? This article about empty calendars reminded me of a few tricks that helped me manage mine. I may not have mastered the art of an empty calendar, but these strategies kept things sane. Maybe they’ll work for you too.

1. The power of a no-meeting day

At one point, I worked somewhere with "no-meeting Fridays." Even after I switched jobs, I kept that day blocked off. I encouraged my team to do the same, and we simply rescheduled if someone tried to book a meeting that day. This gave me uninterrupted time to catch up on work, plan team events, or take a day off without causing a scheduling mess.

2. Smart calendar blocks

Here’s a snapshot of my recent weekly schedule.

"Sanity blocks"

I block out time for lunch and downtime because nobody’s at their best when they’re hangry. I also block Monday mornings for a slow start and protect Tuesday evenings for date nights.

Prevent last-minute meetings

Each morning, I block any open slots to avoid last-minute meetings. It’s a simple way to keep my schedule manageable.

Flex time for the unknown

I keep a couple of recurring blocks for whatever might pop up. If I don’t need them, I delete them. If I do, I use them as planned work time. If a meeting needs to happen during one of those blocks and I can’t move it, I either push the meeting, skip something else, or renegotiate deadlines.

3. Be picky about meetings

We all know we should decline unclear or unnecessary meetings, but it’s easier said than done—especially when you’re new. But I’ve found that pushing back with a simple, "What’s the purpose of this meeting?" often clears things up or lets me skip it altogether.

In summary

Try a no-meeting day, block your time strategically, and don’t be afraid to be selective about meetings. Let me know how it works for you—or share your own tips! If you need help getting your calendar under control, I’m here to help. Reach out to set up a time!