Blocking time off

3 min read · Updated April 13, 2026 · Written by the OVIAH Team

Overview

To block time off in OVIAH, go to Availability & Hours or click Create Schedule Block on your Schedule tab to add single dates, date ranges, or recurring blocks.

Schedule blocks

Schedule blocks let you mark time as unavailable so clients can't book during those windows. Use them for vacations, personal appointments, lunch breaks, or anything else that takes you off the clock.

You can create blocks from two places: the Availability & Hours settings or directly on your Schedule tab by clicking Create Schedule Block.

Types of blocks

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Single date

Block a specific day — for example, a doctor's appointment on March 15. Choose the date and optionally set start/end times if you're only blocking part of the day.

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Date range

Block a stretch of days — for a vacation, a training, or a move. Set a start and end date and OVIAH removes availability for the entire range.

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Recurring

Block a repeating window — like a lunch break every day from 12–1pm, or a standing personal commitment every Tuesday afternoon. Set the pattern once and it repeats automatically.

Adding details to blocks

Every block has a title (e.g. "Lunch Break," "Vacation," "Personal") and an optional notes field for your own reference. These details are visible only to you — clients just see that the time is unavailable.

Tip

If you take a lunch break at the same time every day, set it as a recurring block instead of adjusting your business hours. That way your morning and afternoon availability stays clean and clients can still book on either side of the break.

Business hours vs. blocks

Your business hours (set in Availability & Hours) define your regular weekly schedule — which days you work, what time you start and end. Schedule blocks are overrides on top of that. They let you make exceptions without changing your regular hours.

OVIAH calculates available time slots in real time by combining your business hours, schedule blocks, existing bookings, and each service's duration plus buffer time. Clients always see accurate availability.