What if the most powerful productivity hack wasn’t doing more—it was protecting time for what matters most?

In this episode, Alex breaks down Time Blocking, the #1 tool that helped his team eliminate distractions, reduce reactivity, and consistently finish high-value work—faster.

You’ll learn how to:

• Shift from reactive mode to deep, focused execution
• Use time blocks for strategy, writing, creative work—even repetitive tasks
• Protect your most valuable hours using 4 powerful tactics
• Reduce attention residue and multitasking fatigue
• Avoid the biggest mistake people make with time blocking (and how to fix it)

You’ll also hear insights from a recent beta group who ran this experiment and saw immediate improvements in both productivity and measurable KPIs.

This Episode's Experiment:

The Time Blocking Challenge

Use this 3-step system to build and protect one high-value time block each day:

→ Choose one high-value task (not just urgent)
→ Batch similar work to avoid switching
→ Protect your time using these 4 strategies:

• Build a Bunker
• Store Provisions
• Sweep for Mines
• Enlist Support

Then track your results:

• Did you accomplish more in less time?
• Was the quality of your work better?
• How did it feel to work with that level of clarity and focus?

Try it for one week—and see what happens.

Resources Mentioned:

The ONE Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan

• Deep Work by Cal Newport
• UC Irvine research on attention residue (Gloria Mark)
• Tim Ferriss on 2–5 hour creative blocks
• Ultradian rhythm research on focus cycles
• Episode#6 : Work Less, Achieve More—The Ultimate Routine Shift (Click link to listen)

Connect with Alex:
Tried the time block experiment? Hit a flow state?
DM Alex on LinkedIn—he’d love to hear what changed for you.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-gafford-09b2b87/

Stay Tuned:
Next episode: The final proactive strategy in the productivity pyramid -Optimizing Meetings—how to reduce, improve, and restructure your calendar to make space for real, focused work.

What if you could work fewer hours—and actually get more done? In this episode, Alex introduces the Productivity Pyramid, the framework behind the 5-hour workday that helped his company increase productivity, revenue and retention all while working less.

You’ll learn how to:

• Eliminate the most common time wasters that secretly drain your workday
• Understand the cognitive cost of distractions and multitasking
• Shift from a “busy” mindset to a results-driven work culture
• Use the One-Day Time Audit, a simple experiment that reveals exactly where your time is going

Whether you're working 8 hours, 10, or even 12+ hours a day, this episode will help you reframe how you think about productivity—and give you the tools to reclaim your focus, your time, and your energy.

Topics Covered:

• The surprising origin of the 5-hour workday
• The three levels of the Productivity Pyramid
• Time Wasters vs. Distractions: What’s the difference?
• Why attention residue and decision fatigue hurt your performance
• The myth of multitasking—and why it wastes 28% of your workday
• 3 key strategies that transformed Alex's work culture
• How to run the One-Day Time Audit to reveal your biggest productivity leaks

This Episode's Experiment:

The One-Day Time Audit
Track your time in 15-minute blocks for a full workday using 3 columns:
→ Activity – What you did
→ Distractions – What pulled your focus
→ Observations – What stood out

Run the audit, review your patterns, and see what happens when you become truly aware of how you’re spending your time.

Resources Mentioned:

• Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive
• The One Thing by Gary Keller
• Stanford University Productivity Study
• Harvard Business Review study on task prioritization
• UC Irvine research on attention recovery time

Connect with Alex:

Have a breakthrough from the time audit? Found your biggest time waster?
DM Alex on LinkedIn — he’d love to hear how this experiment changes the way you work.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-gafford-09b2b87/

Stay Tuned:

Next episode: Alex dives into the top layer of the Productivity Pyramid—Proactive Strategies, including time blocking, AM/PM routines, and how to protect your energy for deep, focused work.

In this episode of the 5-Hour Formula, we’re diving into the truth about prioritization—why most people get it wrong, and how the most successful people in the world approach it differently.

Spoiler: they don’t start with to-do lists. They start with better questions, better boundaries, and better systems.

If you want to work fewer hours while getting more of the right things done, this episode is a must-listen. I’ll walk you through the three big ideas that have transformed how I plan my weeks and protect my time—and how you can do the same.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why personal time must come first—and how to put it on your calendar like a pro
• How to use the Focusing Question from The ONE Thing to identify your highest-leverage task
• Why weekly planning is more powerful than to-do lists
• What it means to prioritize using elimination, not just discipline
• The mental model behind “lead domino” actions that create exponential results
• How to say “no” gracefully but firmly (with help from Gary Keller and Greg McKeown)

Weekly Experiment:

Take action by following this 3-step experiment:
Block time to plan your week (offsite and undistracted)

1. Prioritize personal time first (if it matters, it goes on the calendar)
2. Protect your ONE Thing (your most impactful work block of the week)

Pro Tip: Color-code your personal time. Make it pop.

Resources + Mentions:

• Book: Essentialism by Greg McKeown
• Book: The ONE Thing by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan
• Domino Effect Demo Video: Watch this 5mm domino knock over a 100-pounder
• Tim Ferriss Podcast with Gary Keller (on how to say no)

Recap of the 3 Big Ideas:

1. Prioritize Personal First — Your health, family, and values are made of glass. If they break, they don’t bounce back.
2. Start with One Thing — Identify the lead domino. The ONE action that makes everything else easier or unnecessary.
3. Eliminate Ruthlessly — Say no to the trivial many so you can say yes to the vital few. If it’s not a heck yes, it’s a no.

Join the Conversation:

Have you tried planning your week this way? DM me on LinkedIn or leave a comment—I’d love to hear how this experiment works for you.