Vibe Blocking™: A New Alternative to Time Blocking for Productivity

When you look at your calendar, do you think about what you have time for—or what you actually have the capacity for?

For most of us, the way we schedule our lives comes down to one popular method: time blocking. You figure out your priorities, translate them into time slots, and hope the rigid framework helps you stay consistent.

But what if your life doesn’t follow a neat, repeatable structure? What if your goals are creative, your energy comes in waves, and that “open hour” on your calendar isn’t actually the right time to get meaningful work done?

That’s where I found myself—as a creative, as a business owner, and as a military spouse.

What Is Time Blocking and Why Doesn’t It Work for Everyone?

Time blocking is one of the most common productivity strategies—dividing your day into chunks and assigning tasks to each block. But if your life doesn’t follow a neat, repeatable structure, time blocking can quickly become frustrating instead of freeing. Many people eventually find themselves searching for a time blocking alternative that actually works with their reality.

My Personal Struggles with Time Blocking as a Creative and Military Spouse

Before I launched Pattern + Purpose™, I worked a string of classic “9 to 5” jobs, while also being the one at home holding down the fort during deployments—managing chores, family communication, and daily logistics. Even without kids, it was a lot. And when I looked at my days, I realized there wasn’t much left for the things that actually fueled me: creating, moving my body, and practicing wellness.

Later, while going through my certification program, it became clear that the way I’d been operating—showing up with 200% focus and energy for work and household responsibilities—was not going to sustain me as a business owner.

I didn’t want to keep downplaying my desire to exercise consistently, read, write, paint, or nurture my photography business. But I also knew that simply plopping “workout for 1 hour every day at 6 AM” into my calendar wasn’t going to cut it—which is exactly why I needed a time blocking alternative that was more flexible.

When my coach asked me why I felt like I had to keep forcing time blocking, I realized: I didn’t.

In that moment, the phrase Vibe Blocking™ beamed into my head. And it changed everything.

Introducing Vibe Blocking™: A Flexible Approach to Energy and Capacity

I needed a way to think about my capacity to do things—not just whether I had empty space on my calendar.

Because here’s the truth:

• Just because I had an hour free didn’t mean my body wanted a workout.

• Just because I had a weekend off didn’t mean I had the creative energy to paint.

• 
  

Sure, I could push through, but I didn’t want to just “get by.” I wanted to honor my energy in a way that was aligned, sustainable, and actually fulfilling.

That’s when I began noticing the patterns:

• Some engagements fuel me, others drain me.

• Some tasks can run on autopilot, others require my full presence.

• Some things feel heavy until I shift the energy around them.

The more I paid attention, the more I realized: other people need this too.

How Vibe Blocking™ Works: Energy Awareness Over Empty Hours

With Vibe Blocking™, the first step is awareness. Unlike time blocking, which only measures empty hours, this time blocking alternative starts with a different question:

• Does this task fuel me or drain me?

• Can it be done on autopilot, or does it require deep energy?

• What kind of state do I need to be in for this to feel fulfilling?

The Role of Core Energy Coaching in Vibe Blocking™

This is where Core Energy Coaching® makes a difference. Together, we look at whether tasks create catabolic (draining) or anabolic (energizing) states. From there, we design a task management framework that’s honest, aligned, and sustainable.

And when clients are ready for a longer-term approach, we go even deeper. We shift the way they relate to the heavier commitments in life—like work or chores—so they’re no longer just obligations, but pieces of a bigger mosaic that supports the life they’re intentionally designing.

Why Vibe Blocking™ Is the Best Time Blocking Alternative

Unlike time blocking, which relies on rigid scheduling, Vibe Blocking™ helps you:

• Honor your energy levels

• Build sustainable routines

• Shift heavy “obligations” into meaningful contributions to your bigger purpose

The Real Goal: Productivity Without Burnout

Perfection is an illusion. Filling every second of your calendar isn’t success—it’s exhaustion. Vibe Blocking™ is about creating space for fulfillment and alignment, not just squeezing in more tasks.

See if Vibe Blocking™ Is Aligned

Curious if Vibe Blocking™ could help you? Take my quick Discovery Quiz.

I’ll personally review your responses and share how this framework can help you create success that’s sustainable, aligned, and energizing.