Calendar Tetris is the informal name for rearranging an executive’s existing commitments to fit a new one in, moving blocks around until everything fits without breaking travel time or preparation.
The phrase is used with some resignation, because every move has knock-on effects for other people’s diaries. Reducing it is usually a matter of protecting focus time and holding firm buffer time rather than scheduling more cleverly.
Every shuffle has a cost that is invisible in the calendar itself: preparation already done, travel already booked, other people already rearranged. Counting that cost is what makes it easier to decline the new request instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does Calendar Tetris mean in simple terms?
Calendar Tetris is the informal name for rearranging an executive’s existing commitments to fit a new one in, moving blocks around until everything fits without breaking travel time or preparation.
How does Calendar Tetris work in practice?
The phrase is used with some resignation, because every move has knock-on effects for other people’s diaries. Reducing it is usually a matter of protecting focus time and holding firm buffer time rather than scheduling more cleverly.
How does Calendar Tetris affect property and running costs?
Every shuffle has a cost that is invisible in the calendar itself: preparation already done, travel already booked, other people already rearranged. Counting that cost is what makes it easier to decline the new request instead.