Time Blocking for Salon Owners: Take Back Control of Your Schedule
- Kimberly Sulatycky
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
Running a salon or studio often means juggling appointments, inventory, team management, marketing, and administrative work—sometimes all in the same day. It’s easy to feel like there’s never enough time. If you’ve ever ended the day wondering where the hours went, it’s time to explore a simple yet powerful strategy: time blocking.
Early in my years of running a business, I often felt like I was constantly busy but not truly productive. I was jumping from task to task, reacting to what felt urgent rather than focusing on what would move my business forward. Most of my energy went into staying afloat instead of creating momentum. Eventually, I stepped back and reviewed my schedule. I noticed patterns—certain times of day when I felt more creative and could easily brainstorm, and other times when I was better suited for catching up on emails or networking. That’s when I started implementing time blocking. By aligning my tasks with my natural energy and priorities, I was finally able to move forward with clarity instead of running in circles on a hamster wheel of endless to-do’s. Time blocking didn’t just change my schedule—it changed the way I approached my business.
Time blocking is a productivity technique that helps you plan your day (or week) in advance by assigning specific tasks to set time slots. Instead of reacting to your to-do list, you proactively schedule what matters most—giving you back control of your time, energy, and priorities.
What Is Time Blocking?
Time blocking is the practice of dividing your day into “blocks” of time and dedicating each block to a specific task, type of task, or focus area. Instead of multitasking or hopping between responsibilities, you create structure and boundaries around how you spend your time.
Benefits of Time Blocking:
Reduces distractions and decision fatigue
Keeps you focused on high-priority tasks
Builds in time for both business and personal life
Creates clear boundaries between client time and CEO time
Helps prevent burnout
Step 1: Reflect on Your Current Schedule
Before you begin blocking time, you need to understand how you’re currently spending it.
Ask yourself:
What do I do every day (clients, cleaning, inventory, etc.)?
What weekly tasks always seem rushed or forgotten (payroll, marketing, supply orders)?
Where do I lose the most time or feel the most stress?
Write down a list of daily and weekly responsibilities. Then highlight the ones that move your business forward (such as marketing or skill development) vs. ones that feel reactive or draining.
Step 2: Set Your Priorities
Next, clarify your top goals for the next 30–90 days.
Ask yourself:
What are the 3 most important things I want to achieve in my business?
What weekly habits or tasks support these goals?
What tasks could I delegate or schedule less frequently?
Example:
Goal: Increase social media engagement
Supporting task: Schedule 3 hours a week for content creation and planning
Step 3: Block Out Your Week
Now take your weekly calendar and start assigning tasks to specific time slots. Be realistic about how long tasks take and don’t forget to leave buffer time between clients or meetings.
Sample Time Block Categories:
Client Services – appointments, consultations
CEO Time – business planning, strategy, budgeting
Marketing Time – social media, email campaigns, filming content
Admin Tasks – payroll, booking systems, cleaning schedules
Learning & Development – online courses, product training
Personal Recharge Time – lunch breaks, walks, workouts, quiet time
Step 4: Protect Your Time
Treat your time blocks like appointments with yourself. That means:
Say “no” to last-minute changes that conflict with your schedule
Batch similar tasks together (e.g., all admin tasks Monday morning)
Review your calendar weekly and make adjustments as needed
You won’t get it perfect on the first try—but you’ll see a huge difference in how you manage stress and productivity when you have a plan.
Step 5: Reflect and Refine
At the end of each week, take a few minutes to reflect:
What worked well in your schedule?
What blocks felt rushed or unproductive?
What do you want to change or try next week?
Time blocking is not about perfection—it’s about creating intention and structure so you can show up as your best self.
Final Thoughts
As a salon owner, your time is your most valuable resource. When you start using time blocking to align your schedule with your goals, you not only get more done—you also reduce overwhelm, increase productivity, and feel more in control of your business and life.
Ready to put it into practice?
For more tools like this, visit www.salonrescueconsulting.com or follow @SalonRescue on Instagram for weekly tips and real-world business mentoring.
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