Taking time to plan your week helps to ensure you are managing your priorities. When you plan your week ahead of time you set yourself up for success. Plain and simple.
How do you fit everything into your schedule to make your priorities happen? You budget it. What are you overspending your time on? What are you underspending your time on?
The fact is, your success relies on your commitment to plan. Planning allows you to feel more organized and prepared instead of feeling like life is happening to you. When you regain agency over your time it helps you to feel accomplished, focused and productive.
The best news, we all have the same amount of time in our proverbial bank accounts.
I haven’t always been the best planner. I always felt that planning was a form of restriction or constraint. The truth is, planning allows me to feel free and in charge. I work 2 part time jobs, help to care for my father and have 2 successful businesses. Planning allows me to have time for all of those responsibilities yet I still have freedom to hang out with my husband, family, friends and even schedule alone time (my way to refuel).
So how do you plan your week effectively? I have a 10 step process that has helped me to become a planner and stay committed.
Step 1: Set a Time to Plan
The first rule of thumb in planning your week is making time to plan. Block out a chunk of time when you know you will be free from interruptions. This may seem obvious but the plan doesn’t work if you don’t make time for it.
Step 2: Schedule Your Non-Negotiables 1st
Non-Negotiables are like your utility bills, rent or mortgage. Planning your week can’t be done without them. For example, your work schedule, doctor’s appointments and any other important commitments that are non-negotiable. Once you have all of these written down you can now see what time you have left to “budget” with.
Take note:
Non-negotiables are not social commitments you feel you must do. Lunch with a friend is important but it is negotiable. Don’t fret, there is plenty of opportunity to still do things that bring you joy. Trust the process.
Step 3: Brain Dump
Next, you are going to grab a good ole’ fashion sheet of paper and start writing every task that is on your mind. Getting everything down on paper helps to free your mind of all of the little thoughts that clog up your ability to think in and be in the present.
What day you do this depends on your week. I prefer to plan on Tuesdays because it works for my personal schedule. I write down everything I must do, need to do, should do and want to do.
Examples:
Must do: non-negotiables
Need to do: grocery shop, trip to the pharmacy, etc.
Should do: visit my mom, get my hair cut
Want to do: go for drinks with co-workers, date night
Take note:
A brain dump is not a to-do list. It is simply an outline to your week.
Take another note:
I like to color code or even create columns on a sheet of paper so that each category has its own designated space. Later this helps you to schedule in order of priority.
Step 4: Remove anything that is “Busy”
Want to feel more calm and in control going through your week? (Who doesn’t?!!)
The truth is, being busy and being productive are very different things. Oftentimes, we escape what we need to do by prioritizing things that aren’t necessary. Did you really have to stop at Target, Walmart and the grocery store all this week? Planning your week successfully takes some self control and restriction. This week we have time for Target, next week we have time for Walmart. As you get more comfortable with planning you will start setting up your future self for success.
Take note:
I buy a brand of dog food that is only carried at Walmart. I could make an excuse to go to Walmart every week if I wanted to. Instead, I set my future self up for success. I buy enough of the dog food I need and anything else that is exclusive to Walmart to last for the month. This helps me to remove any unnecessary trips that eat up valuable time and money. The following week I do the same for Target.
Step 5: Schedule your-self care 1st
Yep, that’s right!
I know, I know. You’re too busy for selfcare, who has the time?
You do sister, because you scheduled it. (mic drop)
Taking a few small moments to yourself each day or scheduling 1 longer activity will help refuel you. It can be as simple as reading 10 minutes a day or even scheduling a massage for yourself after a long week at your desk. This doesn’t mean you have to do the same selfcare each week. Change it up and see what feels best for you.
Step 6: Edit out what you don’t want to do
Pause. I don’t mean to leave a week’s worth of dirty dishes in your sink. Consider the consequences before removing the things you don’t want to do.
What I am referring to is things that can wait without a negative outcome.
If you don’t want to work out 30 minutes a day this week because your non-negotiables are on the heavier side, then don’t. Negotiate with yourself. Plan three 45 minute workouts on the days time permits. Then move on.
Step 7: Learn to Say “No”
Yes, your nephew’s 3rd birthday at the trampoline park is important.
Sunday brunch to celebrate your best friend’s promotion is absolutely paramount.
Or is it?
Do you realistically have time? Do you actually want to go? Are you going because you think you should? “Should do” is negotiable.
Taking control of your week may mean that you have to say, “no.” This may cause some negative reactions from others. That is ok. Communicating that you don’t have the flexibility this week to attend certain events may be uncomfortable at first but is crucial. Once you get comfortable with declining invitations or favors your confidence will bloom.
Take your nephew out for one on one time when your week allows. Send your friend flowers or an encouraging email on the first day of her new promotion.
The people in your life who care will always understand. Perhaps this will open up the door for them to feel comfortable saying, “no” back. Boundaries are healthy, lean into them.
Step 8: Get the rest of the list on your calendar
Your non-negotiables are set and so is your self care. Next steps, get your need to do, should do and want to do on your calendar in that order. That is how you prioritize my friend.
Take note:
Unexpected things will come up. Maybe your loved one has an unexpected trip to the hospital or a flight gets canceled. You can re-work your schedule at any time. You are an adult with agency over your time, be confident, take a breath and know that you got this!
Step 9: Get critical
Your week is planned! Congrats!
Now, give your calendar another once over.
Are you overscheduled? Are you under scheduled? If you answered yes, get critical. Were you honest with yourself when you categorized your list? Does your calendar bring you a feeling of certainty and accomplishment or is it giving you tension and anxiety?
If you are overscheduled try to see what you can move to next week. Start with the want to and should do list. This is where step 6 comes in handy. Be realistic with what you can accomplish. You aren’t winning an award for being the most busy.
Take note:
Some weeks will be busier than others. Just know you have done this before and you can do it again. If your schedule feels impossible it may be time to start delegating responsibilities out. If you can’t afford to hire someone, consider reaching out to nearby schools or colleges to see if anyone is in need of service hours or project points.
Step 10: Follow through
Period.
Final Thought:
Show restraint for impulse errands, tasks and social outings.
Set yourself up for success. At the end of the day you will be so glad you planned your week. At the end of the year, you will look back and see all you’ve accomplished with pride.
You got this!
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