The time management system that changed my life. The Trident Calendar:
Ali Abdaal@AliAbdaal
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Nov 07, 2026
~2 min read
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The time management system that changed my life.
The Trident Calendar:
The Trident Calendar:
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Time management is the most important skill you can learn.
I’ve tried dozens of time management systems.
But the Trident Calendar has truly been a game-changer.
I’ve tried dozens of time management systems.
But the Trident Calendar has truly been a game-changer.
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The Trident Calendar is a 3-system approach.
You divide your time into:
1. A year
2. A week
3. A day
You divide your time into:
1. A year
2. A week
3. A day
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Start by planning out the months of the year.
Across the top of a page, write the months of the year.
Down the left column, write the number of days.
Write down your events & plans for the year on those days.
Across the top of a page, write the months of the year.
Down the left column, write the number of days.
Write down your events & plans for the year on those days.
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Seeing your entire year on 1 page gives you a chance to plan:
1. Trips
2. Holidays
3. Upcoming events
If you want to build this calendar on your computer, use my free template here: aliabdaal.com/year-in-a-glan…
1. Trips
2. Holidays
3. Upcoming events
If you want to build this calendar on your computer, use my free template here: aliabdaal.com/year-in-a-glan…
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Next, plan your ideal week.
You only have 112 available hours in a week so it’s important to make use of all of them.
So, open a Google Calendar.
Then input time blocks of what your ideal week looks likes, including:
1. Wake & Sleep time
2. Deep work
3. Exercise
You only have 112 available hours in a week so it’s important to make use of all of them.
So, open a Google Calendar.
Then input time blocks of what your ideal week looks likes, including:
1. Wake & Sleep time
2. Deep work
3. Exercise
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This gives you structure to follow during your days & weeks.
It also lets you know what days you have free time to plan & reschedule things.
The flexibility of this will increase your productivity & allow you to prioritise certain activities.
It also lets you know what days you have free time to plan & reschedule things.
The flexibility of this will increase your productivity & allow you to prioritise certain activities.
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Finish off your Trident Calendar by planning your ideal day.
This involves following the days on the weekly schedule you already made.
The add or remove blocks depending on what you need to get done that day.
This involves following the days on the weekly schedule you already made.
The add or remove blocks depending on what you need to get done that day.
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To ensure each day is meaningful, jot down 3 daily quests (i.e. priorities) in the following areas:
1. Work
2. Health
3. Relationships
This will keep your focused on the most important activities
1. Work
2. Health
3. Relationships
This will keep your focused on the most important activities
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If you want to hear more about my time management system, I created a video about it here:
youtube.com/watch?v=6o2tm0…
youtube.com/watch?v=6o2tm0…
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Or, if you want to get stuck in straight away, you can download my Year in a Glance template:
aliabdaal.com/year-in-a-glan…
aliabdaal.com/year-in-a-glan…