Free Time and Availability Are Not the Same Thing
Just because there’s a gap in your calendar doesn’t mean it’s up for grabs.
We’re getting better at protecting our time outside of work, but what about during the working day?
If your calendar shows a big empty space, that’s often read by others as “available”. But is it? Or is it time you’ve deliberately left clear so you can do the kind of work that needs focus?
Time without calls, meetings, or interruptions isn’t “nothing”. It might be the only space in your day to move an important project forward or plan the next few days. Or simply take a proper breather. If we don’t protect that time, others will fill it for us.
This isn’t about slacking off. It’s about doing the work you were hired to do and doing it well. Being “available” all day doesn’t make you more productive; it makes you reactive.
Blocking out time for yourself on your calendar and honouring it is a practical way to push back on meeting overload and take ownership of your workday.
Free time and availability are not the same thing.
