There used to be a time when I would sit down at my desk on a Monday morning and almost play work day roulette of what I would tackle on my to do list. It was rather unstructured and because I didn't quite check any deadlines that were looming, there would be a lot of scrambling at the last minute getting some tasks done. Not a vibe, unless you personally enjoy chaos!
Something I've been doing more often that not either on a Sunday night or a Monday morning is sitting down with a warm drink and carving out 10 minutes to plot a simple plan for the week. Sometimes having a broad idea of what is happening in the week is better than approaching it blind. Have a peek at my system and it may inspire you to plan your week ahead.
A short checklist
This is a short checklist of what I like to cover in these 10 minutes
+ any important deadlines that need to be met in the week
+ my non-negotiables for the week
+ plotting one task that moves me forward in a personal project
This covers an external area (a gift store restock, an important email that needs responding or a meeting), a regular area that continues to grow my business (my weekly newsletters, updating my website or bookkeeping admin) and a personal project (painting, revisiting course material or refining a new offering). It's a big juggle and it can be very easy to let other 'urgent' things take over important things, so this weekly planning rhythm helps focus my attention on the right things so that I can make time to plan and do those tasks.
my 7 simple steps
+ Grab a pencil and paper
I love to sit down with a pencil and a piece of paper. A pencil offers flexibility in case you need to shift and change things. It’s a useful way for me to see what’s happening in my week and writing helps me process as I plot various deadlines and tasks.
+ Determine where you are in the year
This sounds so silly but the days and weeks zoom by so quickly. Taking the time to orientate myself where I am in the calendar is key - plus it’s a simple task that helps kickstart my planning time.
+ Plot appointments / meetings / deadlines
When I do this, it helps me know what to prioritise before I plot smaller tasks. Consider adding any children's or family commitments that may affect your working hours. This then shows where I may have some space in my week for smaller tasks or some breathing room.
+ List focus areas
I try to keep this to a maximum of 3 and it is a mixture of the deadlines I’ve already plotted, my regular rhythms in my business and my own personal projects to make progress with those.
+ Optional: Batch Days
I have recurring tasks I do each week so having themed days helps me plan for those in between the important tasks that need to be done. This helps carve time and space to focus on different areas of my business to grow and maintain it.
+ Jot down daily tasks
Now I can get a little more detailed about when I do what as I have a outline for my week so its easier to ‘colour in’ the days ahead with specific to-do’s. You can now reverse engineer your bigger tasks into smaller, bit-sized chunks.
+ Make it visible
Put it somewhere near where you work and where you will easily see your plan. Place it on your desk or stick it up on the wall. This way you can refer to it so that you enjoy focus and clarity in the week ahead. And what is better than ticking off those tasks and seeing you make progress throughout your week?
When you need some inspiration to sit down and plan your week, set 10 minutes aside, sip on your favourite warm drink and follow this simple yet repeatable system. Enjoy spending time clearing that mental clutter onto the page and moving through your week with thoughtfulness and focus.
DOWNLOAD free Take Note monthly printable template from The Artful Library
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